ALIENS IN AMERICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 77, 11 January 1928, Page 6

ALIENS IN AMERICA.

MIGRATION LAWS EVADED. Between 500,000 and 1,500,000 aliens : are now in the United States whose entrance was illegal, according to immigration officials, and if. additional funds and facilities are not provided to enforce existing immigration: laws • not only will it be impossible to un- \ dertake to deport these persons, but j others will continue to filter it until it ' (becomes impossible to deal with the ; situation, writes the New York cor- j respondent of the "Melbourne Argus." ! A huge sum is necessary to seek out | these aliens, contest the actions which j many will no doubt bring to be allow- j ed to remain, and then to deport, tfueni. < The present rate of deportation is j about 1000 a month but at this, rate the j process would continue for 500 to 1500 i years. The anomalous feature of the f situation is that many, of these- pros- j poctive "deportees" would make ex- j cedent and desirable citizens.. The law, j however, taking no account of inten- ' tions or qualifications, considers the ' only method of entrance, and so they j are doomed to cot. • k Deportable aliens fall into these : classes: (1) Foreign sailors who'over-j stay their shore leave. These average j 12,000 annually. (2) "Border- hjmp- ; ers," aliens who "jump over" the Mex- : icon or Canadian borders without the ! benefit of a visa. (3) Alien visitors who overstay their six months' permit. (.4) ! Aliens legally entered who within five I years become public charges,, due: to \ circumstances originating outside the i United States; and (5) convicted:, alien j criminals, drug pedlars, and "persons > advocating the overthrow of the Gov- ' eminent by violence and force." By far the greats- number fall in the sec- i mid class. The opportunities for entry ■ in this fashion are numerous, for. it is humanly impossible to guard the length \ of either the Canadian or Mexican ibor- ' ders, and it is equally impractical to £Uord every foot of the southern, shores.