Speech #890138273

In summary. then. it may be observed that the proposed revisions of the quota provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act contained in the bill. H.R. 2580. constitute a complete reversal of the policy expressed in the national origins quota provisions. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides for a maximum quota with an empirical formula for the allocation of the quota numbers. That formula does not contemplate the mandatory issuance of all numbers made available. but rather that the flow of immigrants up to the maximum will be in accordance with the formula. Under the provisions of H.R. 2580. however. the overall quota of 170.000 will be a minimum quota as the provisions of the bill are designed to insure full use of all quota numbers each year. Mr. President. this is the loosely drawn bill which we are asked to hastily enact into law for the avowed purpose of destroying the national origins quotas. Why. we must ask ourselves. is there such a burning desire to destroy the national origins quota? We are told that quotas must be eliminated completely and that determination of the order of admission of admissible aliens should be based only on his relationship to persons in the United States. his training and skills and the time of his application. An examination of the measure clearly shows that the idea of quotas has not been abandoned. but only national origin quotas. By the very words of the statute. 1 country may not use more than 20.000 of the overall visa numbers. so that certainly establishes quotas. Does this mean that all men are to be treated the same until 20.000 visa numbers have been used by any 1 country? When that 20.000 limit has been reached. the next man in line for a number in that country is not going to be treated the same as the man in a country where the limit has not been reached. If there are no quotas. then how is it that in section 2 of the bill we find that the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to the use of the "mother country" quota by colonies or other dependent areas is to be amended to provide a specific formula for establishing the number of immigrants in such colonies or dependent areas which may be charged to the governing foreign state. Certainly. the measure recognizes that there will be quotas or limits and that they are bound to be different. Being different. will not the quotas or numerical limitations be subject to a charge of being discriminatory? Will the fact that a different formula is used placate all immigrant peoples when the inevitable result will be to permit more persons to enter from one country than another? Why must we offend our friends by the adoption of a formula under which it is highly probable that occasions will arise when their natives will no longer be able to obtain visas freely as formerly. Will this promote good relations with our friends? This measure does not even provide a minimum quota for all countries. and yet its sponsors say the quota system under the Immigration and Nationality Act is discriminatory and unjust. This attack against the national origins quota system is not new. for it had been subjected to constant sniping in the decades following its enactment in 1924 and the same charges of discrimination were constantly leveled at it. but yet a twothirds majority of the Congress approved its reenactment in 1952 when Congress overrode a Presidential veto of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Why then is there this continuing attack which grows more vociferous in election years? Is it really a basic concern of theory or is it in reality a desire for more immigration? I believe it to be the latter. The national origins quota system allocates to each country of the world. and I emphasize each. an immigration quota of onesixth of 1 percent of the number of our people who attribute their national origin to that country. Thus we have an invariable exact mathematical formula equally applicable to all countries of the world. with one exception and that is that no country shall be left out. but shall have at least a quota of 100 annually. It has been described as a mirror held up before the American people and as the various proportions of our national origins groups are reflected in the mirror. computations of the quotas are made in accordance with that reflection.