Speech #890120678

And at the same time nations such as England can qualify to send entire families at one time and anyone wishing to come to the United States. unless they are disqualified for specified reasons. can do so. We are now considering a significant change in this system. We are considering the enactment of a new immigration law which will do more than voice the U.S. traditional belief in the worth of the individual. The proposed system will abolish the national origins method of choosing immigrants to this Nation and will substitute a plan based on the worth and integrity of each individual without regard to his country or religion. There will still be a system of preferences. but they will not be based on the color of someones skin or where he was born. Instead they will be based on what skills a person has to offer and whether he already has close relatives in this country. Under the existing system. a nonpreference immigrant can often gain easier access to our shores. if he is from England or another similar country. than a highly qualified. preference immigrant from a country such as Italy. Since the original enactment of the national origins system in 1924. we have had many amendments trying to solve the surface problems of this plan. It is time that we go to the heart of the problem and root out the basic trouble once and for all. It is time that we adopt the policy of keeping families together when we admit immigrants to our shores. It is time that we start to consider what an individual has to contribute. not whether those of his same nationality are preponderate in this country. It is time that we enact the Immigration Act of 1965.