Speech #890119600

This relief has application to persons who flee from or otherwise escape from the countries behind the Iron Curtain. Tenth. With respect to immigration from the independent Republics of the Western Hemisphere. which has never been subjected to numerical limitations. the bill makes the following changes: First. Jamaica and TrinidadTobago are accorded the same status as all other independent Republics of this hemisphere. They were granted independence in 1961 and we found no reason to treat them differently than any other country with independent status in our hemisphere. Second. The new labor controls I have described will apply to all natives of the independent Republics of the Western Hemisphere who seek admission to the United States as worker immigrants. Spouses. children. and parents of U.S. citizens or of permanent resident aliens are the only exemptions from these new controls. Third. Adjustment of status in the United States or natives of the independent Republics of this hemisphere is prohibited. This prohibition results from the deceptive practice of people entering the United States on a visitors visa with the clear intent ta remain permanently in the United States. Evidence indicates the growth of this practice in recent years demands a clear remedy. Fourthly. When immigration from the independent republics of the Western Hemisphere exceeds by 10 percent or more the average of the past 5 years. the President is required to report ta Congress. with such recommendations as he may have. Eleventh. The bill establishes a new class of aliens who are mandatorily excluded from admission.