The files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of this Department disclose that at the time of his death the alien was a 29-year-old native and citizen of Yugoslavia. He was single and his parents are dead. His two brothers and a sister reside in Yugoslavia and his only close relative in the United States is an uncle residing at Bisbee, Ariz. He first arrived in the United States in October of 1942 as a member of the Yugoslav Royal Air Force to receive training in this country. He left the United States on October 20, 1943, and was taken prisoner by the Germans in November of 1943. After his liberation in September of 1944, he served with a Yugoslav detachment in the Three Hundred and Seventy-sixth Bombardment Group, and in the Four Hundred and Fifty-fifth Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force. It appears that he contracted tuberculosis while a prisoner of war, and was brought to the United States as a hospital patient on October 19, 1945, when he was immediately transferred to the Fitzsimons General Hospital where he died. On July 30, 1947, Private Law No. 102 was enacted to provide for the expeditious naturalization of seven Yugoslav fliers who were attached to the Three Hundred and Seventy-sixth Bombardment Group. It appears that the only reason that the alien was not included among the Yugoslav fliers who were naturalized under that act was because he was not physically able to be inducted, or to enlist in the United States Army, although he had performed meritorious service during the war. The record indicates that a group of 50 Yugoslav fliers, including the beneficiary of this bill, who were attached to the Three Hundred and Seventy-sixth Bombardment Group, fought bravely with the Allies. At the time of his death, two bills (S. 2128 and H. R. 5331) to legalize his permanent residence in this country, and to waive certain specified requirements of the naturalization laws in his case, were pending in the Congress. Whether the bill under consideration should be enacted presents a question of legislative policy concerning which this Department prefers not to make any recommendation. Yours sincerely, The committee, after consideration of all the facts in the case, is of the opinion that the bill (S. 2262) should be enacted and it therefore accordingly so recommends its enactment. O JUNE 16 (legislative day, June 15), 1948.—Ordered to be printed Mr. WILEY, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT To accompany S. 2709) The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2709) for the relief of Stefan Magura and Michal Magura, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended, do pass. AMENDMENT On page 1, in line 8, strike out the period and insert in lieu thereof the following: ", upon payment of visa fees and head tax." PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of the bill is to record the lawful admission for permanent residence of Stefan Magura and Michal Magura. STATEMENT OF FACTS The pertinent facts in this case are set forth in the letter of the Assistant to the Attorney General to the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, dated June 11, 1948, which letter reads as follows: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Hon. ALEXANDER WILEY, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR: This is in response to your request for the views of this Department relative to the bill (S. 2709) for the relief of Stefan Magura and Michal Magura, aliens. The bill would provide that Stefan Magura and Michal Magura shall be deemed to have been lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence as of April 29, 1948, and would direct the Secretary of State to instruct the proper quota-control officer to deduct two numbers from the nonpreference category of the first available immigration quota for Czechoslovakia. The files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of this Department disclose that the aliens are brothers who are natives and citizens of Czechoslovakia. Stefan Magura was born on July 10, 1921, at Lastovce, Czechoslovakia, and Michal Magura was also born in that city on May 26, 1910. They arrived in the United States at the port of New York, N. Y., on April 29, 1948, and were admitted as temporary visitors for 2 months under section 3 (2) of the Immigration Act of 1924. The aliens were formerly engaged in an extensive clothing manufacturing and retail business in Czechoslovakia. Their entire business has been nationalized and turned over the Government of Czechoslovakia. The alien, Michal Magura. previously visited the United States during November and December of 1946, and made plans to establish a clothing factory at Monessen, Pa. At that time he purchased a large two-story building subject to an $8,000 mortgage which is being reduced at the rate of $4,000 per year. They have purchased $6,000 worth of machinery, and have ordered an additional $7,000 worth of machinery for delivery in the nera future. When the factory is in full operation, they expect to employ 200 persons. The aliens claim to have $11,000 in cash in the United States and assets values at $300,000, the larger portion of which are located in Italy. They state that the chamber of commerce in Monessen, Pa., is wholeheartedly in favor of their establishing a fcatory in that city as it would furnish steady employment for many of the women who live there. They laso state that they would not contemplate operating a business in this country unless their immigration status is adjusted. The alien, Michal Magura, is married and has a wife and three minor children residing in Switzerland. He and his brother have a married sister who resides in Donora, Pa. The aliens state that they have never been arrested for any criminal offense, that they are strongly opposed to the Communist-dominated government of their country, and that their lives would be in danger if they were compelled to return to Czechoslovakia. The records indicate that they are considered to be persons of good moral character. They are unable to adjust their immigration status because the quota for Czechoslovakia is oversubscribed and visas are not readily obtainable. Whether in this case the general provisions of the immigration laws should be waived presents a question of legislative policy concerning which this Depart ment prefers not to make any recommendation. If, however, the bill should receive favorable consideration, it is recommended that it be amended by adding to line 8 the following: "upon payment of visa fees and head tax." Yours sincerely. JOHN F. SONNETT, Acting the Assistant to the Attorney General. The committee, after consideration of all the facts in the case, is of the opinion that the bill (S. 2709) as amended, should be enacted and it therefore accordingly so recommends its enactment. JUNE 16 (legislative day, JUNE 15), 1948.-Ordered to be printed Mr. WILEY, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 2193] The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2193) for the relief of Robert E. Graham, having considered the same, do now report the bill to the Senate favorably, without amendment, and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay the sum of $3,500 to Robert E. Graham, of Collins, Miss., in full settlement of all claims against the United States for personal injuries, medical and hospital expenses, and loss of earnings sustained as a result of an accident involving a United States Army vehicle, in Collins, Miss., on November 14, 1943. STATEMENT The facts are fully set forth in House Report No. 1567, Eightieth Congress second session, and need not be reprinted here. O |