Speech #610081240

The treatymaking power. can no more make a treaty the law of the land in violation of the Constitution 6f the United States than can both Houses acting together enact a law in violation of the Constitution of the United States. The States have the right to protect themselves from the introduction of aliens into the States. if those aliens violate the laws passed by the State for the protection of the health. morals. and general welfare of the people of the State. The courts have decided that the States have the right to pass laws for the detention and disinfection of immigrants by order of the state board of heath for the purpose of preventing infectious diseases. and that this is not a regulation of commerce. In the case of Keller v. The United States. the Supreme Court of the United States said that. while Congress had the right to exclude aliens and remove them. it did not follow that Congress has the power to punish those whose acts furnished the evidence from which the Government might determine the question of their removal. and Justice Brewer used this language: But can It be within the power of Congress to control all the dealings of our citizens with resident aliens?