If I thought for a moment that it was unconstitutional or came under the classification of bills of attainder. I would vote against it. I do not believe that we should violate the Constitution or the Bill of Rights in our determination to rid this country of undesirable aliens. but the status of an alien is wholly different from that of a citizen. It is unfortunate that we have been compelled to resort to a private bill to expel Bridges from this country. It should have been done by the Secretary of Labor in the enforcement of existing laws. It is also regrettable that we cannot secure additional legislation along the lines of the bill which I recently introduced. which would make it mandatory for the Department of Justice to deport all undesirable aliens in this country. But since the laws were not enforced and it is improbable that we can secure the necessary general legislation at this session there is no other alternative left to the Congress. The very people who are opposing this bill have favored or introduced similar bills to exempt aliens from deportation. They have gone on record in favor of withholding the deportation of aliens who are mandatorily deportable and have been ordered deported by the Department of Labor. I do not think that it can be justly said that the deportation of Harry Bridges constitutes punishment. He has shown that he does not appreciate the hospitality which America has extended to him as a guest. He has shown that he does not believe in our form of government. and he has not hesitated to denounce it.
Keywords matched
undesirable aliens deported deportable deportation