Speech #840150322

Mr. Speaker. the question of United States immigration policy is one which is of great concern to all of us. Ever since the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. proposals have been forwarded by legislators. private citizens. and civic organizations indicating the need to reconsider the principles of this act. Such reconsideration is justified. Look at the record. By continuing the unjust precedent of the national origins quota system. it has given credence to racist theories and undemocratic practices. By providing 70 percent of our meager quota to northern and western European nations. the law discriminates against other deserving European immigrants. By making distinctions between naturalized and nativeborn American citizens. the law debases citizenship itself. By granting sweeping and unreviewable powers to administrative officials. the act has a great potentiality for injustice. On this last point.