The Administration’s endorsement of a Senate bill that could admit 5, 000 Egyptian Jews was reiterated today by Deputy Attorney General William P. Rogers. He testified at the Senate Immigration Subcommittee’s first hearing on the program submitted by President Eisenhower last January to permit increased immigration.
Mr. Rogers mainly emphasized the need to normalize the status of thousands of Hungarian refugees granted emergency entry by President Eisenhower last winter. But, he meanwhile made known his support of legislation introduced in the Senate to grant sanctuary in America to 5, 000 Jews forced to flee from Egypt.
Mr. Rogers said the broad program requested by the President would make clear to the world the United States will do its “full share in granting asylum to victims of persecution and oppression.” He said the proposed changes would make “much needs improvements” in the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act. The Administration “strongly feels” there should be permanent legislation to cope with problems of refugees and escapees, he stated.
Sen. Everett Dirksen, Illinois Republican, told Mr. Rogers that while he supported the Eisenhower program, it was actually useless to expect action on the full program this late in the present session of Congress.
The Administration is supporting a bill introduced by New Jersey Republican Senator Clifford Case to bring in 5, 000 Egyptian Jews, But it is known in informed quarters that Senators of both parties who desire special relief for the Egyptian Jews have tacitly rallied behind a similar bill introduced by Sen. John F. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts.
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.
