Speech #890139844

Mr. President. passage of this amendment to the Immigration and Naturalization Act will be a historic step in the progress of the United States toward a society of equal opportunity for all. Just as we have struggled to eliminate the barriers of poverty and race within our borders. now we are ending a system of arbitrary discrimination based on nationality and directed at future Americans. We are ending a futile effort to preserve an imaginary America by arbitrary quotas. a system which has never worked and has been honored more in the breach than the observance. Since 1952 two out of three immigrants have entered this country outside of quota limitations. When this bill becomes law. we can face the world honestly and without hypocrisy. Although we obviously cannot accept every person who wishes to be an American citizen. we can say that those who are admitted will be judged by fair and humane criteria. The report of the Judiciary Committee puts it well: It is the basic objective of this bill to choose fairly among the applicants for admission to this country. Immigrants will be admitted on the basis of family relationship and needed skills. they will not be admitted or denied admission solely because of an accident of birth. One of the fundamental purposes of this legislation is to reunite families. Parents and children of U.S. citizens or lawful resident aliens will be given a high priority preference status. This provision will end one of the cruelest hardships of the quota system. the separation of families and the disruption of family life. During my service in the Congress. hundreds of hardship cases were brought to my attention. In some instances we were able to obtain relief through the slow and difficult means of a private bill.