Speech #850011029

We therefore do not believe that the sheepherders should benefit from special. preferential and privileged treatment. Our studies have conclusively shown that the legitimate interest of American employers will be better served if workers for the sheepraising and woolgrowing industry were admitted temporarily for appropriate periodsof time. and that at the conclusion of such periods they were required to return to their country of origin and to their families. while other workersfrom domestic labor sources. if availableor other foreign workers similarly skilled be given an opportunity to accept temporary employment. My report urges the Immigration and Naturalization Service to implement this recommendation and to use their experience obtained in the administration of the British West Indies program in establishing procedures after consultation with the Department of Labor. the interested labor unions. the National Woolgrowers Association of Salt Lake City. Utah. and with the California Range Association. of Fresno. Calif.. under which skilled sheepherders could enter this country on a rotating basis so as to assure a continuous supply of this type of labor. Most of the sheepherders admitted to the United States under special legislation came from Spain. Under the special laws. the immigration quota for Spain was reduced by 50 percent through the fiscal year 1960 under a "mortgage" provision in order to have the 750 quota immigrant visas issued to the special sheepherders "paid up" over several years. In fairness to immigrants born in Spain. we recommend in our report that this mortgage be canceled as of the beginning of the forthcoming fiscal year. This recommendation has already been implemented in a bill which I introduced in the Congress in January of this year. To Uncle Sam From a Nephew