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Letter Recommending Emergency Legislation For The Admission Of Refugees - Presidential Paper Historical Seriesby President Dwight D. Eisenhower: 1953-1961
52 - Letter to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Recommending Emergency Legislation for the
Admission of Refugees Dear Mr.____________:
We are all aware of the tragic developments of the past
several years which have left countless thousands of
individuals homeless refugees in the heart of Europe. In
recent months, the number of refugees has been increased by
the steady flow of escapees who have braved death to escape
from behind the Iron Curtain. These refugees and escapees
searching desperately for freedom look to the free world for
haven. In addition, the problem of population pressures continues
to be a source of urgent concern in several friendly countries
in Europe. It is imperative that we join with the other nations in
helping to find a solution to these grave questions. These
refugees, escapees, and distressed peoples now constitute an
economic and political threat of constantly growing magnitude.
They look to 191 traditional American humanitarian concern for
the oppressed. International political considerations are also
factors which are involved. We should take reasonable steps to
help these people to the extent that we share the obligation
of the free world. Therefore, after consideration of all the points of view
which have been presented, I recommend, within the framework
of the immigration laws, the enactment of emergency
immigration legislation for the special admission of 120,000
immigrants per year for the next two years. In order to help resolve this current immigration and
refugee problem in the tradition of our American policy, I
urge that the Congress give this recommendation its earliest
consideration. Sincerely, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER NOTE: This is the text of identical letters addressed to
the Honorable Richard M. Nixon, President of the Senate, and
to the Honorable Joseph W. Martin, Jr., Speaker of the House
of Representatives. Reprinted with permission from John Wolley and Gerhard Peters of the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara at the American Presidency Project.
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