Speech #870141775

Mr. Speaker. the high tide of immigrationas a percentage of our populationtook place in the hundred years between 1830 and 1930. reaching its peak in the period between 1901 and 1910. when 8.795.386 people left their homes in foreign lands to start a new life in the United States. There was plenty of room for them in our spacious country and in our expanding industries. We needed their help. We welcomed them. There were more than utilitarian reasons for the generous immigration policy of the United States. With the exception of less than half a million Indians. the fathers and forefathers of all other Americans were immigrants. That is why we have a special understanding and sympathy for the tens of millions of people in other lands who are sustained by the hope that someday they will be permitted to enter our sanctuary of freedom and opportunity. In the harbor of New York is the massive Statute of Liberty enlightening the world. rising 305 feet from the foundation of the pedestal to the torch. It was the first greeting that became the most precious memory of the many immigrants who landed atNew York. Graven on a tablet within the pedestal of the "Mother of Exiles" are these lines from the famous poem by Emma Lazarus: Give me your tired. your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free * 0 *. After World War I. however. motivated by unreasoning prejudice. the U.S. Government adopted the muchcriticized quota system for regulating and limiting the influx of immigrants from some countries. while providing much larger and often unused quotas for others. To quote a few examples. the normal immigration quota is: 6.488 for Poland. 5.666 for Italy. 384 for Lithuania. 308 for Greece. 100 for Lebanon. and 65.361 for Great Britain and Ulster. Since the end of World War II. the Congress has passed special laws providing admission to the United States. of limited numbers of refugees. and especially those who fled Hungary after the heroic but futile revolution against their treacherous Communist masters. Every Member of Congress has been frustrated in trying to explain the impersonal technicalities of the quota system to an alien constituent who has but one concern and that is: how to get official authorization for his wife and children to be reunited with him in the United States. In answer to his plea for help. our answers sound evasive. Finally. in S. 2237. a little light begins to appear through the thicket of redtape. For instance. this bill will permit the entry of certain eligible alien orphans. The term "eligible orphans" means those who are under 14 years of age at the time that petitions in their behalf were filed. who are orphans because of the death or disappearance of both parents. or because of abandonment. or desertion. or separation or loss from both parents. or who only have one parent because of the above reasons. Providing that this one parent is incapable of taking care of the "orphan." and releases the child in writing for emigration and adoption. If such a child is adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen and spouse. or comes to the United States for adoption under these circumstances. the natural parent or prior adoptive parent of such child shall not thereafter by virtue of such parentage. acquire any right. privilege or status under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Any alien eligible for a quota immigrant status on the basis of a petition filed with the Attorney General before July 1. 1961. shall be considered a nonquota immigrant. and. if otherwise admissible. shall be issued a nonquota immigrant visa. Provided. that he has retained his relationship to the petitioner. and his status. as established in the approved petition. This provision is designed to expedite the reunification of certain families of citizens of the United States and immigrants admitted for permanent residence. Other provisions moderate the rigid restrictions and make it possible for an alien suffering from tuberculosis to be reunited with a close relative in the United States. Other aliens. who would be excludable because convicted of a misdemeanor. may be admitted. provided. they individually committed only one such offense. Basically. if the aliens exclusion would result in extreme hardship to the U.S. citizen or lawfully resident spouse. parent. or son or daughter of such alien. and his admission would not be contrary to the national welfare. safety. or security of the United States. the Attorney General may in his discretion and pursuant to such terms. conditions. and procedures as he may by regulations prescribe. consent to the aliens applying. or reapplying. for a visa and for admission to the United States. The proposed amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act ease the way for aliens to be reunited with their close relatives in the United States. And they prove that the Congress gives every consideration to human values in its determination of an immigration policy that truly reflects the ideals of our free society.