Speech #890204520

In addition. penalties will be increased for violators of the smuggling provisions of the bill. Increased penalties are needed to emphasize the -fact that smuggling such drugs is more noteworthy and important than mere smuggling:of a minor piece of contraband such as a ring or a bottle of liquor. In the same direction. my bill also includes provisions which will amend section 212(a) (23) of the Immigration and Nationalit&. Act. as amended66 Stat. 184. 70 Stat. 575. 74 Stat. 505. 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (23)-as well assection 241(a) (11) of th6 Immigratibn and Nationality Act. as amended66 Stat. 206. 70 Stat. 575. 74 Stat. 505. 8 U.S.C. 1251(a) (11). Section -212(a) (23) is that portion of our immigration law Which establishes. as a ground for exclusfon from the United States. violatiors of the narcotics laws. At present. the law refers merely to narcotic drugs or. marihuana. My bill would expand this particular section by adding references to depressant or stimulant drugs as defined in the 1965 Drug Control Amendments. * Section 241(a) (11) of the existing basic immigration. law contains the provisions which relate to the deportation of aliens from the United States who have violated the narcotic laws: At present. that section refers ohly to narcotic drugs or marihuana. My bill would add a reference to the deptessant andstimulant drugs as they"are defined in the 1965 Drug. C6ntr6lAmehdments. The purpose of the amendments to the Immigrationriard Nationility Act is to mak6 &6rtkih-.not ofily.that violators shall. be punishedlin criminal proceed. ings .for their smuggling .activities. but also that- if they aie aliens. effective imeanssiallb6 piov(oed the Department of. Justice to exclude.thqm nr the United States. and. if they should have managed to enter the United States and be apprehended here. to provide means for their expulsion from this country by way of deportation proceedings under the immigration laws. In so doing. my bill is similar to action taken by the Congress in sections 8 and 9 of the act of July 14. 196074 Stat. 505when there were added to the Immigration and Nationality Act provisions requiring the exclusion and deportation of violators of laws relating to marihuanato correct a deficiency existing in the law at that time in respect to that particular drug. There is no doubt that strong steps must be taken by the United States. by every possible means. to protect itself against the smuggling or illegal importation of narcotics. marihuana. depressant. stimulant. and hallucinogenic drugs by specifying and providing for the punishment of the criminal offenses. and by assuring that alien violators shall not be permitted to enter or remain in the United States. I hope that this bill will receive prompt and favorable consideration by the Congress.