Speech #870270209

A limited patchwork of minor modifications has been added to it during the last 10 years. The major fault of the law. however. remains intact. That is the national origins quota principle. which determines the upper limit of quota immigrants admitted each year from each foreign country. There is a widespread recognition that the national origins quota system does not work in operation and. because of this. that it discriminates on a racial basis against those whom it bars from entering the United States. How can this system be viewed as other than racial discrimination. when there are nearly 900.000 on visa waiting lists throughout the world while the quota of other countries go largely unused? Both the Republican and Democratic platforms for 1960 had immigration planks in them striking at the national origins quota system and other discriminatory provisions of the law as it now stands. I would call the attention of President Kennedy. the sponsor of numerous immigration bills as a Congressman and Senator. to the field of U.S. immigration policythe lost horizon of the New Frontier.