Speech #890107428

As a people. and as libertyloving Americans. we are morally committed to seek a national policy which will make real the simple truth of the words of St. Paul: God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth. Let us make law the fact that each immigrant has a special worth because of his potential contribution to our country and that he should be judged on his individual ability. People should be admitted on the basis of their skills. education. and training. Restrictions on parents. spouses. and children of citizens and permanent alien residents should be eased. Let us put an end to the painful case histories such as that of the naturalized Italian who would be able to bring a maid from England in no time. but who must wait many years to bring his mother or young sister from Italy. The United States and all of our citizens no longer can afford the luxury. if anyone could consider that a luxury. of carrying discriminatory legislation on the statute books. especially when this has become more of an anachronism than ever. We are moving to right racial wrongs at home. It would be foolish as well as unjust not to do the same in our dealings with foreign peoples who seek admission. Our discriminatory immigration laws delight our enemies and dismay our friends abroad. In addition to abolishing the quota system. the Celler bill would give immigration preference to close relatives of U.S. citizens and help reunite families now separated. The total number of immigrants would be only slightly increased. There is no reason to delay action on immigration legislation. I am hopeful that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary will soon approve similar legislation and that once and for all this wrong. which stains our national conscience and blurs our image as the greatest democracy in the world. will be corrected. Mr. President. the Plain Dealer of Cleveland. Ohio. one of the Nations great newspapers. recently published a series of three editorials which are excellent commentaries on our immigration problem. I ask unanimous consent that the editorials be included at this point in the RECORD as part of my remarks.