Speech #890148938

Such was the result of an offensive theory that presumed that some people were inferior solely because of their birthplaces. Consider an American with a mother in Greece. Under the old system. he would have had to wait at least 5 yearsoften longerto obtain a visa which would permit her to join him here. Similarly the American citizen with a brother or sister or married child in Italy could not secure a visa without waiting for years. Immigrants from favored countries. with no family ties and no particular skills to offer this country. could. in cruel contrast. enter without difficulty or delay. The same American citizen whose mother would have to wait 5 years could bring in a domestic servant from the United Kingdom or Ireland in from 4 to 6 weeks. If he chose one from Sweden.