The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-04-17
2489 Japanese Entered US. Since 80 IN Act

the same quota year
The prohibition against the inn
migration of manual labor, the So
called contract labor provision of
the old law, by and large restricted
immigration to the United States to
relatives and close friends of Anne
rican citizens and of permanent re
sident aliens. Aliens with good
skillS and many of them needed in
this country but lacking family or
friendship ties as rule could not
come to this country as they were
unable to secure an acceptable affi-
dayit of support as evidence that
they were not likely to become pu-
bile charges Thus, real 'new-seed
immigration had become unknown
in this country except for those i'm
migrants who benefited under the
Displaced Persons Act of l948
This situation has been drasti-
cally changed by two provisions OF
the new law. On one hand the out
dated and inf1exible contract labor
law was eliminated. Now an alien
is permitted TO make arrangements
for his employment before he comes
to the United States and may sub
nit evidence about his employment
10 show that he is not likely to be-
come a public charge. Only if the
Secretary of Labor certifies that
there exists an Oversuppiy of a Civ
en- locality OF the United States will
the immigra ton of aliens be barred
who possess such skill and who are
coming to this locality No such
finding has so far been made by the
Secretary of Labor.
The other provision of the new
law which is helping the new seed
immigrant as well as American in
dustry, business and cultural inter
ests is the one giving a first claim
to one half of the quota of each
country to aliens whose services
are needed urgently in the United
States because of their high educa-
ton, technical training. specialized
experience or exceptional ability and
to their spouses and children.
Some misunderstanding seems
to exist in the mind of the general
public as to the effect the new law
has had on the security provisions
applicable to immigrants. The OPT
Mon seems To be widespread that
the new law is more eXacting in
that respect Actually, the reverse
is true.
For all practicable purposes the
law has reenacted the security pro-
visions which had been part of the
immigration laws since the passage
in 1850 of the Internal Security Act
One significant change, however
ever since 1850, not only present
but also former members of pro-
scribed organizations were excluded
from admission into the United
| States as immigrants. For example,
an alien who in his youth some 20
or 30 years ago was member oil
the Communist party was still in
eligible To receive visa regardless
of the fact that long since he had
given up his early political associa-
tiOns and had since become an out
spoken fighter against Communism
! The new law contains an escape
clause for former voluntary menu
bers of prescribed organizations, a
fact which has been given little II
any publicity The defector clause
contained in the new law permits
the issuance of visa to former
voluntary member OF a prescribed
Organiza ton if the alien since the
termination of his membership and
for at least five years before the
date Of his visa application has been
actively opposed to The principles
and theology OF the prescribed orga-
lnization OF which he was a member
This provision Of law has made
it possible to admit 70 The Unitec
States as Immigrants a number OF
aliens whose record Of the past wears
has justified that the United State:
show forgiveness for past polltica
association and has thus enabled
us at least indirectly 70 encourag,
future defections'