Mr. Speaker. the present naturalization laws work a great hardship on many older aliens who have lived most of their lives in the United States. and are a credit to this Nation. I have known cases where they have tried three or four times to become citizens. only to fail before the English language test. Naturalization officials are well aware of this unfortunate situation. and privately sympathize with the sincere applicants. but while the rigid law remains on the books. there is nothing they can do to lift this barrier. One old Italian lady came to me seeking my help. It was a great effort for her to explain her hopes and her predicament in a language with which she was not familiar. As I already knew several of her sons and daughters. I nodded understandingly. She and her husband. as young immigrants. worked hard in the local mills to raise a large family. There was no time for night school. They worked and saved not only to bring up their children but to give them a good education.
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naturalization immigrants Naturalization