Speech #850020909

Mr. President. last year the Senate passed in the closing days of the session. my bill to extend and enlarge the orphan quotas of the Refugee Relief Act. but. unfortunately. this proposed legislation was not considered during the adjournment rush of the House of Representatives. Since many American families had adopted children who were not able to .enter the United States because the 4.000 orphan quotas of the Refugee Relief Act had been exhausted. the Attorney General and the Secretary of Stateat the urging of the President of the United States. myself. and other Members of Congressallowed orphans to be ad.mitted under the emergency parole provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The emergency parole provisions. as applied to orphans. expired on February 1. 1957. I have been advised by the Immigration Service that 659 orphans have been admitted to our country under this procedure. Section 2 of my orphan bill would grant permanent residence in the United States. on the same basis as if they had been issued immigrant visas. to orphans admitted under the parole procedure. Without such a provision enacted into law. these adopted children of American families. such as the 11monthold boy adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Robe. of Burns.