Speech #880297898

There was unanimous agreement that the program should continue. Illegal entry into either country ought to be prohibited by vigorous law enforcement. The problem of permanent visas was discussed. In its immigration laws the United States of America does not impose quota restrictions on Mexico. nor on the nations of the Western Hemisphere. While there were divergencies of view as to what action should be taken on the question of when permanent visas are for strictly permanent work. there was agreement that the matter should be studied. Mr. President. the irony is that with the expiration of Public Law 78. foreign workers can still come into this country as a regular nonquota immigrant. under Public Law 414 which authorizes the granting of a permanent visa. The Mexican Government has long been worried about this procedure. known as the green card program. Under it. Mexican farmworkers can emigrate to the United States to become permanent residents. These immigrants are admitted to our country on a permanent basis. when an American grower files a letter with our Immigration Service offering permanent employment to the Mexican worker and the Department of Labor certifies that domestic labor is not available. There is. of course. no guarantee that the green card workers will stay on the farm. They are free to change employment once they establish residence here. All too frequently they move on to a metropolitan area and seek a job opportunity there. thus adding to the unemployment problems of our cities. The green card worker has no protection such as the bracero does who has a contract with his employer or the employers association establishing wages and working conditions. In fiscal year 1962. 54.952 U.S. immigration visas were granted to Mexican citizens to enter the United States. It is estimated that at least 80 percent of these were former braceros who were now coming to America as green card agricultural workers. But. the green card worker cannot solve the growers demand for labor needed only for a short period. Mr. President. on September 24. 1964. the McClatchy newspapers located in Sacramento.