Speech #760218345

This statement was submitted to a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee investigating charges of illegal practices of the Department of Justice pursuant to a resolution introduced by Senator Thomas J. Walsh. I quote: It appears from the reported decisions of Federal courts that in deportation proceedings taken by the Department of Justice under direction of the Attorney General. aliens have been deprived of such constitutional guaranties. It also appears that the agents of the Department of Justice. in violation of the express provisions of the statute. have arrested aliens in deportation cases without warrant. These undisputed facts would of themselves seem to require a thoroughgoing investigation of the conduct of the Department of Justice in connection with the deportation cases. * * * It is therefore Very much to be hoped that any such investigation will not only reveal fully the facts with respect to the violation of constitutional safeguards and statutes by the agents of the Department of Justice in the administration of the deportation laws. but that such investigation will result in legislation more adequately protecting aliens or those alleged to be aliens. but who may be citizens of the United States. from the arbitrary exercise of power by administrative officers. It Is inevitable that any system which confers upon administrative officers power to restrain the liberty of individuals without safeguards substantially like those which exist in criminal cases. and the action of such administrative officers will result in abuse of power and intolerable injustice and cruelty to Individuals. Two years later. on February 5. 1923.