Speech #840236239

Mr. Speaker. during the 2d session of the 84th Congress. I worked out a legislative measure designed to take care of certain emergent situations which had arisen in the field of immigration and nationality under both the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. My proposals constituted a comprehensive immigration bill. the effect of which. if enacted into law. would be to alleviate certain hardships affecting immigrants and citizens of this country without destroying the basis of our immigration laws. Briefly. my proposals wouldFirst. Liberalize the restrictions applicable to immigrants who have committed petty offenses. although such offenses could be classified as felonies under foreign law. Second. Wipe out the "mortgages" imposed on certain small immigration quotas by the Displaced Persons Acts of 1948 and of 1950. under which this country has admitted over 400.000 immigrants. Third. Forgive the refugees the misrepresentations made while applying for immigration visas if such misrepresentations were prompted by their fear to be forcibly repatriated to countries under Communist domination. Fourth. Permit the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to waive in their discretion and on a basis of reciprocity the fingerprinting requirements of our immigration laws in the interest of facilitating foreign travel and exchange of visitors. students. artists. .and so forth. Fifth. Admit under proper safeguards up to 1.200 immigrants afflicted with tuberculosis in order to prevent separation of families. Sixth. Permit expeditious naturalization of alien children adopted by citizens of the United States who are stationed abroad either in the service or in the employment of the Government of the United States or an American institution. firm. corporation. religious organization. and so forth. Seventh. Permit the entry of an additional 5.000 war orphans adopted by citizens of this country. and to raise the maximum age of those orphans from 10 years to. 14 years. . Eighth. Give the illegitimate child the same status under immigration lawsrelating to the mother of such childas the legitimate child has under existing law. Ninth. Enable the immigrants family to come to the United States in the same preferential status regardless of whether the family is accompanying- the breadwinner or following to join him at some later time. Tenth. Permit the issuance of around 40.000 nonquota visas to refugees and escapees from behind the Iron Curtain without additional restrictions provided in the 1953 law and without "cutting off" the visas at any particular time. thus opening the doors to the United States to those refugees who might even in the future dare their Communist oppressors and cross the Iron Curtain. and Eleventh. Help the American wool growing industry by admitting an additional 350 skilled sheepherders from Spain. To this carefully worked out program. the Senate added a provision which. in permitting the redistribution of immigration quotas. represents a most drastic departure from the principles of our immigration laws. The House of Representatives was faced with this wholly unexpected basic change of the foundation upon which our immigration policy has stood for over 30 years just 5 hours before the adjournment of the 84th Congress. No hearings were held on this provision. The House was totally unprepared to vote for it in the last minute rush. the Committee on the Judiciary never had this proposal before them. and the hardworking 5member subcommittee in charge of legislation affecting immigration and nationality had similarly no opportunity to even read the Senate amendment available to the membership of the House in but 1 mimeographed copy. This hastily conceived Senate amendment was attached to my 11point immigration and refugee relief program. thus dooming this urgently needed and carefully worked outwith the full participation of the leadership of both partiesproposal. Under the circumstances. It is my intention to reintroduce in the 85th Congress. on the day it convenes. my emergency proposal and shortly after the Committee on the Judiciary is organized to commence hearings at which every interested party will have an opportunity to bring before us the accusations. the grievances. the alleged inequities. and the proposed amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act. In my opinion. that law has worked very well and to the benefit of the United States in the 4 years that passed since it was placed on our statute books. I am familiar with the need of certain technical changes but before I submit my own . proposals. I want the Congress and the public opinion at large to be given an .opportunity to acquaint themselves fully with the problem and to ascertain how much of the propaganda leveled against the Immigration and Nationality Act is .prompted by purely political consideration. how much of it stems from those who would sacrifice the security. the welfare. and the economy of this country on the altar of foreign interests. and how much of it is based on humanitarian and justifiable legal grounds. I believe that extensive public hearings will permit us to write a set of amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act if the case for such amendments is made. Benefits for Alaska