Authored by Alexander A. LoBianco

The Center for Migration Studies of New York has artifacts from the Collection of The Arthur P. (“Skip”) Endres Collection. He created or used them during his tenure as counsel for the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and International Law. It consists of primary source material on United States migration and refugee law. The artifact discussed was in box 3, folder 30 of the collection in the center’s archives, housed at St. John’s University (Center for Migration Studies 2015).

The Center for Migration Studies of New York has artifacts from the Collection of The Arthur P. (“Skip”) Endres Collection. He created or used them during his tenure as counsel for the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and International Law. It consists of primary source material on United States migration and refugee law. The artifact discussed was in box 3, folder 30 of the collection in the Center’s archives, housed at St. John’s University (Center for Migration Studies 2015).

The primary objective of the hearing was to review the consular function and determine whether the Immigration and Nationality Act had been properly implemented (United States Congress 1976).

Relocating consulates created staff shortages. Nevertheless, Eagleburger continued this practice to help candidates become well rounded in knowledge and expertise for their own and the nation’s best interest, improving their promotion potentials and career opportunities.

The hearing also focused on immigrant students encountering employment problems when the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) policy changed. The Labor Department emphasized that helping immigrants would deprive Americans employment; the immigration policy was an attempt to reconcile these two objectives. 

In addition, favoring certain classes of immigrants affected the operation of the labor certification procedure.

The labor certification system attempted to balance those two objectives. The Secretary of Labor curtailed aliens’ attempts to enter the U.S.to work other than when there was a shortage of qualified domestic workers (Dixon 1978).

Lastly, the hearing discussed H.R. 10993, a bill benefiting illegitimate children.

The father of Shue Qua Moa was a Hmong soldier recruited in the Vietnam War to fight alongside the Americans. Her family is an example of more than 100,000 Hmongs seeking political asylum. In 1975, her family migrated to a refugee camp in Thailand and eventually-they emigrated to the U.S. to seek the American Dream (Moua 2014).

St. John’s Vincentian core values of opportunity, excellence and service are conveyed through the actions of the committee hearing. Creating opportunity favorable to serving others and preparing one’s self for a fulfilling life guided by its central commitment to equality and justice were ideals motivating Eagleburger for the consulate staffers.

Striving for excellence by growing, never being complacent to succeed in programs assisting them in every area of achievement was part of the training program emphasized in his statement. The committee hearing members demonstrated commitment to equality and justice in considering both  foreign born an U.S. citizen’s best interests.

Vincentian spirituality of service in action, giving of themselves, their obligation and commitment to service as an institution, utilizing resources and knowledge, and responding to the needs of others were the overall factors in helping student immigrants, the general welfare of the U.S. and other needy (St. John’s University 2015).

References

Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS). 2015. “Guide to the Arthur P. (“Skip”) Endres Papers CMS.105.” https://cmsny.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/cms_105.pdf

Dixon, Elizabeth W. 1978. “Immigration and Nationality Law.” Annual Survey of American Law, 1978, no. 4 : 679-700 

Moua, Shue-Qa. 2014. (narration) “The Journey: A Hmong American Immigrant Story.” Immigrant Stories Collection, Immigration History Research Center & Archives, https://immigrants.mndigital.org/exhibits/show/immigrantstories1975/item/512

St. John’s University. 2015. “St. John’s Mission and Values.” https://online.stjohns.edu/about-us/missionUnited States Congress. 1976. Review of Immigration problems: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Congress. House Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Immigration. House of Representatives, Ninety-fourth Congress, first and second sessions.  Washington, D.C. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.