Speech #890138273

If such persons are not needed. the unused part of the first preference becomes available to the close relative preference cases in each country. In other words. just because a person has skills does not entitle him to displace a relative of a citizen unless a need for his services is firmly established. I believe that this is as it should be and as long as we live in a family of nations each nation should have its quota with a system of preferences which serves American industry by providing highly skilled workers. which preserves the immediate family unit of immigrants from that nation. and which protects the American worker in the skilled. semiskilled and unskilled classes. All these things the Immigration and Nationality Act has done and is continuing to do. We have no cause to be ashamed of our immigration policy. Since the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1952 through June 1964 a total of 3.108.538 immigrants have entered the United States under the provisions of that act and special enactments. Of that number 1.0.82.833 were quota Immigrants and 2.025.705 were nonquota immigrants. That is a larger share of immigrants than any other nation has received. The number of admissions as nonquota immigrants. most of whom entered under the regular provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. is of particular significance. Over 55.000 natives of Japan entered as Immigrants while the quota for that country Is 185 annually. Over 27.000 have entered from the Philippines and the quota of that country is 100 annually. Italy has an annual quota of 5.666. but over the 11year period over 243.000 immigrants entered from that country. From Greece with a quota of 308. there came over 53.000. Portugal has a quota of 438. but over 31.000 have entered from that country in the 11year period. China has a quota of 105. but over the 11year period 46.000 immigrants entered from that country. That is a good record and yet it is said that we are making enemies abroad through our immigration policy. It is claimed that the Increase in the number of aliens who would enter under H.R. 2580 would be more modest than under some of the previous proposals. but they would still be substantial. The quota would rise from 158.561 to 170.000. By extending nonquota status to adjacent islands which have recently acquired independence. it is estimated that approximately 15.000 nonquota immigrants would enter. We could expect approximately 7.300 parents of citizens under the new nonquota status. To these increases we would add 55.000 immigrants which represents the average quota numbers which have been unused In past years and would now be used. Thus. in the first year of the operation of H.R. 2580. should it be enacted. we could expect an increase in immigration of approximately 77.300. plus a substantial number of Asiatics who are natives of Western Hemisphere countries and who would enjoy nonquota status for the first time. From this latter group we could expect over 5.000 in the first year alone. Last year immigration totaled 292.248. and when we add almost 85.000 more a year. immigration will certainly approach 375.000. And mark my word. should this effort prevail. it will follow as surely as the night must the day. that in the next Congress the effort will be to increase the overall number. Before seriously considering any measure which would increase the number of immigrants to be added to our population. we should ask ourselves some very searching questions. In view of the level of unemployment. should we Increase the rate of immigration? In view of the threat of increases in unemployment in the future as the result of automation should we at this time increase immigration? In view of the population explosion that is taking place in this country. should we accelerate it artificially by increased immigration? In view of the shortage of classrooms in schools and institutions of higher learning. should we increase immigration? In view of declining natural resources. do we need increased immigration? In view of the growing threat of a water shortage through increased consumption and contamination. do we need increased immigration? � Mr. President. I believe this country has certainly taken its share of the oppressed and others desiring to join our community of peoples and it has done so gladly.