Speech #870039116

Mr. Speaker. could the process of visa issuance to visitors be further simplified? Having reviewed the regulations promulgated by the Department of State and personally observed the operations abroad. I do not believe that much could be further improved in a situation where a nonimmigrant visa to the United States is issued in 30 minutes flat. authorizing the holder to enter the United States an unlimited number of times within 4 years without practically anyone taking an additional look at him. Similarly. I do not believe that the application form establishing the visitors identity and nationality on a card. size 2/2 inches by 5 inches. could shrink much further. Could visas for tourists be abolished altogether? Certainly not. considering the fact that as of January 25. 1961. there was a worldwide total of almost 1 million966.675aliens who by registering at an American consulate have taken the affirmative step to indicate their desire to come to the United States and remain in this country permanently. Of this number. 253.183 are registered for immigration in Italy. 100.022 in Greece. 71.057 in Poland. 38.891 in Portugal. 135.630 in Yugoslavia. 23.433 in Jamaica. 14.833 in Spain. and so forth. Considering this constant pressure upon our immigration quotas. how could this country forego one simpleand rather perfunctorycheck on whether the tourist is not. in fact. an immigrant who desires to enter the United States in the guise of a nonimmigrant. while he actually intends to evade the regulatory laws. I would invite my colleagues of the House to review the files of the Committee on the Judiciary and see how many of the alleged tourists have private bills introduced in their behalf for the purpose of granting them permanent residence status. The Immigration and Naturalization Service would also. I am sure. be happy to indicate the number of tourists who. having entered the United States. fell in love with this wonderful country to the extent that they do not mind violating its laws by remaining here. Having said all that. I wish to stress. Mr. Speaker. that the committee upon which the House has imposed the responsibility for handling immigration matters. has done all that is possible to encourage the Departments of State and Justice to facilitate the issuance of visas to bona fide tourists. businessmen. newspapermen. students. transit passengers. and others. Your committee has been responsible for legislation providing for a variety of waivers of excluding provisions in the case of visitors. Your committee has encouraged the administrators of the law to use the waivers andnaturallyto use good sense in granting them. Your committee has promoted the stationing of immigration officers abroad in order to expedite and facilitate the granting of waivers. Your committee is convinced that any further relaxation of these procedures would be detrimental to the best interest of the United States. Existing procedures. however. provide for fair. equitable. and speedy removal of the obstacles that a deserving alien visitor might be faced with.