Speech #830151209

Mr. Speaker. under leave to extend my remarks in the RECORD. I include the following resolution of the City Council of Philadelphia: Resolution memorializing the United States Congress with respect to the modification of the provisions of the National Immigration Act Whereas on December 24. 1952. the new Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 became effective. and Whereas the plan to codify and consolidate the immigration and naturalization laws presented our lawgivers with an excellent opportunity to remove from our laws pertaining to this important field various features generally felt to be inconsistent with our democratic tradition and to enact a truly modern immigration and naturalization law. and Whereas the said 1952 National Immigration Act does make an important contribution to human relations within the United States by eliminating all racial barriers in naturalization proceedings. and Whereas the new law has unfortunately missed the opportunity to remove discrimination among wouldbe emigrants to the United States by asserting. in effect. through the quotas established therein. that immigrants from northern Europe are more destrable to the United States than immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. and Whereas the 1952 National Immigration Act violates the American ideal of complete equality of all citizens before the law by providing special tests and penalties for naturalized citizens which do not apply to nativeborn citizens. and Whereas both the Republican and Democratic Parties. in the election campaign of 1952. felt impelled to call for a revision of the 1952 National Immigration Act. since the new enactment has been generally described as a "racist. discriminatory. and retrogressive measure." and there is every evidence of concerted belief that the law should be rewritten and a law presented to strike an "intelligent. unbigoted balance between the immigration welfare of America and the prayerful hopes of the unhappy and the oppressed". and Whereas although it is necessary and proper that our immigration laws contain provisions to prevent the entry into our country of persona who might engage in espionage and otner subversive activities. they should not be used as a device for erecting an iron curtain around our shores and excluding many people who might well contribute greatly to the strengthening of our country: Therefore. be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia. That the Congress of the United States is hereby memorialized to revise the 1952 National Immigration Act. and to provide a modern and democratic immigration system. Resolved. That a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States. to the Presiding Officers of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. to the two Senators from Pennsylvania. and to the Members of the House of Representatives from Philadelphia.