Speech #840116388

If Mr. Stevenson had read the newspapers in recent months. he would know that a wellknown Hollywood singer. an alien. was able to fight his case through the courts to a favorable decision. And he would have seen that some prominent gamblers. all aliens. were privileged to carry their cases to the Supreme Court of the United States before their deportation was upheld. This is all the protection that we provide for nativeborn citizenswhy must we go further for aliens? The McCarranWalter Act has certain basic provisions which are immediately apparent to any student of the legislation. It maintains entry quotas based on the number of persons resident in the United States in 1920 whose national origin is in that particular country. it entitles all quota countries. including Asian countries. to a quota under the national origins system. which system provides that the minimum quota for any quota area shall be 100. it stiffens the law concerning the admittance. exclusion. and deportation of dangerous aliens. it codifies all immigration. naturalization. and nationality law into permanent statutes. distinct from separate emergency and temporary legislation designed to admit large groups under persecution and duress. it introduces selective immigration by giving special preference to skilled aliens urgently needed by this country. it broadens the grounds for exclusion and deportation to conformity with recommendations made by the Senate Special Committee To Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. and it provides for judicial review of official decisions concerning aliens. The law further has revised the national origins quota system to remove racial discrimination and discriminations based on sex. but fixed limitations are Included to prevent an influx of orientals. These and the many other provisions that were written into the law to strengthen It caused it to draw support from all the major Asiatic organizations in the country. In addition. it was endorsed by the Department of Justice. Central Intelligence Agency. Immigration and Naturalization Service. the Department of State and its Visa Division. all Democrat controlled at the time. Over 100 nationwide patriotic. civic. and religious organizations backed it and assisted in its preparation. There is no national clamor for revision. There is a steady attack by minoritiessome of whom honestly desire minor changes. others of whom seek the laws emasculation -because it interferes with their subversive intent. If Adlai Stevenson has no constructive changes to suggest for the law. he should refrain from emotional outbursts such as the one contained in his January 1 statement to the Massachusetts Committee for Revision of the Immigration Act. Such attacks only serve to cloud the real issues. And by making them. he is playing into the hands of less reputable organizations which have an ulterior purpose in seeking repeal of the Immigration Act.