The interdepartmental “super-committee” handling refugee immigration problems met today to perfect plans for complete elimination of the present visa system and substitution of centralized control in the State and Justice Departments in the event of war or drastic emergency.
Plans under discussion call for removal of the visa-issuing authority from U.S. consular officers and the delegation of authority to issue visas to the State Department. The consuls would retain only the power to recommend issuance of immigration permits. In addition, visas could be issued directly by the State Department’s visa division.
Consular recommendations, under the plan being drafted, would be subjected to a check by the State Department, with the Justice Department acting in an advisory and investigative capacity.
At present the interdepartmental committee has authority only over the final decision on the applications of the persons admitted under the Administration’s emergency-aid-to-refugees program. Establishment of this plan would give control over all immigration admissions and visitor’s permits to Avra M. Warren’s visa division.
As far as could be ascertained here, the Administration does not intend to await the outbreak of war before putting the plan into effect but is ready to spring it at the first sign of a “full emergency.” Officials close to the interdepartmental committee admitted today the plan had been under discussion by that body for some time, but scoffed at reports it might be put into effect shortly.
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