Tuesday, January 23, 2018

President Eisenhower’s Remarkable Immigration Message to Congress

In “33— Special Message to the Congress on Immigration Matters,” Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged Congress to abolish the 1921-24 immigration law (and its 1952 amending law). Contrast his message with today’s assault on lawful immigration by extremist Republicans (e.g., Stephen Miller) on our current system. I pass along four brief highlights (quoting now):
February 8, 1956
The immigration laws presently require aliens to specify race and ethnic classification in visa applications. These provisions are unnecessary and should be repealed.
….
A large group of refugees in this country obtained visas by the use of false identities in order to escape forcible repatriation behind the Iron Curtain; the number may run into the thousands. Under existing law such falsification is a mandatory ground for deportation. The law should be amended to give relief to these unfortunate people.
….
The inequitable provisions relating to Asian spouses and adopted children should be repealed.
….

Just as the Nation’s interests call for a larger degree of flexibility in the laws for regulating the flow of other peoples to our shores, there is at the same time a significant need to strengthen the laws established for the wholesome purpose of ridding the country of the relatively few aliens who have demonstrated their unfitness to remain in our midst. Some of these persons have been found to be criminals of the lowest character, trafficking in murder, narcotics, and subversion. Constitutional due process wisely confers upon any alien, whatever the charge, the right to challenge in the courts the Government's finding of deportability. However, no alien who has once had his day in court, with full rights of appeal to the higher courts, should be permitted to block his removal and cause unnecessary expense to the Government by further judicial appeals the only purpose of which is delay.

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