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The State Department exercises exclusive jurisdiction abroad in determining who shall be granted visas to come to this country and the work of its representatives is characterized by the utmost fairness to all applicants. The aliens here no less than those resident in the Old World, have come to have an understanding of its essentials. It is humane, it is just, it is definite, and all with a proper regard for the assimilative capacity of our own country. It is not, however, selective in the sense that it permits us to take or even invite those whom we particularly prefer or need when we prefer or need them, but it does permit of a sane, deliberate preliminary filtering abroad of candidate immigrants, a separation of the specifically proscribed from those not specifically inhibited by law-all unaccompanied by the hysteria of complaint and criticism that characterized the old system of unlimited immigration. In other words, while we can not say who shall apply nor whom we prefer or need, yet to those who do present themselves to our consuls abroad we are afforded an opportunity to say, as to any individual, "You are specifically disqualified by certain provisions of our laws and we can not give you a visa.' The point which it is desired particularly to emphasize would perhaps best be made clear by an illustration. Let us suppose that the quota of a particular country were approaching exhaustion and there were a long waiting list of candidates of that nationality. Taking the candidates in their order, as obviously the officers must if there is to be perfect fairness, a prospective shoestring peddler destined to New York is up for examination; he has sufficient funds; he meets the physical requirements; nothing against his character is developed. In the line somewhere behind him is a quarryman destined to Barre, Vt.; he also has sufficient funds; he meets the physical requirements; there is nothing against him; but the quota is exhausted before he can be reached. We do not need the shoestring peddler; we need the quarryman; but the shoestring peddler "wins." This "first come first served" process which permits economic undesirables to get within reach on the current limited waiting lists and to crowd out many economic desirables is faulty, but even with its faults it is infinitely better than the old haphazard one, when the volume of the flood was regulated by the capacity of shipbuilders to build ships in which to carry immigrants, the lines to buy them, and Ellis Island to accommodate the human cargoes.

NATIONAL ORIGIN

Section 11 (a) of the immigration act of 1924, known as the quota act, provides that the annual quota of any nationality shall be 2 per centum of the number of foreign-born individuals of such nationality resident in continental United States as determined by the United States census of 1890, but the minimum quota of any nationality shall be 100. This basis of computation is an excellent one. The volume and general quality of immigration resulting therefrom is more satisfactory than the quantity and quality of any immigration received in the three decades prior to 1921. This basis certainly should not be tampered with.

In the same section of the same act, paragraph b, there is a provision that the annual quota of any nationality for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1927, and for each fiscal year thereafter, shall be a number

which bears the same ratio to 150,000 as the number of inhabitants in continental United States in 1920 having that national origin (ascertained as hereinafter provided in this section) bears to the number of inhabitants in continental United States in 1920; but the minimum quota of any nationality shall be 100. This is known as the national-origin plan. It did not go into effect on July 1, 1927. The Congress by special and independent action during the last session postponed the operative date of this plan for one year.

FOREIGN SERVICE

The annual report of last year contained comment on the gratifying situation resulting from the examination abroad by American consuls, assisted by technical advisers of the Immigration Service, of intending immigrants. The year just closed is the third since the examination abroad was inaugurated and the second during which technical advisers of this service have been attached to the American consulates. During the past fiscal year, at the request of the Governments directly concerned, technical advisers have been assigned to our consulates in Italy and Czechoslovakia.

