President Eisenhower asked Congress today to reexamine the national origins quota system, facilitate the entry of 220,000 aliens annually, and to revise other aspects of the immigration laws.
Mr. Eisenhower pointed out that “the immigration laws presently require aliens to specify race and ethnic classification in visa applications. These provisions are unnecessary and should be repealed.” This provision is of considerable interest to Jewish organizations which have at times been confronted with situations in which U.S. consuls have insisted that the immigration law required that Jews identify themselves as such on visa applications.
The President made his views know in a long-awaited message to Congress. He expressed belief that the annual quota could be boosted by about 65,000 to admit 220,000 aliens because of the nation’s growth and economic condition. His message dealt mainly with recommendations for revision of provisions in the 1952 McCarran Walter Act. The Act was passed over President Truman’s veto. Leaders of both political parties have urged revision. But Congressional action during this session is regarded as extremely doubtful.
“Experience in the post-war world demonstrates that the present national origins method of admitting aliens needs to be re-examined, and a new system adopted which will admit aliens within allowable numbers according to new guidelines and standards,” the President said.
Pending completion of such a study by Congress, the President said it was essential to take interim measures “to alleviate as much as possible inequities in the present quota system.” Accordingly he recommended immediate enactment of proposals boasting the ceiling to 220,000 quota numbers annually. He said the additional quota numbers should be distributed among countries in proportion to their actual immigration to this country since the establishment of the quota system in 1924. Other steps to liberalize the flow of immigration were:
1. A recommendation that Congress set aside from the increased annual quota 5,000 numbers to be made available for admission of aliens without regard for nationality or national origin. This would pertain to persons with special skills and cultural or technical qualifications.
2. Quota numbers unused by countries to which they are allocated to be made available for use elsewhere.
3. Enactment of legislation to permit utilization of unused quota numbers in the succeeding year by pooling unused quota numbers.
4. Elimination of inequities imposed by mortaging of quotas resulting from issuance of visas under the Displaced Persons Act and other special acts.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
