Speech #870008466

Great Britain has a large quota that is not entirely used65.360and Spain a small one250--that is constantly oversubscribed. Pursuant to the amendment. the President could in the next year increase the Spanish quota by adding to it the quota numbers or any portion of them not used by nationals of Great Britain this year. Section 2 repeals section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under existing law. section 207. once a visa is issued the quota number allocated is regarded as used. Hence. if the individual to whom the visa is issued does not come to the United States that quota number is not available to any other national of that country who may desire to migrate to the United States. The proposed repeal of section 207 would make it possible to reissue quota numbers in such cases and would to that extent make possible a more complete utilization of quota allocations. Section 3 amends subsection 212 (d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and under section 3 (a) empowers the Attorney General to parole or let into the United States up to 60.000 refugees in any one year and defines the term "refugee" to include first aliens who because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion or political opinfon have fled from any Communist area. and second. aliens who cannot on account of religion. race. or political opinion return to the Middle East. Section 3(b) provides that an alien who is admissible as a refugee under section 3(a) and who does not have in his possession documents as required by section 212. subdivision (a) (2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall be regarded as lawfully admitted for permanent residence as of the date of his arrival and that the quota for an area shall not be decreased by reason of the lawful admission of such alien. Under existing law there is no express provision for the admission of refugees generally as immigrants. The proposed amendment would authorize the Attorney General to parole into the United States each year up to 60.000 refugees. defined as aliens who fled or flee from Communist countries or any country within the Middle East because of persecution. who cannot return on account of race. religion or political opinions. Aliens so paroled who are found to be admissible as immigrants are to be regarded as admitted for permanent residence as of the date of their entry into the United States. The documentary requirements of section 212(a) (20) visas and passports do not apply to such cases and the aliens are considered as nonquota. that is. no reduction in quota allocations would result. Section 4 amends section (4) of the Immigration Act of September 22. 1959Public Law 86363. Section 4 of my bill provides that an alien who is registered on a consular waiting list under a priority date earlier than December 31. 1955 and is eligible for quota immigrant status on second. third. or fourth preference on the basis of a petition approved by the Attorney General before January 1. 1961. and the spouse and children of such alien shall be held to be nonquota immigrants and shall be issued nonquota immigrant visas. Under the existing statute. section 203. parents of citizens of the United States who are 21 years of age or older. the unmarried sons and daughters of citizens. the spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. and the brothers. sisters. married sons. and married daughters are entitled to preferences in the issuance of quota immigrant visas. The amendment accords nonquota status to aliens of the classes listed above registered on consular waiting lists before December 31. 1955. as entitled to a preference under section 203 as parents of U.S. citizens or children of citizens. spouses. or unmarried sons or daughters of lawful permanent residents. and brothers. sisters. married sons. or married daughters of U.S. citizens. provided visa petitions for them were approved before January 1. 1961. and provided the alien applicant has the status and relationship to the petitioner as he had at the time the visa was approved. The proposed amendment declaring aliens of the classes listed above to be nonquota would permit their immediate entry and obviate their having to wait indefinitely until quota numbers become available. Section 5 amends section 203(a) (2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section revises the provisions relating to persons in second preference status and grants second preference status to unmarried brothers or unmarried sisters of U.S. citizens as well as to parents of U.S. citizens. Section 5(b) amends section 203 (a) (4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act by revising the provisions relating to an allotment of quotas and limits fourth quota status to married brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. The unmarried sisters and brothers of U.S. citizens are granted second preference status under the terms of section 5 of my bill. Under existing law. second preference status in the issuance of quota numbers is accorded to the parents of citizens of the United States who are at least 21 years of age. to the unmarried sons or daughters of citizens of the United States.