Speech #840162445

Similar inaction is apparent in another bill I submitted. H. R. 9171 to revise the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. and extend its provisions through 1959. President Eisenhower in a special immigration message on February 8. strongly stressed the need for new guidelines and standards for determination of immigration quota numbers. His first recommendation was for a change from 1920 to 1950 as the census year upon which quota allotments are made. The great influx of aliens from countries such as Italy. Greece. Poland. Ciechoslovakia. and the like occurred after 1920 and as a result of the 1920 census provision. nationals. escapees. and expellees of these countries face long years of waiting before obtaining preference and nonpreference quota visas. The President also asked that all numbers made available. as a result of this change. over and above 154.657. be distributed among countries in proportion to their immigration to the United States since the establishment of the quota system in He recommends pooling of unused quota numbers to be given to aliens throughout the world who have special skills or qualify for preference status. The President in his message had many more farreaching recommendations to make. which would both strengthen our immigration law and at the same time humanize it so that all intending immigrants will be treated fairly and equally. Countries such as Latvia. Poland. Greece. and Lithuania and other socalled indigestible blocks have their quotas mortgaged for hundreds of years to come. in some cases. because of admissions to America under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. The issuance of a visa is under the control of one person in each consulate who. from experiences I have had in such matters. often displays signs of disinterest and lack of imagination and flexibility in administration of the law. There is little or no recourse for the alien than to abide by a decision which may arise from personal dislike or prejudice. The stigma of secondclass citizenship is a notorious disservice of the act. Naturalized citizens can have their rights to citizenship jeopardized in many instances. such as temporary absence from the United States. where nativeborn Americans lose their citizenship only by renouncement or swearing allegiance to a foreign nation. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 is filled with thoughtless and harsh regulations with no apparent concern for the fact we are dealing with people rather than quotas and other intangibles. It is a blight on the American concept of fair play. democracy. and humane understanding. It is difficult to reconcile our endeavors as a leader of equality and justice in the free world and an immigration law which fosters none of these principles. Our prestige abroad could be greatly enhanced if this law were liberalized for all to see that America welcomes on an equitable basis. aliens who have shown a keen desire to seek opportunity and security in our country. I fervently hope many more of my colleagues will give their sympathetic consideration to this pressing human need by signing this petition to bring H.