Speech #830100172

IvEsl in offering the proposed amendment. The Presidents proposal in no way would alter the permanent legislation enacted by the Congress last year which established high standards of admissibility as to persons who normally would be admitted into the United States each year. Rather. his proposal was couched in words making it clear that it was for a special emergency purpose and to be accomplished in conformance with the standards prescribed in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. In other words. the same laws which would ban Communists and those who would attempt to overthrow -our form of government by unconstitutional methods. the same rules of physical fitness. of character and others. which are a part of our regular immigration procedures would be applied to these new applicants for Americanism. The numerical limitations on annual Immigration into the United States established by the Immigration. and Nationality Act of 1952 amount to approkimately 152.000 persons. Yet each year about onehalf -of that total goes unused. Those fleeing from totalitarianism are precluded from entering because the quotas from their countries are already filled. Therefore. the Presidents proposal for an emergency program to accept 240.000 immigrants during a 2year period would in effect result in admitting into the United States a number equivalent to the unfilled quotas for slightly more than 3 years. The Presidents special immigration proposal is based upon pressing needs in Europe as well as upon the ability and capacity of the United States to absorb these additional immigrants. In spite of the efforts which the United States has made through the Displaced Persons Program through its normal immigration procedures and through financial contributions for refugees and migration. the problem remains a vital one. A bill that will come before the Senate tomorrow involves funds to be provided by American taxpayers to help alleviate the plight of refugees in Europe. We are not unmindful of the fact that much of the taxpayers money has been spent for that purpose. It is one of the afterwar problems.