Speech #900102128

Robert P. Chalker. Charg6 dAffaires ad Interim in our Embassy In Dublin. confirmed that the number of immigrant visas granted to Irishmen declined from 4.617 in 1964 and 4.004 In 1965 to 1.741 in 1966. Mr. Chalker stated: There is no doubt that Section 212(a) (14) of the act has caused a decrease in Irish immigration to the United States. As many Irish visa applications are unskilled or semiskilled workers. they are unable to qualify under Section 212(a) (14) as amended. The American Embassy in Ireland anticipated the negative effects of the new section. The study points out: In November. 1965. there was an artificial inflation of immigration visa issuance due to an allout effort by this office to issue as many visas as possible before December 1. 1965. since many applications would not qualify under section 213(a) (14) after this date. The concentrated efforts of our Embassy staff In Dublin are highly commendable. But now that those anticipated results have been verified. It is incumbent upon us to rectify this situation. I. therefore. now join with several of my colleagues and introduce an amendment to the present Immigration and Nationality Act striking from it section 212(a) (14) and returning the responsibility. of labor certification to the Secretary of Labor. This bill will not only be fairer to immigrants of all nationalities. but will also restore more flexibility to the existing laws definition of skilled labor. Mr. Speaker. if we fail to correct the inequity which section 212(a) (14) has established. we will fail to serve in the best interests of the United States.