Speech #890060332

Korea: Quota is 100 per year. actually admitted 1.250 per year. Indonesia: Quota is 100 per year. actually admitted 1.657 per year. It is evident. therefore. that the national origins quota system no longer controls the number of immigrants we admit each year from countries external to the Western Hemisphere. Another popular misunderstanding is that the annual quota ceiling set by law determines the total number of immigrants authorized for admission each year. The quota limit is 158.361 per year. Over the past 10 years we have admitted approximately 300.000 immigrants each year. Ironically. quota immigrants have averaged no more than 95.000 a year during that period. In more recent years we have added a third system of immigrant admissions which applies only to refugees and is called the parole system That system has two major phases. the socalled fair share refugee program and the Hong Kong refugee program. It has been proposed that this third system of refugee admissions be expanded. Where this would lead is a matter of speculation as well as concern because testimony on this proposal has been both confusing and inconclusive. For these reasons I am advocating immediate and outright repeal of the national origins quota system together with repeal of nonquota status for natives of countries external to the Western Hemisphere and repeal of the system of paroling refugees into the United States. To replace those systems I propose a fixed ceiling of 225.000 immigrant admissions per year from all former quota countries and for all purposes. A maximum ceiling of 20.000 a year for any one country is proposed. exempting from that country ceiling only the husbands. wives. children. fathers. and mothers of U.S. citizens. Natives of the independent countries of the Western Hemisphere would continue in their present status. that is. no numerical limitations or restrictions are proposed on the number of immigrants we will admit from those countries. I have advocated simultaneous repeal of both the national origins quota system and all nonquota provisions of law. I have done so because accident of country of birth is the common denominator of judgment for both the quota system and nonquota system as it applies to natives of the Western Hemisphere. It remains my belief that if we are to remove accident of country of birth as a penalty for some. we should remove it where it serves as a privilege for others. This is necessary. in my judgment. if we are to forge a new immigration system which extends equal treatment to all the nations of the world. However. I am advised by appropriate Government spokesmen that repeal of the special nonquota status for natives of the independent countries of the Western Hemisphere is unacceptable at this time. The selective immigration program I propose. within the total ceiling and the single country ceiling. would be governed by seven preference classes of immigrants. First preference is given. without any limit on the numbers. to spouses. children. and parents of U.S. citizens. The immediate members of families of U.S. citizens would not have to wait 1 day to be admitted to the United States under this provision.