Speech #870147153

Mr. Speaker. in our endeavors to strengthen the economic and military defenses of the free world we should recognize immigration policy as one of the elements in achieving economic and political stability as well as social equilibrium. Immigration policy is an essential part of our diplomacy. Nine years have elapsed since our present immigration lawthe McCarranWalter Act of 1952has seen a revision. Several related laws have been passed in the meantime. however. they have been mostly temporary in nature and designed to meet an emergency need. This session of Congress saw an important achievement in the first substantial revision and codification of the Immigration Act of 1952. The Alien Orphans Adoption Program. which previously was subejct to periodical temporary extensions. was made permanent. Under this program. since 1957. about 10.000 orphans have come into this country. The lives of thousands of helpless orphans and of many American couples who will make homes for these children will be brightened because of this legislation. Of tremendous importance is the provision which will expedite the entrance into this country of about 18.000 spouses. parents. and unmarried children of naturalized citizens and aliens who have already been admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Those close relatives whose visa petitions were approved by July 1. 1961. will now be issued nonquota immigration visas and will shortly be reunited with their families here in the United States. This will remove a terrible hardship and rotnedy many psychological. moral and economic problems caused by the separation of families for years. Also included in the omnibus revisions is the creation of a single. statutory form of judicial review of alien deportation and exclusion orders issued by the Justice Department. Other progressive revisions in our outdated immigration law eliminate the requirement that a visa applicant state his race and ethnic classification in his application. Korean war veterans are granted equal naturalization privileges as now accorded veterans of World War I and World War Il. The 2.000 quota ceiling currently imposed on the AsianPacific triangle is removed so that newly independent nations will be eligible for a minimum annual quota of 100. without causing a reduction of quota numbers from other Asian and Pacific areas. Newly independent countries are assured a quota equal to the total quota currently set for each of the parts which comprised the new nation. Laws against "sham" marriages which are entered into for the purpose of evading immigration laws are tightened. Another revision which will preserve family unity permits the spouse and children of a retired naturalized U.S. citizen. over 60 years of age. to remain with their spouse or parent without losing their naturalized citizenship. Closely related to immigration policy is our refugee program. In the face of world tensions and political oppression attention is focusing once again on the world refugee problem. President Kennedy has called for increased attention to the U.S. refugee resettlement programs and legislative action to strengthen our programs. Legislation that will centralize the authority to conduct and to appropriate funds to support U.S. refugee programs is in conference and in all likelihood will be enacted in the second session. Our refugee programs are of utmost importance in our presentday world. If a person risk flight from behind the Iron Curtain. but finds no haven in the free world. his escape from communism will end in complete disillusionment with democracy. President Kennedys pledge to revise the immigration law to make it more humanitarian and to reunite families has been carried out through enactment of Public Law 87301. This is just the first step in an overall revision to be undertaken under the leadership of President Kennedy who while serving in Congress was one of the top authorities on immigration matters. Our immigration policy will be adjusted to the condition of the world of today and tomorrow and to our place and role in that world. Our hands need not be tied to national origin quotas based on legislation enacted over 35 years ago in circumstances which no longer exist. We are capable of admitting. absorbing. and assimilating more newcomers than is permitted under present legislation. The legislation enacted this session is proof that the Democratic administration is well on its way toward the thorough modernization of our immigration policy necessary if we are to accept our responsibility as leader in the worlds struggle for peace and freedom. For. if we fiil to modernize our immigration policy we will negate our own best interest in foreign affairs. as well as our own domestic. economic. and social wellbeing. Report on the 1st Session. 87th Congress. by Hon. Peter W.