Speech #890138030

But I feel that the record on the matter of deportation has been established in the committee and it has been quite clear since the very earliest date when the Attorney General of the United States testified before the committee. that this matter merited further. real. consideration. The Attorney General was subjected to considerable examination and questioning by the Senator from New York . who has demonstrated great concern. not only on this matter. but on the establishment of a board of visa appeals. as well as by other members of the committee who have been concerned about the question of deportations and other matters affecting the basic rights of citizens. both naturalized and alien. The Senator from Rhode Island has followed the hearings closely and has been deeply concerned about the question of deportation. He has spoken to me. and I know to other members of the committee. Many other Members of the Senate have likewise expressed their concern. So I thank the Senator from Oregon for once more. as the senior Senator from New York has done earlier in the day. doing great service on the whole question by suggesting the need for active consideration in this area. During the discussions and the markup in the subcommittee. we had assurances from the Attorney General that this would be a matter of concern to his office. and should be a matter of concern to the members of the committee. Moreover. in the committee report. on page 26. under the title of "Other Matters." it is stated: As previously indicated. the instant bill does not embody a comprehensive revision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Certainly. Mr. President. If it did. the matters raised by the senior Senator from Oregon unquestionably would have to be considered and perhaps included. The report goes on to state: However. the Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization did give consideration to many proposals contained In other bills pending before the subcommittee which would have amended the Immigration and Nationality Act in other respects. Included in the suggested changes were proposals to establish a Board of Visa Appeals and to establish a statute of limitations in deportation cases. In the course of the subcommittees consideration of those two proposals. it was indicated by the Attorney General that while he did not think it appropriate at this time to institute such changes without further study. he expressed his willingness to undertake a complete study of the proposals. to discuss the desirability of the establishment of a Board of Visa Appeals with the Secretary of State and to report seasonably on the above matters. Mr. President. the Attorney General of the United States has written his views to me. and I should like to read into the RECORD at this point the body of his letter to me under date of September 16. 1965: