Speech #890105736

Speaker. I am today introducing a bill in behalf of Mr. Juan A. del Real. a Cuban refugee who is graduating from St. Louis University Law School in February of 1966. Because of the dilemma of the requirements for admission to the Missouri Bar Association and their interrelationship with the naturalization laws. Mr. del Real finds that he could not practice law for a period of approximately 8 to 9 months. Mr. del Reals case is one that has its counterpart in most of the States of our country. The bar associations of States like Missouri require that a person must be a citizen of the United States before he is admitted for membership. After leaving Cuba in November of 1960 because of the existing political situation there. Mr. del Real declared himself a political refugee. He married an American girl and lived in St. Louis until November of 1963. When he made inquiries about becoming an American citizen. he was told that the time he had spent in this country as a refugee would not count toward the 3year period of time necessary for the spouse of an American citizen to become naturalized. Due to this fact. he left the United States and went to the Dominican Republic where he applied for and was granted a residence visa. He reentered the United States on November 7. 1963. as a permanent resident. Although Mr. del Real has already spent over 3 years in the United States. most of the time did not count toward citizenship since he was a refugee. and he will not be entitled to U.S. citizenship and membership in the Missouri Bar Association until November 7. 1966. about 9 months after his graduation from St. Louis University Law School. It is for this reason I am introducing a bill which would have the effect of holding that the time he spent in this country as a refugee will be considered in compliance with section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as it relates to residence and physical presence. Of course. the bill would have to be approved before or soon after February of 1966 in order to prove beneficial. If it were not approved.