Speech #890138273

We have always honored our obligations to the rest of the world and it is time that we started defending our policy rather than apologizing for it. Our domestic strength is our concern and it must not be governed by demands from abroad. If there are claims from abroad that our immigration policy discriminates against the peoples of a particular country. it would occur to me that that country is saying that it does not like the composition of our population and would like to see it changed. Is this a valid position to respect? There are many policies of this country which will not please all nations and it is a mistake to try to win the approval and love of the outside world through the enactment of such an immigration policy. The pursuit of such a policy would inevitably lead to the weakening of the institutions of this country. and if we do not remain strong. then immigration policy will become a moot question in any event. Mr. President. the advocates of the proposed revisions of the quota system contained in the bill. H.R. 2580 place much emphasis on the assertion that it will facilitate the admission into this country of aliens with special skills which are needed here. They would lead one to believe that this is a new policy and that it is imperative that we change our quota system in order to grant preferential treatment to those prospective immigrants with much needed skills. I feel that it is my duty to set the record straight in this regard. Since December 24. 1952. when the McCarranWalter Act became effective. 50 percent of all the quota numbers have been available for issuance to intending immigrants with special knowledge or skills whose services are needed in this country. This first preference class of immigrants. as they are called. are entitled to use 79.280 quota numbers each year out of the total overall quota of 158.561. The visas for the first preference immigrants are issued on the basis of petitions filed by the prospective employer which establish the aliens qualifications and the need for his services. This selective feature of the quota system permits those who establish the need because of the nonavailability of skilled persons in this country to obtain a preference in the issuance of visas under each quota for qualified specialists or skilled workers from abroad. The concept of asking the aliens what they can do for this country. then. is not new and has formed the basis for the selectivity under the first preference quota for the past decade. It was after lengthy consideration that the Congress decided that the interests of this country required that at least 50 percent of each quota be reserved for persons needed in the United States because of their special skills of training.