Speech #850076044

At the present time the only way by which adopted orphan children can enter the United States is through the enactment of private legislation in each specific case. This private legislation is timeconsuming and costly. and interferes with the regular work of Congress. I have been advised by the staff of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee that a goodly portion of all the private immigration bills deal with orphan children who have been adopted by American families. Mr. President. the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 provided for the admission 6f 4.000 orphan children. under the age of 10. who had been or will be adopted by American families. This legislation expired at the end of 1956. and the quota was used up by last October. The President directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to admit orphan children under the emergency parole procedures of the Immigration and Nationality Act and to parole them to their adoptive parents. Over 800 adopted orphan children were admitted under this procedure which expired. by executive order. last January 31. Since that time. the only way adopted children of American families could be admitted is through the private bill routine.