Refugee Relief Act
Encyclopedia
The Refugee Relief Act of 1953 was an act of legislation passed by the 83rd United States Congress
to replace the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which expired in 1953. It resulted in the admission of 214,000 immigrants to the United States, including 60,000 Italians, 17,000 Greeks
, 17,000 Dutch
and 45,000 immigrants from communist countries. The act expired in 1956.
Initially, the bill was called the Emergency Migration Act and intended as a response to President Dwight D. Eisenhower
's request for emergency legislation to admit more immigrants from from Southern Europe
, who were excluded according to the quotas of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (the "McCarran
-Walter Act").
The bill was renamed by Senator McCarran, and a number of provisions were added with the effect of complicating the determination of eligibility of applicants. Applicants were required to undergo a thorough security screening, including a verifiable history of their activities for two years prior to application.
The bill passed the House of Representatives
with a 221-185, with the support of a majority of Democrats and an even split among Republicans. The United States Senate
passed the bill on a voice vote
, with Senator McCarran opposed. The act was signed into law by President Eisenhower on August 7, 1953.
The act defined refugees as people who lack "the essentials of life." In order to be eligible for admission, refugees were required to evidence a guarantee of a home and job by a U.S. resident. Italian-Americans and Greek-Americans were permitted to pre-empt refugee quotas to admit their relatives.
In 1955, Edward Corsi, who had been appointed to administer the act, was dismissed as the result of a conflict with State Department
Security Director Scott McLeod. Representative Francis Walter accused Corsi of association with a Communist-affiliated group. Corsi said that the administration of the act was hampered by an obsessive "psychology of security", and the refugees were being "investigated to death".
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
to replace the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which expired in 1953. It resulted in the admission of 214,000 immigrants to the United States, including 60,000 Italians, 17,000 Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, 17,000 Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and 45,000 immigrants from communist countries. The act expired in 1956.
Initially, the bill was called the Emergency Migration Act and intended as a response to President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's request for emergency legislation to admit more immigrants from from Southern Europe
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
, who were excluded according to the quotas of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (the "McCarran
Pat McCarran
Patrick Anthony McCarran was a Democratic United States Senator from Nevada from 1933 until 1954, and was noted for his strong anti-Communist stance.-Early life and career:...
-Walter Act").
The bill was renamed by Senator McCarran, and a number of provisions were added with the effect of complicating the determination of eligibility of applicants. Applicants were required to undergo a thorough security screening, including a verifiable history of their activities for two years prior to application.
The bill passed the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
with a 221-185, with the support of a majority of Democrats and an even split among Republicans. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
passed the bill on a voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
, with Senator McCarran opposed. The act was signed into law by President Eisenhower on August 7, 1953.
The act defined refugees as people who lack "the essentials of life." In order to be eligible for admission, refugees were required to evidence a guarantee of a home and job by a U.S. resident. Italian-Americans and Greek-Americans were permitted to pre-empt refugee quotas to admit their relatives.
In 1955, Edward Corsi, who had been appointed to administer the act, was dismissed as the result of a conflict with State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
Security Director Scott McLeod. Representative Francis Walter accused Corsi of association with a Communist-affiliated group. Corsi said that the administration of the act was hampered by an obsessive "psychology of security", and the refugees were being "investigated to death".