Representative Benjamin Rosenbloom, of West Virginia, has introduced a drastic bill for the registration of aliens and compulsion “Americanzation”. The only respect in which this proposal differs from others is that it does not apply to all aliens already innthis country, but only to aliens who may come to America in the future and those here six months at the time the bill comes into force.
Congressman Rosenbloom’s bill provides that every alient sixteen years of age and over seeking entrance into the United States, shall, in addition to all other requirements of law, file with the immigration authorities at the port of entry a sworn statement of such alien’s purpose to become a citizen, and that he will learn
the English language and become acquainted with the form of Government and institutions of the United States and obey its laws. The filing of this statement shall be held to be the “registration of such alient with a view to naturalization” Any alient covered by this bill who fails to take out his first papers (declare intention) to become a citizen within 2-1/2 years after entry or who 2-1/2 years following the first papers fails to become a citizen by meeting all naturalization requirements, shall be deported to the country from which he came. The bill provides further that this total of five years is to be a “probationary period”, during which if the alien is convicted of a felony he shall be deported at the expiration of the court’s sentence for his crime. The bill has been referred to the Immigration Committee.
The introduction of a bill of this character by a Jewish Congressman is bound to greatly strengthen the efforts of the registration group, who will claim that Jews themselves are not united on this question. Congressman Rosenbloom has already served two years in Congress.
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.
