Speech #850266924

I would repeat "prompt revision." This need not be belabored for I speak here not in a partisan sense but to emphasize the responsibility taken upon themselves by both of our major political parties. This 85th Congress. in fulfillment of these solemn pledges to the American people. last year enacted Public Law 316. by overwhelming votes in both Houses. This legislation permits an estimated additional 80.000 immigrants to come to the United States during a 3year period. It also provides. during a 2year period ending June 30. 1959 for unlimited entry of alien orphans adopted by United States citizens. grants nonquota status to spouses and children of skilled aliens following to join their families. gives the Attorney General discretion to grant visas to aliens previously convicted of minor crimes or afflicted with tuberculosis. gives discretion for the waiver of visitor fingerprintinga very important change. authorizes issuance of 18.655 visas unused under the recently expired Refugee Relief Act of 1953 to German expellees. Dutch refugees. refugees in the Far East. and persons escaping persecution behind the Iron Curtain by the Communists and from the Middle East. and terminates the mortgages placed on immigration quotas after World War II by the Displaced Persons Act. This year the Senate unanimously passed and the President signed into law on July 26 Public Law 559 regularizing the status of the some 32.000 Hungarians who fled Soviet Communist tyranny and oppression after the abortive revolt of OctoberNovember 1956. This is what the Congress has done. But what the Congress has not doneand what the American people have looked for it to dois to deal with some of the basic injustices and inequities of the McCarranWalter Immigration LawPublic Law 414. 82d Congressthe Immigration and Nationality Act. among them the archaic 1920 census as the basis for establishment of nationality quotas. which arbitrarily cuts off some 65.000 additional opportunities for worthy immigration into the United States. the provisions regarding loss of citizenship which make unjust discrimination against naturalized citizens. the continuation of the racial test for those of halfAsiatic origin seeking to immigrate. the absence of the statute of limitations regarding deportation which exposes men and women who have lived here for decades and raised their families here to sudden deportation. and the crippling of the provisions which allowed hardship cases to be dealt with fairly. Even as modest a proposal as the pooling of unused quotas remains unenacted. still only about half are used every year. What yet remains to be done is enactment of legislation to permit the admission of some 70.000 to 80.000 currently in the fourthpreference category.