Mr. President. the distinction between legal and illegal Mexican immigration must be always kept clearly in mind. The imposition of a quota on Mexico at the present time would only attempt to solve that part of tie Mexican immigration problem which has already been solved by administrative measures. and would. of course. have no reference to the question of further strengthening the border patrol to make illegal entries more difficult. As to the measures which have been adopted to achieve this recent stoppage in Mexican immigration it may be said briefly that the standards of admissibility in force as regards Mexico prior to 1929 were found to have been not as high as those observed elsewhere. particularly in Europe. This situation was probably a natural outcome of the need of Mexican laborers in this country during the World War and the few years immediately following. When the situation was fully developed. however. remedies were firmly applied. A rigorous enforcement of existing law has been in effect since March 4. 1929. consisting principally in the refusing of Immigration visas by our consuls in Mexico to all aliens found inadmissible under the immigration act of 1917. That point was brought out very clearly in the statement made before the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate April 5. 1930. by Hon. Joseph P. Cotton. Undersecretary of State. who said: The present immigration law calls for a denial of entrance to anyone who is likely to be a public charge. to contract labor. to illiterates. to physical and mental defectives. So long as that law Is enforced you" will not have any legal immigration of a substantial amount of people from Mexico.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration border patrol visas contract labor