President Eisenhower asked a Congressional committee to start hearings on “injustices” in the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act against which liberal American and Jewish groups protested prior to its passage by Congress. Revision of certain provisions of this law was promised by Gen. Eisenhower during the Presidential election campaign.
Sen. Arthur V. Watkins, chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, today revealed that he had received a letter from President Eisenhower, dated April 16, asking for a new study of Immigration operations with a view to correcting the “injustices” of the McCarran-Walter Act.
The Senate Subcommittee was requested by President Eisenhower to invite all concerned “to testify regarding the provisions of which they complain. ” He urged the Subcommittee to investigate the complaints and draft substitute legislation “which would be fair and just to all.”
Chairman Chauncey W. Reed of the House Judiciary Committee today indicated that extensive hearings will be held on President Eisenhower’s request for emergency legislation to admit 240,000 additional Immigrants, including “Iron Curtain” refugees, in the next two years. Rep. Reed said his committee would solicit the views of government officials, private organizations concerned with immigration, labor group, and management.
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