Speech #830136814

The Assistant Attornew General in his letter of November 20 to me stated: Since January 1. 1953. the border patrol of the Immigration Service has apprehended over 880.000 Mexican aliens illegally within the United States. He reported that the 880.000 had been apprehended and deported since the first of the year. but he also stated that in his judgment there were 3 more illegal entrants for every 1 deported. He concludes his letter as follows: I regret that I am unable to report any exact figures. but the Immigration Service conservatively estimates that for each apprehension. three Mexican aliens cross the border and either return undetected or Infiltrate into our northern industrial areas. This means that during 1954 over 4.000.000 persons will have entered the United States illegally from Mexico. The great majority are "braceros." who seek only seasonal employment. but it Is apparent that this border is also an easy avenue of entry into our country for almost any number of Communists or foreign agents from MexicoI call particular attention to this portion of the letteris also an easy avenue of entry into our country for almost any number of Communists or foreign agents from Mexico.