Senate Passes New Bill Amending the Naturalization Law

The Senate passed Senator Copeland’s bill, on Thursday to legalize the entry of aliens who entered the United States unlawfully prior to July 1, 1924, provided they have resided in the United States (###) since they entered, are of good moral character and are not subject to deportation. This bill would (###) all aliens who entered prior to July 1, 1924 to become American citizens. It passed by the House and it becomes a law, aliens who have not been in the United States at least five years will have to wait until the expiration of such period.

This bill now goes to the House, where it may be amended by restricting legalization only to those aliens who entered prior to July 1, 1921, since the Schneider bill, the counterpart of this measure in the House, contains the 1921 provision. If so amended, the bill will then have to go to a conference between respective conference committees of the Senate and the House. In view of the numerous other measures awaiting action before adjournment of Congress this may prevent the bill to become a law prior to adjournment.

The bill as passed by the Senate contain various other provisions regarding naturalization including the provisions that no declaration of intention to become a citizen shall be made until lawful entry for permanent entrance shall have been established and a certificate showing date, place and manner of arrival shall have been issued at a cost of $5 each.

Legalization of the alien’s status under the Copeland bill will become applicable only upon the express re-### of the alien and not automatically. The alien would be obliged to make a satisfactory showing to the Commissioner. General of Immigration that he complied with the requirements as ex(###) and upon complying with the same, the registration of his legalized status would be made by the Commissioner General of Immigration for a five of $20 and thereupon a certificate of arrival would be issued. This will probably, in an indirect manner, bring into effect the voluntary registration scheme of Senator Blease, which has been temporarily sidetracked in the House. The registration comprehended by the Copeland bill refers only to those aliens of whom there is no recovered of legal admission, whereas the Pleas bill was intended to cover all (###) who might desire to secure certificates of arrival.

The bill also provides for proving the residence of applicants for citizenship in the country where the petitioners reside at the time of filing the petition by affidavits of two witnesses who are citizens of the United States; that no alien shall be admitted to citizenship unless he has resided continuously in (Continued on Page 4)

Any individual over 21 claiming citizenship through the naturalization of parent or husband may secure a certificate of citizenship for a $10 fee. At present no provision for such certificates are provided by law and these will be very valuable to those aliens who derive their citizenship through others.

The bill also provides for photographs of applicants for citizenship for both the declaration of intention and the certificate of naturalization. At present no photographs are required.

The House Rules Committee today failed to take action on the request of Chairman Johnson, who appeared before the Rules Committee for rules on four bills relating to immigration and naturalization which had been previously reported by the Immigration Committee.