Speech #840043390

Returning from Habana. they arrived in Miami. the port of entry. When they arrived at Miami the customs officers announced: "All those who are nativeborn American citizens line up in this line. All those who are naturalized citizens line up in the second line. All others will line up in the third line." My Irishborn friend is sensitive. He does not like to be separated from his wife by a bureaucrat or a customs officer under a law passed by Congress. Nevertheless. even though he has had 40 years of distinguished service in this country and is a prominent businessman of Minnesota. he is told by an officeholder of the Government of the United States. when he returns to the United States from a visit to the neighboring Republic of Cuba. that because he was born in Ireland and is a naturalized American citizen. he must be separated from his wife and stand in another line. while his nativeborn American wife takes her place in line No. 1 with other native American citizens. He is told. in effect. "Because you were not lucky enough to be born in this country. you must get into line No. 2. If you can find your wife in the Miami Airport later. that is all right. but you must get into another line." I rise to protest that kind of shameful procedure under American law.