Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Unnecessary
Restrictions

INSTRUCTIONS
Under the present law
every alien applying for a visa
must be fingerprinted; anc
every alien admitted without q
visa and remaining in the United
States for 80 days or longer. ever
If here temporarily, must bt
| fingerprinted. Although in oul
minds no stigma is attached tC
fingerprinting. it is not a re-
lquirement of travel in other
countries.
We should be the first to re-
move travel obstacles which
hamper the free exchange OF
ideas, cultures and commerce
Further. experience over the last
three years has shown that
this requirement does not sig
Inificantly contribute to our ma
ltional safety and security.
The law should be amended
to permit the Secretary of State
and the Attorney General to
waive the requirement of finger
printing, on a reciprocal basis,
for aliens coming here for tenn
porary periods.
Aliens travelling from one
country to another often find ii
necessary to pass through the
| United States without any in
tention TO remain in or even visit
this country.
A South American flying to or
returning from Europe, for ex-
ample. will often pass through
the United States. He should
not be required to meet all of
the standards for admission,
coupled with inspection and ex-
animation, that normally apply
These requirements result in I'M
necessary hardships to the trav-
eler, expense to the carrier. and
loss of goodwill, without proper
tionate benefit to the United
States. The law should be
amended accordingly.
The present statute contains a
restrictive requirement viii h
makes it necessary for immigra-
ton authorities to inspect and
apply all grounds of exclusion to
aliens seeking admission to the
mainland of the United States
from Alaska and Hawaii. This
requirement results in expense
to the Government and causes
delays and inconvenience in
travel.
The immigration laws pres
emily require aliens to specify
race and ethnic classification in
visa applications. These pro-
visions are unnecessary and
should be repealed.
A large group of refugees in
this country obtained visas by
the use of false identities in or
der to escape forcible repatria-
ton behind the Iron Curtain:
the number may run into the
thousands. Under existing law
such Justification is a mandatory
ground for deportation. The
law should be amended to give
relief to these unfortunate peo-
pie.
The inequitable provisions re-
lating to Asian spouseS and
adopted children should be re-
pealed.
The immigration Act grants
special naturalization benefits to
veterans of our armed forces who
have completed at least three
years honorable service and who
can submit proof of admission
for permanent residence. Many
have been unable to submit this
proof recommend that proof
of admission be not required in
such cases.
The present statute Is unnec-
essarily restrictive as to aliens
who marry United States citi-
zens. 1t forbids adjustment to
permanent residence If the alien
has been in the United States
less than one year before the
marriage.
This disrupts the family and Is
expensive for the alien who must
go abroad to obtain a nonquota
visa, without proportionate bene-
fit to the United States.
I recommend that the require
ment of one years presence in
the United States before mar
riage be repealed. a..