Speaker. on January 3. 1957. I introduced H. R. 791 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that clergymen who are naturalized citizens shall not lose their nationality by residence abroad. even though they are not representatives of American organizations. if they devote full time to their clerical duties. Until about 20 years ago we found that many clergymen and members of religious orders were coming to the United States to help meet the religious needs of our communities. Since World War II this situation has reversed itself. and now the entire world is drawing on our theological schools for its graduates. These men and women are being called upon to serve abroad. and some of them. while otherwise willing to do so. refuse for the reason that they are naturalized citizens and would lose their citizenship by accepting such extended employment abroad. In order to eliminate this hardship. I introduced H. R. 791. which would protect the citizenship of these naturalized clergy. provided that such persons register each year at the appropriate Foreign Service office. The second part of my bill would restore citizenship status to those persons fulfilling religious assignments abroad at the time of the enactment of the Immigration Act in 1952. who lost their citizenship rights for that reason. Such persons would be restored to citizenship by taking the required oaths referred to in section 310 (a) of the Immigration Act. I have kept in more or less constant communication with the House Judiciary Committee about this bill and had been led to believe that it would be incorporated into the next immigration bill brought before the House for action. It is indeed regrettable that S. 2792 which was passed today under suspension of the rules did not contain any such provisions. The bill being considered under suspension of the rules was not open for amendment and I therefore had no opportunity to offer my bill as an amendment thereto. I urge the House Judiciary Committee to take action on my bill or incorporate it into an overall immigration bill early in the next session of Congress. Tito: Moscows Trojan Horse
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Immigration immigration naturalized