Speech #910074257

Mr. President. I wish to indicate my support of the bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and to commend the distinguished Senator from North Carolina for his leadership in moving this necessary legislation. On July 1. 1968. the Immigration Act of 1965 imposed a numerical ceiling of 120.000 on annual immigration to the United States from Western Hemisphere countries. Since then we have witnessed growing difficulties involving the transfer of executive and managerial employees of Western Hemisphere business concerns to branch offices and affiliates in the United States. Before the ceiling went into effect. immigrant visas were issued freely and with minimum delay. The ceiling. howeverand the firstcome. firstserve basis on which it operateshas thrown roadblocks in the way of visa applicants. causing delays of up to 10 or 12 months before a visa is issued. Inevitably. the situation is causing severe hardship to business concerns in Canada and elsewhere. Sensitive as I must be to problems of this nature. which involve Michigan businesses and personnel in Canada. I believe the pending bill is a remedy which is in the interest of all concerned. wherever we may live. The bill simply provides that executive and managerial employees of Western Hemisphere business concerns. being transferred to offices in the United States. will be issued immigrant visas as "special immigrants." This means that such employees will come into this country without delayand without regard to the numerical ceiling and the firstcomefirstserved principle which generally applies to visa applicants. I was hopeful that an administrative solution could be found for the problem. But every indicator suggests a need for legislation. In my book. while the enactment of the pending bill will not solve all the problems generated by our new policy toward Western Hemisphere immigration. it is a step in the right direction. encouraging a greater freedom of movement and. most important. a more open border with our immediate neighbors to the north and south.