Since they were old and alone it was considered reasonable to include them within the concept of a "family unit" which should be maintained. Similarly. the extension of this small CXI- 1548 priority to married children of citizens seemed justified. In other words. if any numbers were left over. these relatives of U.S. citizens should have a preference over "new seed" immigrants. It was never contemplated that this class of immigrant applicants would assume the proportions it has today. and create such pressures for measures to permit their entry. As of July 1. 1964. there were 163.805 aliens who had registered on quota waiting lists under this fourth preference category. This heavy demand was never contemplated and may be attributed to the act of September 22. 1959. which hastily enlarged the fourth preference group to include the spouse and children of the principal applicant. Unfortunately by that action. which was taken in the best of faith in answer to appeals for relief in hardship cases. Congress departed from the timehonored concept of preserving the immediate family unit of the immigrant or the citizen. and extended it to include another family unit. Thus. Congress through its act of charity. multiplied many times the persons eligible for fourth preference.
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immigrant immigrants