A technical adviser is now assigned to each of the following European cities: Antwerp, Belgium; Belfast, Ireland; Bergen, Norway; Berlin, Germany; Bremen, Germany; Cobh, Ireland; Copenhagen, Denmark; Cologne, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; Genoa, Italy; Glasgow, Scotland; Gothenberg, Sweden; Hamburg, Germany; Liverpool, England; London, England (2); Naples, Italy; Oslo, Norway; Palermo, Italy; Prague, Czechoslovakia; Rotterdam, Holland; Southampton, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Stuttgart, Germany; and Warsaw, Poland; a total of 25 in all with one additional man for relief detail. Taking the arrivals at the port of New York as a basis, the records of the bureau show that in the three years prior to the inauguration of the foreign inspection service, that is to say the fiscal years 1922, 1923, and 1924, out of every 1,000 arrivals there were debarred 14, 11, and 15, respectively. In the fiscal year 1925, the first in which examination abroad occurred, 12 aliens per 1,000 were debarred upon reaching the United States, and during the fiscal years 1926 and 1927, following the assignment abroad of technical advisers of the Immigration Service, the ratio of those debarred to each 1,000 aliens arriving dropped to 6 and 4, respectively. The ratios given are based upon all aliens applying at New York for admission regardless of country of origin and regardless of whether they came from countries to which technical advisers had been assigned. The bureau's records show that, as to aliens arriving at New York from countries to which technical advisers have been assigned, the ratio of debarred is less than 1 to each 1,000 arrivals.

The figures quoted speak more eloquently than anything else could of the success of the system.

It is reasonable to hope and believe that as the system develops hardships attendant upon exclusion of immigrants at our ports will become practically nonexistent.

The system where it has been placed in operation has practically eliminated cases of hardship at ports of the United States and has proved also a distinct financial benefit not only to those who have migrated to this country but to those others as well who might other

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wise have undertaken a fruitless journey. The wonderful success of this system is due in a very substantial measure to the splendid cooperation of the American consular officers, officers of the Public Health Service, and technical advisers of the Immigration Service.

DEPORTATIONS (EXPULSIONS)

Ridding the country of undesirable aliens found to be unlawfully therein continues to be one of the most important functions of the Immigration Service. During the fiscal year covered by this report 12,055 aliens were disposed of through, or by means of, the institution of deportation proceedings. Of this number 7,249 were deported at the expense exclusively of the immigration appropriation; 1,504 aliens were deported in which cases the steamship lines responsible for their introduction into this country were held liable for the cost of the ocean voyage; 1,638 were permitted to ship one way foreign as members of crews of departing vessels, and 1,664 were permitted voluntarily to depart at their own expense.

Of the 12,055 aliens mentioned, approximately 4,700 were returned to Europe, 3,000 to Canada, 3,055 to Mexico, and 600 to other countries in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 600 deportees were sent to Asia, and 100 to Africa, Australia, and the Pacific islands.

The total number of undesirables whose removal from the country was brought about in the manner above indicated exceeds that for the previous fiscal year by approximately 1,151, and establishes a new high record for the service, notwithstanding the fact that the absence of sufficient funds with which to "carry on," resulting from the failure of the second deficiency bill to pass in the last session of Congress, necessitated a sharp curtailment during the last quarter of the fiscal year of all activities designed to rid the country of undesirable aliens unlawfully here.

At this juncture it may be timely to mention the fact that when Congress adjourned on March 4 last, there were awaiting deportation over 7,000 undesirable aliens of various classes and nationalities in respect of whom warrants of deportation had issued, but owing to the threatened deficit only 3,410 of them were subsequently deported, and, with the aliens arrested subsequent to March 4, the close of the year found fully 7,000 throughout the country awaiting deportation. Of this number about 2,500 were at large on bond or upon their own recognizance, about 2,200 were in detention at the expense of the Government, and about 2,300 were in detention in institutions at the expense of various States and municipalities.

Ninety-two deportation parties were moved during the year. These group movements saved many thousands of dollars.

With respect to the aliens permitted to reship one way foreign as a compliance with orders of deportation, statistics showing those who were experienced seamen (or who had made at least one previous voyage as a member of the crew of some vessel) and those who had no such previous experience have been maintained only since January, 1927. It is interesting to note, however, even from these meager data that of the 587 deportees who were permitted to leave the United States in the manner indicated between January 1 and

June 30, 554 had had some previous experience as seamen, while 33 were without experience.

