Naturalization of loyal aliens of enemy nationality will be speeded by a Presidential order of August 30 empowering the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization and District Directors under him, under certain conditions to grant exception from enemy alien regulations for naturalization purposes, the National Refugee Service announced today.
The new order is expected to hasten naturalization proceedings by three to six weeks. Under the provisions of the Nationality Act of 1940 the President had empowered the United States Attorney General to authorize naturalization of any aliens of enemy nationality whose loyalty was proven. That power has now been extended to the Commissioner and District Directors of Immigration and Naturalization. Formerly the Commissioner or District Director, after satisfying himself of the applicants loyalty, referred the case to the Attorney General. This step has now been eliminated.
Although all natives and citizens of countries at war with the United States are designated as “enemy aliens” under the terms of the Nationality Act of 1940, the law permits certain categories of “enemy clines” to proceed to completion of their naturalization. This privilege is extended specifically to those who (1) have filed declaration of intention more than two years prior to the beginning of the state of war; (2) have petitions for naturalization pending; or (3) were not required under the law to make a declaration of intention. The law also provides that enemy aliens not covered by these exemptions can be permitted to apply for naturalization after investigation by the Department of Justice fully establishes their loyalty. The new regulation will hasten naturalization procedure for the latter group.
The new order issued by the President states that for the purposes of carrying out the naturalization provisions of the law; “I hereby except from the classification ‘enemy alien’ all persons whom the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization or any District Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service shall, after investigation fully establishing their loyalty, certify as persons loyal to the United States.”
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