New Bill in U.S. Senate Would Make Immigration Law More Flexible

Ask Quotas for Canada, Mexico; Family Visas Feature of Bill (Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A new bill combining the two percent quota law on the basis of the 1890 census and the National Origins Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Watson of Indiana. The bill, while it introduces the quota system for the Western Hemisphere, would change the Immigration Law to provide greater flexibility so that separation of families may be avoided and would authorize the Department of Labor to admit ten thousand immigrants from Canada and Mexico in 1929 and 1930 to relieve the seasonal labor situation. The bill has the endorsement of Secretary Davis.

The new feature of the bill is the creation of family visas.

A provision is incorporated by which immigration visas would be allowed to families as a unit. A man would not be allowed to get a visa unless it included also his wife and minor children under 18 years of age. One year is the maximum length of time that would be allowed for a visa, except that it would not be allowed for a longer period than the visa granted to the father.

The minimum quota would be fixed at 2,000 for Canada and Mexico, New-foundland, Nova Scotia. Haiti, the Dominican Republic and independent countries of Central and South America. Otherwise they would be permitted a quota each year fixed at not exceeding 10 per cent of the total number of the nationality of each country in the United States in 1890.

An alternative basis is provided for fixing quotas from other countries, by which they may be determined either at 2 percent, of 1890, as at present, or on the basis of the national origins, whichever admits the greater number.

Students would be treated as non-immigrants instead of non-quota immigrants as at present, and the matter of a bond for them would be within the discretion of the Department of Labor.

Wives and dependent minor children of aliens who were admitted to the United States for permanent residence prior to July 1, 1924, would receive non-quota status to the extent of 30,000 in number. This is to take care of a situation in which many families become separated. Applications would have to be filed by relatives on this side.

Additional classes that would receive preference in the quota law would include aliens in whose behalf contract labor provisions of the immigration acts have been waived and members of the recognized learned professions, their wives and dependent children. These preferences would be granted only where authorized by the Secretary on a showing that services were needed in the United States.