Speech #830053928

I join with my colleagues in extolling the splendid contribution that this brave young man has made in this struggle for freedom. At this point I think I should explain to the House just exactly what we are doing. Under section 212 (a) (28) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. this young man is barred from admission to the United States because he was a member of a proscribed organization. This bill removes that disability. He is being admitted for permanent residence and his past membership in a class defined in section 212 (a) (28) of the new code is waived. Contrary to misinformation that many of you must have received during the campaign of vilification. designed to discredit the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to bring about its repeal. a person who was a member of a proscribed organization is not permanently barred from admission to the United States. First. under paragraph (I) of section 212 (a) (28) such person may be admitted even for permanent residence if he or she can show active opposition to the totalitarian doctrines for at least 5 years. and if the admission of such former member of the groups subscribing to the sinister ideologies is deemed to be in the public interest. However. a past and even a present member of a proscribed organization. although barred from entering the United States for permanent residence. may be admitted to this country temporarily.