Both major party Presidential candidates–Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy–have agreed that the United States immigration laws should be liberalized, it was announced here today by Representative Alfred E. Santangelo, New York Democrat.
Mr. Santangelo queried the candidates, asking them how they stood on the revision of immigrant quotas which, until now, have been based on 1920 figures; on distribution of unused quotas to countries whose quotas have not been fulfilled; on Government authorization for the admission of up to 60,000 refugees annually outside the quotas; and on steps to permit aliens now excluded to Join members of families already in the United States.
Mr. Nixon replied, according to the New York Congressman, that the annual immigration quotas should be based on the 1960 census; that “substantial numbers” of refugees should be admitted outside the quotas; and that “preferential quotas” should be established to facilitate reunion of families.
Mr. Kennedy took the same position, and said the United States should look “beyond the abolition of the national origins of quota system, and its replacement with a more equitable method of regulating the inflow of immigrants.”
On the basis of the two replies, Mr. Santangelo declared that “White House support for liberalizing our antiquated immigration laws in the next session of Congress is assured.”
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