Speech #890183822

Mr. Chairman. I join with you and the committee today. together with the members of our congressional delegation who I am sure feel as I doa deep sense of personal satisfaction as well as a sense of modest pridefor. but a few hours ago as the clock tolled the first hour of December 1. 1965. in my country a new immigration policy became effective. And as a member of that subcommittee in which this new policy was conceived and as a dedicated proponent of immigration reform. which is in keeping with the tradition of my country. I am particularly proud to appear before this Council and stress the intent of this historic piece of legislation. Although the measure is but a few hours old it has been developing. as programs must. over many years. And though casting the old national origins theory out of the window was long overdue. nonetheless. I offer no apology. for none is needed. for what the United States has done over the years in the field of immigration and refugees. For each new Congress since the closing days of World War II has enthusiastically enacted legislation to further the traditional policy of the United States in coming to the aid of the unsettled and the victims of world turmoil. Congress progressively enacted special legislation to permit the reuniting of families and to help the refugees. These special laws supplemented the basic immigration law and provided for the admission. generally on a nonquota basis. of immigrants of different races and circumstances as well as the unfortunate who have been uprooted and displaced by political upheavals. This performance in the field of immigration in the postwar period has been generous and sympathetica true expression of the human spirit that moves America. But today. at long last. the statute books proudly reflect in definite and concrete terms what has been long done in practice. Our new immigration policy is based now upon a system of selection designed to be fair. rational and humane. treating all humans alike. regardless of the accident of birth. Reunification of families is emphasized as the foremost consideration in our policy. Under this system selection from among those desiring to immigrate to the United States will be based upon the existence of family relationship rather than upon the old basis of birthplace or ancestry. I would like to emphasize this change for it is a substantial departure from the old law where greater priority was given to those immigrants who possessed exceptional skills. The Congress in adopting this legislation expressed its intent that it is not the desire nor the objective of the United States to entice or to lure those skilled persons who are so desperately needed to make the economies of other countries flourish. Our approach is not based upon selfish motivation.