In addition to the foregoing there were approximately 14,619 aliens subject to deportation (in respect of whom formal removal proceedings were not initiated) who were permitted voluntarily to depart.

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ALIEN INMATES OF PENAL INSTITUTIONS, INSANE ASYLUMS, HOSPITALS, AND POORHOUSES

During the month of January, 1927, a survey was made of institutions of the character indicated in the caption hereof situated within continental United States, Alaska, Honolulu, and Porto Rico, to determine the number of alien inmates in such institutions. Prisons, penitentiaries and jails were found to contain 45,193; insane asylums and other institutions for the care of such cases were found to contain 37,470; hospitals and sanitaria were found to contain 14,383; and poorhouses 16,059; a total of 113,105.

The economic loss represented by these figures is appalling. Each alien considered economically is less than zero; he is a distinct liability. The amount of money expended annually to support these aliens would equip and maintain a fair-sized standing army.

REENTRY PERMITS (INCLUDING CHINESE)

During the fiscal year just closed 112,254 applications for reentry permits were received and considered, of which 102,195 were granted and 5,840 were denied, leaving 4,219 pending at the end of the year. Applications for the extension of the life of permits issued were granted in 9,110 cases. A fee of $3 is charged for each permit or extension thereof granted. The total income from these sources was $333,915, which sum was covered into the Treasury, representing an excess of $7,815 collected as compared with the previous fiscal year, due

entirely to an increase in the number of extensions applied for and granted.

With the close of the fiscal year covered by this report the reentry permit system has been in operation three years. During this period there have come to light 88 cases in which aliens have fraudulently obtained admission to the United States on permits issued to other persons, by substitution of photographs on the permits. Some time since steps were taken to render this sort of fraud practically impossible in the future. During the same period 66 cases came to light in which reentry permits, counterfeit in their entirety, were used by aliens in an effort to gain admission. Twenty-two succeeded. Since the new regulation went into effect on July 9, 1926, requiring that aliens be identified by immigration officers prior to departure and before receiving permits, there has been but one case discovered in which an alien has attempted a substitution of the photograph on a bona fide permit. He was apprehended at the port of entry and excluded. The counterfeiting of reentry permits in their entirety has also been rendered extremely difficult by the adoption of a new style of form, since the introduction of which no counterfeit has come. to light.

The use of reentry permits upon the part of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence (desiring to proceed abroad temporarily) in order to obviate the necessity of providing themselves with nonquoto visas, will doubtless grow as the advantages arising from their use become more widely known. Contrary to a popular misapprehension (formerly quite widespread but fortunately steadily diminishing) these reentry permits do not insure the readmission of their holders. Any alien returning with a reentry permit after a temporary absence abroad is subject to full inspection under the immigration laws, and, if found for any cause thereunder to be inadmissible, he must be excluded. In short, the reentry permit is merely an instrument by means of which the holder is enabled upon return to the United States to identify himself as one who has been previously lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and one who, if otherwise admissible, will be permitted to reenter without other documents.

VISA PETITIONS

During the past fiscal year 34,169 petitions were filed by American citizens for the issuance of nonquota visas in behalf of wives and unmarried children under 18 years, and for preferential status in the issuance of quota visas for children between the ages of 18 and 21 years, parents, and husbands, an increase of approximately 10,300 over the preceding year. Of this number 27,623 were approved and 3,203 rejected, the remainder, for one reason or another, not being perfected.

Petitions for nonquota visas in respect of 25,500 individuals were approved, and for preferential status in respect of 13,543 individuals, a total of 39,043 persons. Of this total 16,256 were Italians, 7,079 were Poles, 1,811 were Greeks, and 1,710 were natives of Czechoslovakia.

Early in October a most pronounced increase was noted in the number of petitions filed. This fact is not lacking in significance when consideration is given to the fact that 2 years and 90 days had

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