This aspect of the affair never seems to have addressed itself to the conscience or the heart of the Attorney General. He coolly declared that it was no part of the business of the Department of Justice to look after the families of those who commit crimes or render themselves subject to arrest. But he overlooks the fact that none of those whose arrest he authorized were proceeded against upon any theory that they had committed any crime. that many of them. because of their citizenship or because they were obviously innocent. if aliens. would be entitled to their discharge without delay and that delay must necessarily ensue. considering the number to be taken. and that even among those held a large number would eventually be released for want of evidence to justify deportation or because their innocence was established. It seems quite likely from the meager records kept that at least onehalf of those taken were discharged upon the preliminary inquiry. Many of those arrested were householders. and not a few had accumulated considerable property.
Keywords matched
deportation