Speech #890290551

Mr. President. although the immigration statistics for the entire Nation are not yet available. the figures show that the number emigrating from Canadas four largest cities has dropped to less than half of last years total. The main reason for this reduction appears to be the rigid application of the labor clearance stipulation to immigrants from this hemisphere. The American Immigration and Citizenship Conference predicted in May that at the end of this fiscal year. 70.000 regular quota numbers would not have been used. Their prediction was too conservative. Statistics from the visa office for the fiscal year 1966 show that 84.000 quota numbers were left vacant. This means that. despite increased opportunities. many immigrants are finding it harder to qualify for entrance. According to the AICC statement the increase in unused quota numbers "undoubtedly reflects the impact of the labor certification requirement." It has been acknowledged by administration spokesmen and critics alike that the total effect of the labor certification restrictions will not be felt for a few years. When the present backlog of relatives is reduced. a drop in the total number of immigrants will. no doubt. take place as more and more people will require labor certification. While the total immigration figure for this fiscal year hides the nature of the decrease and the impending reduction. it does not conceal the fact that the type of immigrants coming to this country has changed in the last year. In 1965. before the new law went into effect. 80 percent of all immigrants. and this has been the average in the past. were nonpreference applicants. Under the new law. 75 percent of all immigrants coming to the United States have been sponsored by relatives already here. I have delivered a criticism of one aspect of the new immigration law. I would like to repeat that. with the exception of section 212(a) (14)-the labor certification requirementthe new law is an excellent measure which has made advances on many fronts. I have not intended that my criticism should be directed entirely at the Department of Labor. which has borne the burden of administering the labor clearance provision.