Speech #860224537

Mr. President. at 10 oclock this morning. the 1.000.000th migrant from Europe to a new home overseas was scheduled to arrive at Idlewild International Airport in New York. This is a significant event in our history. Historically. the search of men and women for a new land. for freedom of speech. religion. press. association. and consciencein essence. for a new lifebrought the Pilgrims and migrants and many others to the shores of America. Inscribed upon the Statue of Liberty at New York Harbor are the words of Emma Lazarus which reflectmore. perhaps. than any formal lawsthe welcoming spirit of the new land to migrants from the old world: Give me your tired. your poor. your huddled masses. yearning to breathe freeThe wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these. the homeless. tempesttossed. to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door. We recognize. of course. that as our population has increased it has been necessary to redefine immigration policies. not only to serve the original objective of providing new homes for people from other lands seeking a new life. but also to consider the impact which the influx of persons would have upon our own population. employment. our economy. and the Nation generally. To those who forget that almost all of us are descendents of immigrants from other lands. however. we need to stress that the inflow of persons from abroad represents not merely "another mouth to feed" greater competition for jobs. a new social and economic burden. rather. these people of other lands historically have brought with them a wide variety of ingenious skills. new and old ideas. different cultures. often a greater respect for freedom than can be found here at home. and a wide variety of "positive factors" which have enriched our way of life. The event of the arrival of the 1.000.000th migrantAndrejs Surtis. a 10yearold Latvian refugee boyshould. I believe. cause America to stop and think. to remember the enrichmen which immigration has brought to thi country. and to have a new awareness of the need for adopting a realistic immigration policy to meet the needs of modem times. Recently. I was pleased to receive from John W.