Speech #860071541

They assimilate quickly. eagerly. and constructively. In the arts and professions. science. religious vocations. business. labor. and public life they are making outstanding contributions to our progress and development. And yet in too many cases they are cut off from brothers. sisters. and even children. natives of Italy. who are prevented by archaic immigration laws from enjoying permanent reunion with them as residents of the United States. This immigration wall that separates members of the same family from one another is indefensible. It is a mockery of our best traditions. Italy has been discriminated against under the national origins formula which places her far down on the list. with a quota allotmentapart from temporary emergency legislation--of only 5.645. At the same time. there are more than 60.000 petitions by U.S. citizens in behalf of brothers. sisters. sons. and daughters. now living in Italy. on file with American consulates in Italy. Some of these petitions were submitted as far back as 10 years ago. It is a cruel deceit to receive and approve these petitions. without changing the rigid immigration laws. Some of these humble people have been waiting and worrying year after year. for our compassionate permission that will enable them to join their relatives in the United States. Fourth preference visas can be issued only when there are vacancies in the first. second. or third preferences which are given 100 percent of the quota. This hardly ever happens in countries with such low quota numbers as Italy. Legislation was passed in September of 1957. permitting spouses and minor children of immigrants admitted under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. to join their families in the United States. This was only a limited solution to the much larger problem of those families that have been separated for decades. I personally know of one old lady in my home city who has not seen her sister in Italy for 45 years. And when she pleads with me for help in getting a visa for her sister. I can only say. "We will try. Maybe there has been some mistake.