Speech #890148929

This meant that if her husband chose to come ahead to the United States. he would have to wait for his wife until the year 2048 if he did not become a citizen. If he did become a citizen. however. he and his wife could be reunited in a mere 5 years. To end the injustice and the costs which the national origins system needlessly inflicted. President Johnson last January called on Congress. in a special message. to pass the administrations immigration reform bill and to do so promptly. The new law which he signed on October 3. at the Statue of Liberty. selects immigrants within an overall limit of 170.000 on the basis not of birthplace or ancestry but rather by a system of preferences based on family relationships to our people and special skills that will be of real benefit to our country. The new law means fairer. better selection of immigrants within the limits we are willing to accept. The law does not open the floodgates to an excessive amount of immigration. Moreover. all the present safeguards against subversives. criminals. illiterates. potential public charges. and other undesirables are retained. The safeguards against immigrants who might cause unemployment are actually strengthened. The overall result is an immigration law that is far more just. humane. and beneficial to the Nation.