Speech #740207339

Without objection. it is so ordered. The memorandum is as follows: The Immigration and Naturalization Service maintains a force of less than 200 patrolmen between El Paso and the Pacific coast. and is. therefore. experiencing great difficulty in the matter of alien smuggling prevention at all points. The Customs Service also maintains a limited border patrol for the prevention of illegal entry of contraband and merchandise. The erection of fences along the most active smuggling sections of the Mexican border would be of invaluable assistance to the Government agencies concerned in preventing the illegal entry of persons. dutiable merchandise. narcotics. and other contraband. and It is believed that within the life of the fence the advantages to the Federal and State Governments would cost more than offset the expense. since it would reduce the cost of investigating. detaining. and deporting from the United States aliens who have entered illegally from Mexico. The several States. cities. towns. and counties along the international boundary would also be relieved of considerable expense for care and maintenance of aliens in penal. eleemosynary. and other institutions. To illustrate. for the past 7 years an average of 6.462 aliens of Mexican nationality have been deported each year. and a considerable number of orientals and aliens of other nationalities who gained surreptitious entry into the United States. In the fiscal year 1933 over 2.000 aliens of the Chinese race. who entered illegally in the sectors it is proposed to fence. were apprehended and deported to China at an expense to the Government of over $500.000. Moreover. hundreds of aliens of the criminal class congregate in various Mexican border towns and with others who are residents there cross surreptitiously to cities and towns on the American side of the line to smuggle. rob. murder. and what not. due to the facility with which they can enter the country. since it requires but approximately 1 minute for these undesirable aliens to dash across the international line and lose themselves among confederates or sympathizers on the American side at points where it is proposed to erect fences. The Governments efforts to prevent illegal crossings have been far from successful. and gun fights frequently result in attempts to prevent illegal entries. with serious loss of life to officers of the Federal Government.