Speech #880049675

Mr. President. in a speech on February 11. 1963. before the International Institute in Providence. I cited the need for legislation to wipe out the distinction between naturalized and nativeborn citizens. Mr. President. on behalf of myself and the Senator from Michigan . I shall introduce a bill which will help to eradicate these discriminatory laws and will impose a reasonable statute of limitations on deportation proceedings. My bill would repeal section 352 of the Immigration and Nationality Actthe section that calls for the loss of nationality of any naturalized citizen who lives continuously for a period of 3 years or more in the foreign country of his former nationality or birth. My bill would also disallow any deportation proceeding against an alien lawfully admitted to permanent residence in the United States who has been physically present in this country for a period of not less than 10 years. It would disallow. too. such proceedings if the conduct for which an alien might be deportable occurred more than 10 years prior to the institution of proceedings against him. Finally. my bill would strike out that portion of the act which allows as grounds for revocation of naturalization a persons refusal within a period of 10 years to testify as a witness before a congressional committee concerning his subversive activities if that person is convicted of contempt for such refusal. The case of Angelika L. Schneider. brought vividly to our attention in an editorial. in the May 28 edition of the Washington Post. entitled "Overly Harsh Penalty." is a striking and dramatic example of the discrimination in our immigration lawsa discrimination which makes secondclass citizens of those who are naturalized. I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed at this point in the RECORD.