The Senate passed the Copeland Naturalization Bill on Thursday, as amended by the House and Senate joint conferees. This bill will enable aliens who entered America illegally prior to June 3, 1921, to legalize their status and obtain naturalization as American citizens upon registering after July 1, 1929, when the law will go into effect if passed by the House. Under the bill as passed by the Senate, legizlation will be allowed as of the date of the alien’s entry, so that the five years residence required as prerequisite for naturalization will start as of that date. If no declaration of intention to become a citizen has previously been taken out, it will be necessary to make such declaration upon registration and two years must elapse before naturalization as, under the law, a two year period is required between declaration of intention and the issuance of citizenship.
Up to late Thursday the House had not voted on the Copeland bill, although the conference report on the bill was filed by Chairman Johnson of the House Immigration Committee on Thursday. It is expected that the vote will not be taken before Saturday. The bill, if passed as expected, will go to the President for signature this week.
Two developments may create trouble for the bill in the House. A vigorous activity against the bill is being conducted by Congressman Box of Texas, who is opposed to legalization of any kind. It is understood that he is canvassing many members of the House in an effort agaainst the bill. It is also rumored that Congressman Sabath, though he has not made a definite statement, may decide to oppose the bill on the floor of the House for the same reason that he refused to sign the conference report-the change of date from 1924 to 1921 and the introduction of the voluntary registration feature for those who derive citizenship through parents or husbands. Congressman Sabath is said to be of the opinion that if this bill is defeated at this session, a more favorable bill, restoring the 1924 provision can be put through at the next session of Congress.
After a conference between Congressmen Dickstein, Sabath and La Guardia, Dickstein announced he will vote for the bill, though he intends to criticize the amendments on the floor of the House. Congressman La Guardia indicated his intention to vote for the bill on the theory that “half a loaf is better than none.”
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.
