Speech #830046443

President. before I proceed further I wish to state that I am introducing a bill on this subject on behalf of myself and of the Senator from Wisconsin . the junior Senator from New Jersey . the Senator from Illinois . the Senator from Ohio . the Senator from New Hampshire . the senior Senator from North Dakota . the senior Senator from Vermont . the Senator from Michigan . the Senator from New York . the Senator from Massachusetts . the junior Senator from Vermont . the Senator from Kansas . my colleague. the junior Senator from Utah . the Senator from Connecticut . the Senator from Maine . the junior Senator from North Dakota . and the senior Senator from New Jersey . The bill I am introducing proposesFirst. To provide 110.000 specialquota visas to escapees and expellees residing in the western zones of Germany. the western sectors of Berlin. and in Austria. Second. To provide 15.000 specialquota visas for escapees from communism residing within the European continental limits of the member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. in Turkey. and in the Free Territory of Trieste. Third. Provision for 75.000 specialquota visas to nationals of Italy and persons of Italian ethnic origin residing in Italy or the Free Territory of Trieste. Fourth. Provision for 20.000 specialquota visas to nationals of Greece and persons of Greek ethnic origin residing in Greece. Fifth. Provision for 20.000 specialquota visas to nationals of the Netherlands and persons of Dutch ethnic origin residing in metropolitan Netherlands. I should like to emphasize that this is an emergency And temporary program which will be carried out within the requirements of our established immigration laws. It is an emergency program because it clearly deals with an unusual situation caused by Communist tyranny and threats to the security of the free world. It is a temporary program extending over a period of 2 years during which time every effort will be made to bring about concerted action by all the nations of the free world to reduce these grave. human problems to manageable proportions. All the necessary protections with respect to security are provided for in this bill. In no manner do the requirements differ from those of the Internal Security Act or the security provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The selection of immigrants within the classes provided for in the bill is to be carried out exclusively by officials of the United States Government. Without exception. all determinations of eligibility and admissibility will be made by officials of this Government. The bill also provides protection against the displacement of an American from employment or housing by the immigrants to be resettled in the United States. This protection also serves the best interests of the immigrants because it assures them that adequate plans have been made for them and their families before their departure from Europe. With the proper selection of immigrants provided for in this emergency bill. much can be done to satisfy some of our domestic manpower needs. I have particularly in mind the continuing need for skilled and unskilled agricultural workers as well as for skilled and unskilled workers in certain industrial fields. In this connection I may interpolate that in the West and in the South difficulty is being experienced in getting a sufficient number of agricultural laborers. and each year it is necessary. by contract. to bring in many thousands of workers from the Republic of Mexico on temporary visas. A difficult problem has been brought about because of the unlawful entry of many Mexican laborers. known as wetbacks. who come into this country to live. Here again this bill serves the best Interests of the immigrant as well as the American sponsor. Members of Congress are well acquainted with the problems of the escapees from communism. For some years committees of the Congress have carried on continuous studies of this matter.