Speech #890119535

Workers needed who fall into specific labor shortages. Fourth. Refugees from communism. Many people have been led to believe that the present existing national origins quota system has been a rockbound. foolproof mechanism to regulate Immigration into the United States. It has not worked out that way in practical application concerning immigration in the past. Fifteen years ago. nonquota immigration had equaled quota immigration. The quota system had been in actual practice for 25 years. During the past 15 years. nonquota immigration increased to the point that it has now doubled quota immigration. This trend will be curtailed by the passage of this legislation. Immigration into the United States has indeed been generous since World War II and the system. has not been working for the best interest of the United States. We have been admitting 300.000 immigrants for the past 10 years and this situation has been brought about. indirectly. by enacting over 10 separate pieces of immigration legislation during the past 12 years. The quota system has been indeed outmoded and this bill will permit selective immigration admissions. This bill will allow 170.000 immigrants per year exclusive of spouses. children. and parents of U.S. citizens from countries outside the Western Hemisphere and includes 10.200 refugees a year. In abolishing the national quota system. this legislation used as its guidepost family unification. Spouses. children. and parents of U.S. citizens come first and there is no numerical limit placed on their admissions. The other preferences flow in this order20 percent to unmarried children over 21 years of age of U.S. citizens. 20 percent to spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens. 10 percent to persons who are members of the professions and who because of their exceptional ability in the sciences and the arts will substantially benefit the national economy. cultural interests. or welfare of the United States. 10 percent to married sons or married daughters of U.S. citizens. 24 percent to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. 10 percent to persons who are capable of performing specified skilled or unskilled labor. not of temporary or seasonal nature. for which there is a demonstrated shortage of employable and willing workers in the United States. 6 percent to refugees who are victims of Communist or other totalitarian persecution. under procedures wherein U.S. officials are in exclusive control from start to finish. The latter provision means that an applicant does not have to prove that he will be subjected to physical torture or to the death chamber if forced to return to his native land. The present law is a mixture of laws and regulations that renders the enforcement complex and cumbersome. The department is fortunate to have a career commissioner. Raymond Farrell. 25 years servicewho has made a great record as head of the Immigration Department. New labor controls are established on the admission of all immigrant worker classes. These new controls require the Secretary of Labor to make an affirmative finding on an individual case basis. The job the immigrant worker will fill in the locality to which he is destined must be one where there is no willing. qualified. and available American worker. The Secretary of Labor must also find that the admission of such immigrant workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers similarly employed In the United States. The new labor controls are mandatory for all immigrants except the relative preference classes and the limited number of refugees. These new labor controls were recommended by the AFLCIO and have the strong support of labor. I do think this legislation. if enacted into law. sets out major changes which will be the answer to our troublesome Immigration problems and discriminations in past years against friendly nations and friendly people. Testimony given by our Secretary of State and two Attorney Generals revealed that the outmoded quota system has done untold damages in our foreign relations with certain friendly countries because of implied favoritism for the nations of some countries as against the citizens of other countries seeking entrance to our great and free land. I hope the Congress enacts this immigration legislation without any major amendments.