Three salient changes in immigration practice are suggested by Secretary of Labor Davis in the annual report of the Labor Department. The first would apply to citizens of Canada, Mexico and South American countries.
The seccond would allow temporary increase in the admission of immigrants in times of established and particularized labor shortage in the United States and permit administrative restriction of all immigration under existing legal limits in times of unemployment. The third major proposal would require the registration and enrollment of all those admitted to the country.
In presenting his immigration recommendations Mr. Davis cites statistics showing that while the present law allows quota immigration into the United States of only 164,000 persons a year from countries exclusive of North America non-quota provisions affecting relatives of aliens already in the United States, and foreigners coming under professional, educational and commercial status classifications, make it possible for a much greater number of aliens to enter the country.
The present large inflow of immigrants from Canada and Mexico, unrestricted by the law so far as native citizens of those countries are concerned, is putting a premium, says Mr. Davis, on “bootlegging of aliens.”
“We have taken steps toward selective immigration in the act of 1924,” Secretary Davis said in summarizing his departmental recommendations.
“We should go the whole way and make sure that all applicants for admission are qualified before they leave their homes. We should make our quota law applicable to Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America, thus closing a door which now invites the activities of the smuggler of aliens. We should provide for the admission, regardless of quota limitation, of farmers and skilled and unskilled laborers needed in the United States when labor of like kind cannot be found unemployed in this country, and when no strike or lockout exists or impends in the industry which needs such labor.
“To balance this the President should be given power to prohibit or further limit immigration whenever unemployment in this country makes such suspension desirable.
“We should proceed to humanize our immigration laws wherever that is possible. Our laws should not operate to keep members of families apart.
“Further, we need a complete revision and codification of our naturalization laws. To do this I would provide for the annual enrollment of our alien population, and through this enrollment would provide means of educating every alien in American customs, cur language, our laws and our institutions. It is true that this enrollment plan would enable us to know the alien who is here in violation of our laws. We should know them. This plan is probably the only available means of putting an end to the scandalous bootlegging of aliens through our seaports and over our borders.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
