Speech #720184767

Mr. Chairman. ladies and gentlemen of the committee. on December 8 I received a communication from the Department of Labor. signed by the Secretary. in the following language: It is estimated that on the basis of removal of 25.000 aliens. at which rate approximately deportations are now proceeding. we will have a deficit at the close of the current fiscal year of approximately $585.300 in deportation money. in addition to a deficit of approximately $606.726 for salaries. making a total of $1.192.000.26. I am advised. Mr. Chairman. that the Director of the Budget made a recommendation. so far as the item for deportation is concerned. amounting to over $600.000. which is coming to us on the second deficiency appropriation bill. and at this point I am not interested in that phase of it. What I am interested in now are the salaries of the personnel of the Immigration Service. which includes the immigration border patrol. We have in the service a total number of 3.669 men and women. The total amount of monthly pay roll is about $653.240. There seems to be a deficiency in the amount available for the pay roll for the Immigration Service and for the border patrol. resulting in an estimated deficit of $606.726. All the Secretary of Labor could do was to balance his budget by laying off 10 per cent of the whole service for a period of six months. After a number of conferences the Secretary of Labor agreed to fix an administrative furlough for 30 days for all of themthis is over and above the regular legislative furloughthereby penalizing this great service of immigration inspectors and border patrol in the amount of two months pay instead of one month that is given to every other department in the Government. That is a discrimination that is not deserved by the Immigration Service. Those men are rendering a fine work. I was surprised to learn that some gentleman here in the early part of the day said that immigration was cut off and that we did not need the inspectors and that they do not want to supply the deficiency on that account. I challenge that statement. In the annual report of the Commissioner General of Immigration covering the operations of the Immigration Service for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1932that is. June of this calendar yearthe personnel of this Immigration Service boarded nearly 31.000 vessels and inspected over 951.000 alien seamen. besides ascertaining there were aboard over 333.000 American citizens serving as seamen. During that same year nearly 175.000 aliens of different immigration classifications were eamined and records of entry made. Also records were made of over 287.000 aliens who left the United States. Also all the necessary proceedings were followed to effect the deportation of some 19.000 aliens. and over 10.000 aliens were permitted to leave voluntarily. In all. the facts regarding over 30.000 aliens amenable to deportation were given attention and examination. So I am sure you will agree that there is still considerable need for the personnel services rendered by this bureau. The fact is that they have not enough men on the force to prevent smuggling of dope peddlers and aliens. Ships are coming in every day. The immigration inspector has to be on the job early in the morning and late at night. Every person who enters the United States must be examined both by the Immigration and by the Customs Service. so that. so far as the Immigration Service is concerned. the men work almost 20 hours out of the 24. and in spite of that you want to penalize these men with an additional 30 days furlough. and these men can not afford it.