Speech #610190277

The gentleman from Georgia said he did. I will give you a few figures. The year before Secretary Straus went into office there were 900 immigrants. who had lauded in this country before. deported. During his first year in office that number increased over 100 per cent and over 2.000 were deported. and Secretary Straus inaugurated the system. which it seems to me is a good one. of in slack I lines sending immigrant inspectors out through the interior of the States and informing the state officials what the law was in regard to deportations. because as long as we have a law it ought to be enforced. And he went to the keepers of jails and asylums. and the aliens who had been here fewer than three years and were here in violation of our laws were deported in increased numbers. Further than that. our Immigration Commission had an investigation made of every single case which Secretary Straus decided up to the time our investigations ceased. which were near the close of his term. We have not been able to find any cases to criticise. The law was enforced undor Secretary Strauss administration. Further than that. if you look into the report of the Bureau of Immigration this year. you will find that of the 2.000 men who were deported because they were here in violation of our laws. had gotten through our meshes. there was only one man who was admitted on appealone in a little less than 3.000.000 that caine in during three years. That does not seem like a lack of enforcement of the law. Now. I agree that the Supreme Court held one way and the circuit court the other. following the Taylor case as to the alien seamen. but we ought to find some way to effectuate the plain intent of Congress. because we must apply it to first. second. and third class passengers and aliens. and not immigrant aliens alone.