Speech #870220145

Speaker. 10 years ago. on June 27. 1952. Vice President Alben W. Barkley and Speaker Sam Rayburn affixed their signatures to H.R. 5678 of the 82d Congress. the bill enacting the Immigration and Nationality Act. the basic code governing immigration in the United States and Implementing the provisions of the Constitution relating to U.S. nationality and naturalization in the United States. Thus. having been approved by twothird majorities of the House and the Senate. the Presidents veto notwithstanding. the Immigration and Nationality Act. commonly referred to as the WalterMcCarran Act. has. as of today. attained its 10th anniversary. In that period of timeusing round figures2.5 million immigrants entered this country. 1.1 million of those came from countries of the Western Hemisphere where no quota restrictions apply. 1.3 million aliens became naturalized citizens of the United States. 7.8 million visitors. students. businessmen. diplomats. foreign government officials. and other nonimmigrants entered this country. 130.000 aliens were forcibly deported and 20.000 aliens excluded on our sea and land borders. and the alien population in the United States stood at the end of 1961 at 3 million persons. orat leastthat is the number of aliens who reported their whereabouts to the Attorney General. Seventynine percent of the alien population is concentrated in 10 StatesCalifornia. New York.