Speech #880062152

Reallocations are subject to disapproval by a concurrent resolution of both Houses of Congress. Third. It eliminates quota provisions which now discriminate against Asiatic and colonial peoples. Fourth. It establishes a Board of Visa Appeals in the State Department to review questions involving the denial of visas and the application or meaning of State Department regulations applying to immigration. Fifth. It establishes a statute of limitations whereby no alien may be deported by reason of conduct occurring more than 10 years prior to the institution of deportation proceedings. Sixth. It affords Judicial review of citizenship questions and of both exclusion and deportation orders rather than only of deportation orders. Seventh. It eliminates a disadvantage of naturalized citizens. as compared with naturalborn citizens. through loss of nationality because of residence abroad. Eighth. It grants nonquota status to fourth preference immigrants. that is. brothers. sisters. sons. or daughters of citizens. whose petitions were approved by the Attorney General prior to January 1. 1963. Madam President. with unhappy accuracy. our national immigration policy opens our national doors wide for many people who do not care to come in. but slams them in the faces of people who would cherish the opportunity to be U.S. citizens. Like most spite walls. it is as harassing to those within as to those without. It is so offensive to fair minded Americans. whom it is presumably designed to protect. that it has produced a flood of backdoor finagling and occasional circumvention by Congress itself. Each week scores of families stream into congressional officesincluding my own. in New York Cityto appeal for he.p. Private immigration bills make up a major portion of our Federal legislation. And yet immigration reform today Is largely a dormant issue.