Speech #840039957

Mr. Speaker. today I have introduced a bill which would completely revise and replace the McCarranWalter Immigration Act. This bill is a codification of all existing immigration. naturalization. and citizenship laws. clarifying and simplifying the present act. This in itself would be an important step toward eliminating the confusion which exists both in our own country and abroad as to the real policy of the United States toward those who seek to enter her boundaries. But above all. this bill would give positive and real meaning to the democratic principles which we. in this country. hold as a shining beacon to those beyond our borders. It is no secret abroad that the present immigration laws of the United States belie our expression of "Welcome" to those brave enough to flee their oppressorsindeed. every day our radio broadcasts arebeaming American ideals of freedom and democracy and opportunity for all to the downtrodden people behind the Iron Curtain. We tell the peoples of Europe and Asia of the real humanitarianism of the United States. and then set legalistic boobytraps for those who take us at our word. This is a shameful manner in which to act. and certainly no thinking American can fail to see the very real consequences of -such a policy. It is time that we. as American citizens and as legislators for the American people. see that this disparity between word and deed is ended. And the only way to do this is to enact a fair and comprehensive law. Now I realize that such a sweeping law is open to critics who say that all immigrants are a danger to the United States. and that any immigrant may be a Communist wolf parading in the proverbial sheeps clothing. Let me reply to such critics that my bill provides full and comprehensive security against subversive and undesirable aliens. it actually tightens existing laws which permit thousands of unscreened aliens to cross our borders. Certainly what this Nation needs is a law which permits desirable people to come to the United States. and a law which absolutely protects those in the United States from the seditions of subversives. and this bill does both. My bill would also eliminate all racial and national bias. establish a uniform right of review and appeal from administrative decisions. and remove the distinctions between nativeborn and naturalized American citizens. Certainly there can be. in this Nation of equality. no "secondclass" citizens. My bill would also replace the national origins quota system with a new unified quota system. It would provide for a separate single agency to handle all immigration and naturalization functions. A3050 which are now divided between the Consular Service of the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Justice Department. It would also differentiate between aliens seeking permanent residence here and alien visitors coming here for scholarly or scientific purposes. for business or pleasure. May I remind the spokesmen of both major political parties that the American people have been promised revision of existing immigration laws. Both candidates for the Presidency in 1952 declared that such revision is essential to the good name of the American people. and I believe the American people think so too. President Eisenhower reiterated this declaration in his state of the Union message in 1953. and in April he specifically requested such legislation in letters to the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. We cannot continue to maintain what has been called a "redtape curtain" in our immigration and refugee laws and still in all honest sincerity criticize the Iron Curtain abroad. May I propose to the Members of Congress. then. that we. each of us. rid our Nation of the hypocritical sham and pretense of democracy contained in the McCarranWalter Immigration Act. and show the world that the American ideals of freedom and justice are realities both at home and abroad. Polands Constitution Day SPEECH OF