JFK CALLS FOR ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION IN IMMIGRATION
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, in a letter to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, called for the end of immigration discrimination on the basis of national origins.
The President pointed out that since 1924, the national origins system had been used to select immigrants to the United States. He wrote that this system was "heavily weighted" in favor of immigrants from countries of Northern and Western Europe while limiting those from countries of Southern and Eastern Europe as well as other nations.
President Kennedy wrote...
"In an age of interdependence among nations, such a system is an anachronism, for it discriminates among applicants for admission to the U.S. on the basis of accident of birth."
JFK spelled out his proposals for changing this system. He wanted selection of immigrants to be admitted to be based on their individual skills in relation to the needs of the nation. He also asked that their family relationships in the United States be considered and called for "the priority of registration."
JFK concluded the letter by writing that the measures he was proposing...
"will help eliminate discrimination between people and nations. Our investment in new citizens has always been a valuable source of our strength."
SOURCE
"Letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House on Revision of the Immigration Laws," July 23, 1963, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, in a letter to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, called for the end of immigration discrimination on the basis of national origins.
The President pointed out that since 1924, the national origins system had been used to select immigrants to the United States. He wrote that this system was "heavily weighted" in favor of immigrants from countries of Northern and Western Europe while limiting those from countries of Southern and Eastern Europe as well as other nations.
President Kennedy wrote...
"In an age of interdependence among nations, such a system is an anachronism, for it discriminates among applicants for admission to the U.S. on the basis of accident of birth."
JFK spelled out his proposals for changing this system. He wanted selection of immigrants to be admitted to be based on their individual skills in relation to the needs of the nation. He also asked that their family relationships in the United States be considered and called for "the priority of registration."
JFK concluded the letter by writing that the measures he was proposing...
"will help eliminate discrimination between people and nations. Our investment in new citizens has always been a valuable source of our strength."
SOURCE
"Letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House on Revision of the Immigration Laws," July 23, 1963, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/
Nancy Reagan
Reopens Statue of Liberty
July 4, 1986
Photo by Bill Fitz-Patrick
White House
Photographic Collection
