Speech #860024753

The bill will be received and appropriately referred. and. without objection. the resolution will be printed in the RECORD. . The bill to amend the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. as amended. to provide a certain number of visas for persons of Armenian origin. introduced by Mr. SALTONSTALL (for himself and Mr: KENNEDY). was received. read twice by its title. and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The resolution presented by Mr. SALTONSTALL is as follows: Whereas the Congress of the United States has been sympathetic toward the plight of World War II refugees. escapees and other oppressed peoples of Europe. Asia. and Middle East by providing special legislations for the entry of these peoples as immigrants under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 and Public Law 85316. and Whereas persons of Armenian ethnic origin. following the outbreak of World War I. World War II and numerous other conflicts in the Middle East suffered reprisals because of their race and Christian beliefs and experienced mass deportation. massacres and tortures comparable to the suffering of any other minority in the world history. and Whereas these persons of Armenian ethnic origin have found temporary refuge in the Middle East and European countries as escapees and deportees. but have not resettled and are still considered and classified as refugees where they reside. and Whereas based upon the figures submitted by the U.S. Department of State. Visa Division. on August 1. 1958. it is estimated that approximately 40.000 persons of Armenian ethnic origin have registered at the American Consulates abroad to join their relatives and friends. and find asylum in the United States. and that many thousands of others have attempted to register but have been discouraged. because of the hopelessness of their ever being granted a visa by reason of the fact that they are chargeable to countries whose quota allocation is less than 310 annually and in most cases to quota areas of 100 annually. and Whereas Americans of Armenian origin residing in the United States have at all times distinguished themselves by their loyalty and resourcefulness. and as a minority group of approximately 250.000 have contributed greatly to the growth and enrichment of the United States. and have upheld the principles of democracy and have fought for the preservation of our institutions and our way of life during two World Wars and the Korean conflict. and Whereas the Americans of Armenian origin residing in the United States are capable and willing to sponsor qualified immigrants and provide suitable employment. housing facilities. and other resettlement assistance. and Whereas the Congress of the United States has enacted special legislation authorizing the admission of refugees and escapees of the Chinese. Dutch. German. Hungarian. Italian and Portuguese origin: Therefore be it Resolved. That 10.000 special nonquota visas be allocated to persons of Armenian ethnic origin seeking entry to the United States as immigrants. and to their spouses and the unmarried sons and daughters under 21 years of age accompanying them. Submitted on December 11. 1958. by the Council for Immigration and Resettlement of Armenians to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee at Washington. D.C.