ALIENS IN U.S.A.

Evening Star, Issue 19221, 12 April 1926, Page 12

ALIENS IN U.S.A.

THE FATE OF A MILLIOH UNCLE SAM'S THINKING CAP. NEW YORK, Mareh 30. The Civil Liberties Union and the Federal Council of Churches are waging a strenuous fight on behalf of the alien population of the United States. Following the attempt to exclude the Countess of Cathcnrt, on the grounds of “ moral turpitude,” Mr Curran, the Immigration Commissioner, reportedto the Government Immigration Committee that over 1,000,000 people resident in the country were “ deportable aliens.” 30,000 of whom were living in New York. The committee thereupon decided to recommend that 1,000,000 dollars (about £200,000) should be voted immediately by Congress to facilitate deportations. This proposed Immigration Bill is being vigorously opposed on the ground that it is too drastic and would result in the deportation of many aliens legally entitled to reside in America.

The Cat-heart case roused a storm of indignation throughout tho _ country, over 200 women’s organisations protesting to 'Washington against the exclusion of the countess.

Tho Press pointed out the far-reach-ing consequences such action might have on American citizens residing in other countries, if reprisals were adopted. Dealing with tho exclusion of the countess and tho admission of Lord Craven, who was cited with tho countess in the double divorce proceedings, tho New York ‘ World ’ printed a lending article, ‘ The Other Way.’ which consisted only of eleven verses from the New Testament, giving Christ’s defence of the woman taken in adultery. “ Deplorable aliens,” the Immigration Committee maintains, means those foreigners who are undesirables, and who would not ordinarily be admitted to United States citizenship. Following up tho Immigration Commissioner’s report that there are 1,000,000 “ deportable aliens ” in the country, the Immigration Bureau is making arrangements to deport 1,000 “ undesirable aliens ” at once.

The majority of this first batch, it is said, will he persons who entered the country without being registered or inspected. Various welfare organisations are attempting to prevent the system of “ wholesale deportation,” which, they declare, is creating a panic among foreigners, who do net understand the conditions of tho scheme. Non-American citizens, who have built up small businesses, they .say, are living in perpetual fear of being uprooted and sent across the seas at a moment’s notice.

Jewish citizens in New York have voluntarily subscribed 250,000 dollars (£50,0010 as a first instalment for settling 150,000 Jews from America in the Ukraine (“Little Russia ”1.

A second Jewish rend, for the same purpose, is being subscribed, and William Fox, of Fox Films, has headed the list with a gift of 25,000 dollars (£s,non).