Mr. President. this morning the President of the United States addressed a message to the Congress dealing with the distress of the Jewish people in Europe and his purpose to bring immediately into the United States approximately 1.000 refugees who have fled from their homelands to southern Italy. I am advised that the President of the United States has no constitutional authority thus to set aside and violate the laws of the Congress restricting immigration into our country. Because I am in sympathy with the humanitarian problem involved. while at the same time I am opposed to the Presidents policy of ignoring the limitations placed upon him. by the laws of the Congress and would protect the President personally from the provisions of title VIII. section 144. United States Code. I read the language of section 144 for the benefit of the Senate. the House of Representatives. the President. and the American people: 144. Bringing In or harboring or concealing certain aliens: Any person. including the master. agent. owner. or consignee of any vessel. who shall bring into or land in the United States. by vessel or otherwise. or shall attempt. by himself or through another. to bring into or land in the United States. by vessel or otherwise. or shall conceal or harbor or attempt to conceal or harbor. or assist or abet another to conceal or harbor. in any place. including any building. vessel. railway car. conveyance. or vehicle. any alien not duly admitted by an immigrant inspector or not lawfully entitled to enter or to reside within the United States. shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $2.000 and by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years for each and every alien so landed or brought in or attempted to be landed or brought in. (February 5. 1917. c. 29. par. 8. 39 Stat. 880.)
Keywords matched
immigrant immigration refugees