Speech #660144093

I had the pleasure of Introducing a bill covering some of the ground covered by this bill in the amendment of section 1 of the act of December 16. 1918. but I have concluded that one of the chief difficulties growing out of the present situation is administrative. I do not mean by that remark to criticize. I have noticed with pleasure that generally the Immigration Committee is disposed to deal with questions from a nonpartisan standpoint. and I hope there will be Americanism enough in the committee and the House to avoid partisanship in dealing with questions so vital to the life of the Nation. Our deportation proceedings are now almost exclusively in the hands of the Department of Labor. That department is not required to issue a warrant for the arrest of an alleged anarchist alien. even when it is called for by the Department of Justice. The law should be amended so as to require that. The Department of Justice is not now charged with the duty to represent the Government upon deportation proceedings. nor is any provision made for it. I think the law should be amended so that whatever deportation proceedings in dealing with anarchists are had in that department should be looked after in the interest of the Government of the United States by some prosecuting representative of the Department of Justice. My information is that under the present system ex parte proceedings are had. that anyone can appear in behalf of the proposed deportee. file additional evidence in the shape of ex parte affidavits. and get a rehearing or reopening of the case and even a change of the order in an informal. irregular proceeding in private. I think the law in itself is lame and should be strengthened in the light of the experience we have had in enforcing it. The provision that permits an.alien who came into the United States surreptitiously or in any manner entered the country unlawfully to plead that he has been here three or five years. and thus defeat deportation proceedings in certain cases. should be eliminated. The present law that permits anarchistic aliens to be released on bail or recognizance should be amended so that can not be done. If it is regarded an abuse now. it ought to be made perfectly clear that it is not to be permitted. None of these desperate and dangerous characters should be released for months on bond. There is no distinction now as between the deportation proceedings in cases of anarchist aliens and those who are liable to deportation on other groundsno distinction between the proceedings deporting one who is liable to become a public charge or in some other way has gotten into the United States unlawfully. but who is not an anarchist. and one who is an anarchist. Nothing in the law requires the department to deal specially with the cases of anarchists. with a view to expediting them. There should be a declaration of legislative purpose that proceedings to deport anarchists shall be expedited.