Speech #690145639

In the first place. I object to provision 4 which provides: An alien who at any time within seven years after entry is a public charge from causes not affirmatively shown to have arisen subsequent to entryat any time after entry. I regard this provision as unnecessarily harsh. because it extends the time from five to seven years within which an alien who may become a public charge can be deported. Understand. gentlemen. an alien who might become a public charge within seven years. not a criminal. but an unfortunate. Take the ease of an alien workman coming to this country seven years ago who has become ill. or due to an injury he has received In hazardous and dangerous employment has broken down physically and Is taken to a county or State hospital or sanitarium unable to maintain himself. temporarily at least. though all the time of his residence here he has been diligently engaged in his occupation. has been leading an upright life and providing for his family. But the moment he is sent or taken to any public institution his name is forwarded to the Immigration Bureau as a public charge and immediately proceedings for his deportation are Instituted. Why should he be required to prove that when he arrived here there was not by some possibility an inherent or undiscovered weakness which. in course of time. and as a result of his exertions. developed into a condition of serious disability. the country in the meantime having had the benefit of his labor and his Industry? To prove the negative might call for the testimony of expert witnesses and their attendance at the hearing before.the immigration inspector. To bear the expenses of such witnesses may be pecuniarily impossible for the alien. and yet failure to produce this testimony would at once establish the case of the Government. Under the terms of this bill all that it would be necessary for it to do would be to arrest the alien. bring him before the immigrant inspector. present its claim that he has become a public charge. and then rest its case upon the presumption created by this bill. It would seem that the mere statement of these facts would demonstrate the injustice of such a law. and it would be bad enough if a time limit similar to that applicable to a criminal case should be attached to this law. but to extend. yes! to remove the time limit creates a state of affairs which is really alarming and presents possibilities which are abhorrent to contemi)la te. The second provision In the bill that I object to is the extension of the time of deportation from live to seven years on those who become insane or feebleminded or upon anyone who by chance nmy be a person of psychopathic inferiority. Under this provision. gentlemen. almost anybody can be deportedalmost any alien. I understand that the best medical authorities claim and maintain that 75 per cent of the people of the United States on a close examination and Investigation could be certified as being of constitutional psychopathic inferiority. Consequently under this provision most any alien. It matters not how long within the United States. could be deported. And I venture to say that if the Members of the House should be subjected to that examination and test a great majority of us would fall under the provision. I think it is manifestly unfair. unreasonable. and unjust to pass a legislative provision of this character. The next and most objectionable feature In the bill is the one which increases tIme deportation limit from 5 to 10 years wherein a man is found guilty of an offense which is punishable by imprisonment for one year. I quote section 6: