Speech #880107771

When the worker is given the facts. the full story. both sides of the controversy. I will trust his judgment. Our immigration laws admittedly need revision. Many suggestions for revision are being considered in Congress now. Immigration laws are important. but delicate. Any scheme to force a major modification prematurely to specially benefit the Mexican national should be strongly resisted. When revisions of our immigration laws are debated. we should thoroughly consider the demands of all nations equitably. Sudden abandonment of the bracero program would do just what those promoting unlimited Mexican immigration wantcreate an illusion of a great need for Mexican migration into the United States because of the great demands and desires on both sides of the border in the agricultural fields. The bracero program now adequately satisfies both the desires of the Mexicans and the needs of the United States without complicating or prejudicing other industries and areas of our socioeconomic society. If large numbers of Mexican nationals are permitted to immigrate permanently to the United States as freemen. it should be obvious. even mathematically certain. that immigration from other countries will be proportionately reduced. This is extremely unfair to other nationalities. Nationals from Japan. Europe. the Philippines. and many other countries are just as desirous. just as needy. just as willing. just as welcome to come as permanent residents. Once great numbers of Mexican nationals are permitted to enter the United States as permanent residents. citizens. or freemen. other nationals will make the same demands with as much logic. but more precedent. Another group which once opposed an extension of the bracero program was composed of social and religious leaders who. understandably. felt great empathy for the pathetic plight of the migrant farm family and the "wetback." but who confused the "wetback". and the bracero. Many of these people have admitted their mistake. acknowledged that the bracero actually ameliorates the plight of the nomadic farm labor migrations and has almost eliminated the cruel and undesirable aspects of the illegal entrant from Mexico commonly referred to disparagingly as the "wetback." Many of these dedicated people have now indicated their willingness to work to improve the migrants plight by developing programs which will permit the family to remain home. attend school and church regularly. participate in normal community and youth activities. in short. to develop roots. stability. and a sense of belonging. Now that they understand the root and nub of the problem they intend to stick to the principal objective. All proponents of the bracero bill will work with them toward the same objective. However. if mass immigrations are permitted from Mexico into the United States. we can look forward with despair and pity to the even greater migrations hither and thither about the United States. The job of the humanitarian. the social worker. the religious leader. apd the welfare administrator will be multiplied manifold. More pitifully. the cruel plight of the migrant familyespecially the innocent and quite helpless childrenwill be increased manifold and extended to almost every community and city in our country. This can easily be avoided by a simple extension of the bracero program which is the most effective. humanitarian solution yet devised for a tough. socioeconomic problem. We should extend Public Law 78 until a better system is at least proposed.