Speech #860078751

In other words. they want the act to be retroactiveto reach back and cover laws passed decades ago. laws even passed 100 years ago. Let me give you an illustration. We passed in 1952 the Nationality and Immigration Act. and thereafter the State of Pennsylvania passed a statute requiring the registration of aliens. The Nationality and Immigration Act referred also and applied also to the registration of aliens. It contains a provision requiring aliens to register. In the case of Hines against Davidowitz. the Supreme Court struck down the Pennsylvania statute and said that the Federal statute must prevail. That is under the present rule of construction The Nationality and Immigration Act had no words of preemption. If this bill is passed and any State would enact laws requiring registration of aliens. then those aliens would have to register. There would be no positive conflict. thus aliens would be compelled to register twice.