Speech #760003241

The gentleman first ought to understand the law. He is misquoting the law. The law provides that an alien who has committed two crimes involving moral turpitude. and who has been sentenced therefor to a year or more in prison. or who has committed a crime involving moral turpitude within 5 years of entry and sentenced therefor to a year or more in prison. can be deported at any time. We have in this country today nearly eighteen or twenty thousand alien criminals who have been here more than 5 years who have not been convicted of two felonies involving moral turpitude. but who have been convicted of one felony and perhaps 20 misdemeanors. The Department has no power to deport those people. Under the Dies bill that we passed last year. I sought on one hand to allow 8.000 peopledecent peopleto remain here. and with the same law deport eighteen or twenty thousand criminals who should be deported.