Speech #890149467

This year. after thorough study and long hearings. Congress finally did so. In place of the national origins system. the new law establishes a system of selection which will be fairer. more rational. more humane. and more in the national interest. Under the new law. selection of qualified applicants will be based on six preference categories which reflect family ties and personal skills. For immigrants within the same preference category. the rule will be first come. first served. This system of selection will apply to all immigration that was formerly subject to national quotas. Such immigration will be fixed at 170.000 a year. with a further limit of 20.000 for any one country. Immigration from Western Hemisphere countries will be subject to a separate limitation of 120.000 a year beginning in 1968. The new law makes no basic changes in the safeguards of our immigration laws against subversive. criminal. illiterate. or other undesirable immigrants. However. in line with the objective of reuniting families. certain close relatives who were absolutely excluded because of mental retardation or a past history of mental illness can be allowed to join their families if such afflicted persons are not dangerous and if proper guarantees are given for their future care. The new law will not open the gates to unlimited or excessive immigration. It will not change the "public charge" test which excludes immigrants who are candidates for the welfare rolls. And the safeguards against immigrants who might diminish the job opportunities of American workers have been considerably strengthened. The conclusion is plain. The new immigration law is a long overdue reform that will reunite families. It will restore our reputation for judging people on personal merit and not by where they come from. And. it will generally strengthen us as a nation.