Speech #870299441

Mr. President. this bill provides a mild measure of much needed relief to two deserving categories of immigrants. In the first category are sons. daughters. brothers. and sisters of American citizens. Under present law. these are socalled fourth preference aliens. who have been unable to join their relatives in America because of long waiting lists under the restrictive national origins quota. This bill would give nonquota status to those who have been on a fourth preference quota waiting list since before March 31. 1954. This will mean that perhaps 10.000 or more relatives of Americans would be able to come to this country freed of the quota restrictions which now bar their entry. The second category of aliens affected by the bill is the socalled first preference group consisting of aliens who have unusual skills or qualifications which are expected to contribute significantly to our economic and cultural life. Thousands of these skilled specialists who have been approved for permanent residence in the United States. but who have. again. been barred by oversubscribed 1.962 quotas. could be able to enter the country. Still others in this group. who are in the United States on only a temporary or parole basis. could be able to adjust their status to that of permanent residents. While I am gratified that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary has taken favorable action on the bill. no one should be deceived into thinking that it is anything more than a stopgap measure to alleviate only the worst of the many harsh situations brought about by our present immigration laws. I was extremely disappointed to see the original measure amended before being reported so as to cut down the number of eligible persons among the relatives of American citizens. Those who have been on waiting lists for as long as 8 years. and who still have a wait in front of them as a result cutting back the relevant date in todays bill. will find no reason to applaud this token gesture of interest. Nothing has grieved me more than to see another session of the Congress draw to a close without enactment of a wholesale reform of the immigration laws. This failure to act is largely the result of the administrations lack of pressure for immigration reform this year. I would hope. on such a nonpartisan issue of simple humanity and justice. that next year a broad and thoroughgoing law revision will be taken up. rather than piecemeal relief of the sort that todays bill represents. At this date in the session. it is apparent that this bill represents the only possibility for relaxing some of the hardships caused by the present law.