The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1948-02-07
Seven-Day Japan-Wide Tour Planned by VIVA, APL
New Bill Helps Alien Veterans

VI ACAllINS1OlN II. \. ttD. -
Alien Japanese veterans of the
Spanish-American War. and World
Wars I and II, who for one reason
or another were unable to take adj
vantage of the statutory provisions |
granting aliens citizenship, will be |
given another--and more liberal |
opportunity for naturalization |
under the terms of bill just re-
ported cut of the House subcom-
mittee ON immigration and natural
lzatlon.
The measure, II. Il. 519S, sub
miiied after numerous redrafts
by Representative Kenneth Keat-
ing. New York Republican, would
permit any alien who has serv-
ed hOnOrably in the armed for
oes of this country at any time
and who has not yet become an
American citizen TO become eli
gible for naturalization notwith-
standing provisions Of the Ma
i tionality Act of 1910 which bars
aliens ineligible to citizenship
from naturalization benefits.
The Heating bill, the Washing
! ton Office of the JACL Anti-Dis-
| elimination Committee reports,
embodieS the recommendations
which the JACL Ado made to the
! House committee last year when
he first of these citizenship mea-
sures were sumitted. These ear
lier bills while granting alien SER
yltemen of both World Wars ano-
Their chance to obtain u. S. citi-
zenship failed to include Issei vet
Grams and others who have been
placed in the category of "ineligi-
bic aliens" by previous Congress
| ional acts
The JACL-ADC, protesting this
inequity, urged that the citizenship
legislation be rewritten so that the
few japanese and others who serv-
ed honorably with the U. S. armed
forces would also be made eligible
to receive the veterans benefits in
tended. The measure drafted by
Heating also removes many of the
restrictions which have made it
difficult for aliens to take imme-
date advantage of naturalization
legislation The alien veteran thus
will not lie required to file any de-
claration of intention nor be re-
, CURED TO meet any educationa
tests. There are no age restrict
ions and, further, the alien may file
for naturalization in any cour
having naturalization jurisdiction
regardless of the petitioners resi-.
; dence.
The language of the Heating bill
the Washington JACL Ado stress
es marks an important departure
from the wording of similar bill
submitted previously in that ii give
to the ineligible alien veteran tn,
same right to naturalization as al
other aliens who by Congressional
acts are eligible to citizenship
This discrimination of ineligibilit
because of race has long remaine'
In our immigration and naturali
cation statutes.
II is recalled that in 1926 Con-
gress passed legislation allowing
the entry and naturalization of
all aliens who had served with the
u. 5. Army, Navy or Marine
Corps in World War I. But the
Japanese who fought for the
United States were left out be-
y cause the statute as wOrded did
If not include those ineligible Ia
l. citizenship" 1t was not until
n June 1885, following representa-
n lions by the japanese American
l. Citizens League, that a bill wa'
passed by Congress to give Isse
er veterans their long due privilege
rs After the outbreak of World w;
s II in an effort to further prosecu
Mt he war, Congress IN March 49,
l. enacted legislation extending tf
lis privilege of naturalization to 9
Ell 3liens who served IN the armt
90 forces "A number of Japane
rican nationals. but a few othe
at aliens we're able TO become Am
re need the opportunity when tn
st alod to come within the statute
N, limits of The law
n Last year a number of bills we
A submitted to the Hou3e to eXtel
It. the period during which time ali
RS veter MS could petition for citize
r. hip. hut few of the measures we
a. worded TO aid the japanese ahC
Iot The Heating bill which was repoi
DIV cd favorably out OF the subcol
n mitec lat Friday, would thus Der
he fit those few japanese who volu
VIC tecred for service but who VIZ
u through no fault of their own u