Speech #830269040

Some years ago an election was held in Italy in which it became necessary to enlist all qualified persons to elect nonCommunist candidates. A number of American citizens of dual nationality living in Italy at the time voted and only preserved their citizenship by a special act of Congress. The present law could be liberalized. therefore. through elimination of the present unsupportable distinctions between nativeborn and naturalized citizens. Citizenship acquired by naturalization should be revoked only on the grounds of fraud perpetrated in acquiring it and no act that a nativeborn citizen can perform with impunity should serve as a ground for revocation of citizenship of a naturalized American. Residence abroad should be eliminated as a ground for revoking citizenship acquired by naturalization. The illiberal features in the present immigration law have been condemned by national organizations of all kinds. by leading newspapers and by top Government officials. Among the organizations which have advocated liberalization of the immigration law are the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. the National Catholic Welfare Conference. the National Council of Catholic Men. the National Council of Catholic Women. the National Lutheran Council. the Protestant Episcopal Church. the Baptist World Alliance. the Synagogue Council of America. the National Community Relations Advisory Council. the American Jewish Congress. the Congress of Industrial Organizations. the American Association for the Advancement of Science. the American Friends Service Committee. the Young Womens Christian Association. the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. the Federation of American Scientists. the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. the American Jewish Committee. and the National Federation of Settlements. President Trumans Commission on Immigration and Naturalization appointed September 4. 1952. held hearings in 11 cities from coast to coast. in which about 400 persons testified and 234 others submitted written statements. This Commissionincluding as members. former Solicitor General Philip B. Perlman. former Commissioner of Immigration Earl G. Harrison. Secretary John OGrady. of the National Conference of Catholic Charities.