Speech #890148036

Mr. President. the new immigration bill which was signed into law by President Johnson proves once again that America and Americans want to be fair. As the President himself remarked. "the fairness of this standard is so selfevident we may well wonder that it has not always been applied." The test for those wanting to come to this country now will be based on what they can contribute to the growth and strength and spirit of America. And also. on their close relationship to those already here. This seems eminently fair and just. Yet. for over four decades the immigration policy of the United States has been distorted by the injustice of the national origins quota system. Under that system. "the ability of new immigrants to come to America depended on the country of their birth. Only three countries were allowed to supply 70 percent of all immigrants." This kept families apart "because a husband or wife or child had been born in the wrong place." Such a policy. as President Johnson pointed out. has been unAmerican because it has been untrue to the faith that brought thousands to these shores. In the beginning. no one asked our forefathers where they were born and where their fathers or grandfathers were bornthey came to this country. provided they had the strength for the journey and the spirit to survive in a new land. A mans willingness to work and to prove himself worthy of the benefits he could reap were the qualities that mattered. This spirit of different nationalities working toward the goals--that each man may be free. that each man may have the right to the pursuit of happiness. living under the laws of man and Godthese made the United States a great and good land. The new immigration bill Is a fair one. and it Is right that we have abolished some old injustices of the past.