Voluntary Registration Bill Introduced in House by Detroit Congressman

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A voluntary alien registration bill, the object of which is to legalize the entry and residence and enable admission to citizenship of aliens who entered America unlawfully prior to June 3, 1921, was introduced in Congress today by Congressman John B. Sosnowski of Detroit.

The bill provides that such alien may apply for registration and upon examination, if found admissable in all respects except that he entered without inspection, there shall be issuable to him, upon payment of fee of $3 as head tax, a registration certificate which shall be acceptable for naturalization purposes as evidence of lawful permanent residence of its proper holder under the immigration laws.

The bill also provides that any other alien resident lawfully admitted under the immigration laws may of his own voluntary accord apply for registration, the effect of which would be to furnish such alien in the form of a registration certificate evidence of his lawful residence in the United States. A similar fee would be required, the certificate to be valid only one year and renewable at the expiration of each year.

Congressman Sosnowski, explaining his bill, said it would solve a serious problem for those aliens who entered America unlawfully and cannot therefore apply for citizenship, although they have established family and business connections and would make good citizens.

The general registration feature of his bill, Sosnowski believes, because of its voluntary character, as distinguished from the compulsory requirements of Congressman Aswell’s registration bill, would serve to counteract and be offered as a substitute for the latter’s bill.

Sosnowski claims he has consulted a number of Jewish leaders regarding his bill and that they have expressed their approval of it, on the ground that it would not place obligation or compulsion on aliens to register, but is purely optional.