Speech #840013786

Under the change provided for by this section. the preference right shall apply not only to the person directly affected. but also to his spouse and minor children so as to enable families to enter this country as single units. Sixth. It has often been said that a man who tries to import a sack of beans into the United States and finds that it has been excluded. has the right of appeal. but a man who wants to bring his mother over. and finds that she has been denied a visa. has no such right. Section 7 of my bill is designed to change that situation. It is designed to modify the anomaly of the present Immigration Act under which authority for the acts of the Immigration Servicewhich acts in many instances through the Board of Immigration Appealsis concentrated in the hands of the Attorney General. while authority for the acts of the Consular Service is diffused among the numerous consuls. each of whom is the final arbiter in the visa application cases before him. Section 7 concentrates responsibility in a visa review board appointed by the Secretary of State. to which the sponsors of prospective immigrants may be allowed to appeal. This board would assure that visa regulations are enforced uniformly throughout the world and would also safeguard against irresponsible and capricious acts by individual consular officers. Seventh. The concept of justice tempered with mercy is a part of our administration of law. It is deeply imbedded in our religious traditions. It was in conformity with that concept that Congress long ago gave the Attorney General discretionary authority to suspend deportation in deserving cases. That authority was severely curtailed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. the Senate majority report on which states harshly and cruelly: Hardship or even unusual hardship to the alien or to his spouse. parent. or child is not sufficient to justify suspension of deportation. Under section 8 of this bill the standards for suspension of deportation contained in the law in effect prior to the adoption of the MrCarran Act are restored. As suspension of deportation will only be granted in the discretion of the Attorney General and only with the concurrence of Congress. I am certain that there is no danger of this humanitarian provision being abused. Eighth.