Speech #890120776

Mr. Chairman. until the early 1900s. immigration to the United States was relatively unrestricted. After the First World War. the first quota laws were enacted. with the intent of reducing southern European Immigration. The immigration law now In effect is the McCarranWalter Act. passed over the veto of President Truman in 1952. Its most important feature Is the quota system which provides annual quotas for each country equal to onesixth of 1 percent of the inhabitants in the United States in 1920 who have national origins in the country in question. There is a minimum quota of 100 for each country. On January 13 of this year. President Johnson sent a message to Congress proposing legislation to amend the McCarranWalter Act. He said that his proposed bill would not alter any of the current security restrictions on immigrants and that no immigrants admitted under this bill could contribute to unemployment in the United States. H said that this bill would "return the United States to an immigration policy which both serves the national interest and continues our traditional ideals." In an era in which we are offering greater opportunity for all Americansopportunity for freedom from poverty and illiteracy. from exploitation and discriminationthe existing immigration and nationality act is outdated. The immigration policies basing admission to our shores on national origin are inconsistent with our goal of equality of opportunity in America. The existing law places more emphasis on an individuals place of birth or the way he spells his name than his skills and the work he can do. The existing law discriminates against those people from southern Europe and other areas of the world.