Speech #880016392

Mr. Speaker. on February 21. 1963. the Honorable EMANUEL CELLER. chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. of which I am a member. introduced H.R. 3926 to eliminate our national origin quota system. I am heartily in favor of this proposed legislation and have introduced today an identical bill. to indicate my strong support. Since 1924. our immigration system has been based upon the unfair and discriminatory principles of national origin. Under present laws. controlling factors as to whether an immigrant may be admitted to the United States. his admission delayed. or refused. are area of the world in which he was born. his race. and nationality. My bill would eliminate this A1218 repugnant principle. It provides that the person he is. and his fitness to be"come a citizen of the United States would determine his right to come herenot his place of birth. his race. or his nationality. The bill provides for a total annual immigration quota of 250.000 to be distributed among four specifically defined classes: first. family unification class. second. occupational class. third. refugee asylum class. and fourth. resettlement class. There would be an annual distribution of the overall immigration quota under the following procedure. Each year the President of the United States. after consulting with the Secretaries of State. Commerce. and Labor. and with the Attorney General. would submit to the Congress. prior to March 1. the proposed allocation for each of the four classes and Congress will have 60 days following the submission of the Presidents proposal to disapprove it by passing a concurrent resolution. If thi proposal is not disapprovedby the Congress. it takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year immediately following. If the Congress disagrees with the President. the allocation effective in the preceding fiscal year would automatically become effective. The flexible distribution of a permanently fixed annual quota will permit us to decide what category of immigrants would at any particular time best serve our countrys needs and suit world conditions. I would point out that an important provision of the bill provides a guarantee that no unfair distribution of immigrant visas for the benefit of inhabitants of one particular country can take place. Within each of the four classes. no more than 15 percent of the annual allocation could be issued to inhabitants of any single country. My assistance has been asked in hundreds of immigration cases. and I know the suffering and heartache endured by countless persons who are prevented from coming to our country because of our antiquated and unfair quota system based on national origin and race. Many must be registered with a U.S. consul for half a lifetime before they can be reached under the quota. many do not live long enough to be reached. It is high time that we let intending immigrants know that we shall be happy to admit them as soon as possible and practicable. if they meet reasonable qualificationsthat is. that they will be considered as persons. individualsnot solely on the basis of geography or color of skin. Brotherhoodlove for our fellow man--should be our guiding motives. not cruel discrimination and implied downgrading of human beings because of their race. color. or place of birth. The bill also contains additional proposed amendments to remove restrictive features such as the needless distinctions between natural born and naturalized citizens. it also provides for a statute of limitations on deportations. It seeks improvement of administrative structure as well as of administrative and judicial review. Our Committee on the Judiciary last year undertook an extensive study of population and immigration problems. This study is being continued. and it is hoped that helpful results will be obtained. I feel certain that the study will prove conclusively the need for the new legislation covered by this bill. I trust that the Congress will rdalistically approach the problem and take favorable action so that these greatly needed improvements in our immigration and nationality laws will become a reality. Humanities Free Men From Fear and Ignorance