Speech #990029412

Mr. President. we Americans whether we be native born or naturalized citizens. take great pride in the fact that while none of us seek to escape from our shores to foreign lands. millions are constantly seeking entry into our country to share the personal liberty and opportunity for a better life guaranteed by our Federal Constitution and our system of Government. There are. however. many immigrants who came to the United States to work. in high hopes of amassing a fortune. then returning to their native country. but who are now elderly. impoverished. and living alone. Many of these immigrants would like to return to their country of origin. to be reunited with their families and culture but are unable to do so. due to lack of funds to defray transportation costs. It is not known Just how many resident aliens fall within this category. Mr. President. I am therefore introducing legislation today which would direct the Attorney General to determine the number and study the problems of these indigent. elderly immigrants who wish to return to their home countries. In my State of Hawaii more than 126.000 laborers migrated from the Philippines to Hawaii between 1907 and 1946. Many have already returned to their homeland. Many others have died. nearly all of the survivors are now retired. The youngest of them have reached 55 years of age. Mcst of these immigrants have spent their working years in Hawaii without the support of family ties. Many of these lonely. aging Filipinos look forward to returning to their homeland. Their extended families in the Philippines welcome back their aged members and provide them with love and care that are so essential to their mental. physical. and emotional wellbeing in thpir late years. The retiree is able to be reunited not only with his extended family. but also with his church and associations in the Philippines. where there is not the language and cultural barriers that exist for immigrant Filipinos in Hawaii. In 1975. Father Jaime S.