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12 Immigration B. Bull. 1 (1959)

handle is hein.immigration/immigbbu0012 and id is 1 raw text is: IMMIGRATION BAR BULLETIN Published by THE ASSOCIATION OF IMMIGRATION AND NATION.I ' LAWYERS Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free . . . I lift my lamp beside the golden door. July-December, 1958 January-June, 1959 MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT -1958- WILLIAM B. ROTHSCHILD As I look back over the past year, I am pleased at the achievements of the 85th Congress in passing constructive legislation of great benefit to the distressed alien. The Ad- ministration must also be commended for its speed in setting up machinery to carry out the purposes of these new laws, and for its present policy of promptly adjusting the im- migration status of qualified aliens. Highlighting the immigration record of the 85th Congress was the Act of September 11, 1957 (Public Law 85-316) which became law during its first session and the various other immigration bills, now law, passed during its second iession, such as Public Law 85-700 which, among other hings, extended the benefits of the change of status pro- ,edure to aliens not in status at the time of applying for its benefits; Public Law 85-616, extending the benefits of the Registry Act, heretofore available only to persons in the United States prior to July 1, 1924, to those who entered prior to June 28, 1940; and Public Law 85-559, authorizing admission for permanent residence of qualified Hungarian refugees. Unfortunately, Section 245, as amended, excludes from its benefits any alien who is a native of any country con- tiguous to the United States, or any of the adjacent islands named in Section 101 (b) (5). These classes of aliens have now, and in the past, been excluded from the change of status procedure and from the benefits of the preexamina- tion process, on the theory that they can easily return to their native country and obtain visas. This theory fails to take into account the grave hardship it can impose upon an alien, such as the financial inability to return to his native country, his separation from an American born wife and children; loss of his position; long delays in obtaining visas, and the financial plight of his family during his absence. It is also unfortunate that the Immigration Service has terminated the preexamination process and, equally unfor- tunate, that all preexamination cases, now pending. must )e completed prior to June 30, 1959. 1 am sure that many )f the cases now before the various consulates in Canada !annot be completed prior to that cut-off date. A minimum of relief to such aliens would be that they be permitted to (Continued on page 2) MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT -1959 - ALBERT J. PERSICHETTI Immediately prior to my taking office as President, I called a meeting of all the past presidents and the Executive Board to discuss our aims for the coming year. Some of the more important decisions made concerned the continuance of our good relations with the Immigration Service and the State Department; the maintenance of vigi- lance on proposed congressional and administrative action of all kinds, and, if the opportunity arose, the proposing of legislative or administrative changes, deemed desirable. It was also felt that our chapters in Washington and New Jersey should be assisted and strengthened as much as pos- sible, and lastly we dedicated ourselves to vigorously guard- ing the practice of our members against encroachments 'by those engaged in the un-authorized practice of law. Our first six months has been spent trying to attain these objectives. I feel that our relations with the administrative agencies remains excellent. I am happy to report that I met with Commissioner Swing and assured him of our Association's assistance and cooperation. I felt that the Service was fortu- nate in having a man as its head who seemed to know the problems of the Service, the alien and the attorney. Of course, our Association continues to attend the joint meetings of the Service and State Department with the Social Agencies. Concerning legislative and administrative matters, I am happy to report that we took an active part in helping to defeat an attempt to have all immigration legislation in the House handled by the Internal Security Committee. Addi- tionally, we are on record with the Judiciary committees on all immigration legislation, and, if hearings are held, we are ready. Administratively, we are in the midst of preparing suggested changes in the visa regulations and most impor- tant, we have begun a program looking toward enlargement of the appellate jurisdiction of the Board of Immigration Appeals in almost all kinds of cases. We are awaiting a meeting date with the Attorney General Office on this subject. (Continued on page 2) Vol. ) Vol. ) rJ Cl' Nos. 3-4 Nos. 1-2

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