New Directive on Immigrant Visas to the US

US President Truman issues a directive giving preference to displaced persons for immigrant visas under existing US immigration quota restrictions.

Faced with congressional inaction, Truman issued an executive order, the “Truman Directive,” on December 22, 1945. The directive required that existing immigration quotas be designated for displaced persons. While overall immigration into the United States did not increase, more DPs were admitted than before. About 22,950 DPs, of whom two-thirds were Jewish, entered the United States between December 22, 1945, and 1947 under provisions of the Truman Directive.