ALIENS IN UNITED STATES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 22

ALIENS IN UNITED STATES

HOW MIGEATION LAWS ARE 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 bo impossible to undertake to deport these persons, but others will continue to filter in until it becomes impossible to deal with the situation, writea the New York correspondent of the "Melbourne Argus." A huge sum is necessary to seek out these aliens, contest tlio actions which many will no doubt bring to be allowed to remain, and then to deport them. The present rate of deportation is about 1000 a month, but at this rato tho process would continue for 500 to 1500 years. The anomalous feature of the situation is that many of these prospective "deportees" would make excellent and desirable citizens. The law, however, taking no account of intentions or qualifications, considers the ojily method of entrance, and so they arc doomed to go. Doportablo aliens fall into these classes: (1) Foreign sailors who overstay their shore leave. These average 12,000 annually. (2) "Border jumpers," aliens who "jump over" the Mexican or Canadian borders without tho benefit of a visa. (3) Alien visitors who overstay their six months' permit. (4) Aliens legally entered who within five years become public charges, due to circumstances originating outside the United States; and (5) convicted alien criminals, drug pedlars, and "persons advocating the overthrow of the Government by violence and force." By far the greater number fall in the second class. The opportunities for entry in this fashion are numerous, for it is humanly impossible to guard the length of cither the Canadian or Mexican borders, and it is equally impractical to guard every foot of the southern shores.