Speech #860023460

Mr. Speaker. under leave to extend my remar4 in the Appendix of the RECORD. I include my statement issued in connection with a bill I introduced on March 11. 1959. to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to facilitate the reuniting of families: To FACILITATE REUNITING or FAMILIES On March 11. 1959. I introduced a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant nonquota status to certain immigrants who are brothers. sisters. sons. or daughters of American citizens. These close of kin are classified under the fourth preference quota section of the act. and It is unjust and inhumane to prevent them from being reunited with their families. One of the cardinal principles of our immigration laws should be to facilitate the reuniting of families. Fourth preference visas can be issued only when deficiencies occur in the first. second. and third preferences. which are allotted 100 percent of the quota. It is unjust to permit American citizens to file petitions for their brothers. sisters. sons. or daughters. granting them approval and then let them pile up in a huge backlog at the American consulates abroad without the hope of any visas being issued. There are approximately 100.000 petitions on file and many of these were filed as far back as 10 years ago. The petitioners have been waiting hopelessly for many years to be reunited with their parents. brothers. or sisters.