El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-06
TURNING BACK
UNDESIRABLES
immigration and Public
Health Work on the Bor-
der Are Explained.

lei PasO as a Port Of Entry was
discussed in a most comprehensive
manner by the representatives Of the
various departments OF the govern
ment stationed here. at the meeting
Of the Woman's club Wednesday sf-
ternOon, in the auditorium of the First
Christian church. F. W. Berkshire, su-
pervising inspector Of the Z. S. I'M
migration service for this district
service. Ell Paso is located in the ezra
immigration district of the country ana
is the headquarters of the district
which includes New Mexico Arizona,
the southern half of California and All
Of Texas excepting Galveston. In the
Ell PasO office there are 81 employees
and their pay roll averages annually
$4,000, which is practically all spent
in this city. Mr.. Berkshire explained
the purpose Of the immigration ser
vice for the protection of the country
against the admission Of undesirables
for the protection of the morality ana
health Of the country.
Many Aliens Detained.
The aliens prohibited from entering
the United States come under p class
es These include idiots, imbeciles. in
sane, feeble minded, mentally de1i-
cient, professional beggars, paupers'
criminals and felOns, anarchists, tu-
bercularly diseased and all afflicteu
with contagious diseases, prostitutes
procurers and others who would IN
time become public charges either IN
penal Institutes or asylums.
Through the port of FL PasO during
the past five years, 1875 aliens nave
applied for admission. OF these oeS
were excluded. Mr. Berkshire salo
that this was a bigger proportion OF
exclusions than at the average port OF
entry Of those admitted. he said tnat
only IS per cent come with the inten-
ton OF remaining here, the remainder
coming for temporary work, with ran
way gangs, etc
Catching UndesiFables-
Mr.. Berkshire explained that BY the
use OF relays of experienced immi gra-
ton Officers at the bridges. they be-
come familiar with the residents OF
Juarez and FL PasO who 90 back ana
forth between the two cities on busi-
ness and that these are not bothered
with formalities as, from TINS IaIill l-
iarty the officers are able to Almost
instantly distinguish new arrivals who
are questioned and detained.
Mr.. Berkshire then outlined the pro-
cess OF inspection through Which each
immigrant passes in order TO DETER
mine his physical mental and moral
fitness for entrance The statlsucsi
data obtained from each applicant ad-
uitted is submitted to the naturallza-
ton bureau. where il is referred 10.
when the applicant desires to take out
naturalization papers, as, in order 10
do this he must prove that he has en-
tered the United states in legal way
Mr. Berkshire explained that the laws
for deporting Illegal entrants extend
over three years after the alien mas
entered. so that II any manage 10 get
through the immigrant service inspec-
ton on false statements or enter
through other than the authorized
ports, they may be deported.
Deportation Work.
He also explained that the appli-
cant for entry who ls reIuse9 aaIIlls ms
sion by the immi grafton board Of spe-
cial inquiry. which examines any cases
of which an officer may be in doubt
has only one overhead appeal, and that
is to the secretary Of immigration.
He spoke of the difficulties sur
rounding the work OF the immigration
officers in their endeavor to prevent
the Importation OF women for immoral
purposes and related a number Of
cases showing the problems CONFRONT
ing the officers and the methods OF
evasion He explained the way that
the immigration department Is obtain
ing the cooperation Of the women
clubs and Organizations in foreign
countries so that the girl or woman
who is refused admission to the United
States on these grounds, may be helped
TO return to her own home In the Tor
eign countries.
Chinese Exclusion.
Mr.. Berkshire also discussed the Chi
nese exclusion act and the work that
the immigration service has done
through increased force and improved
methods to change the port Of Ell Paso
from the record place for smuggled
Chinese to a minimum number MI
Berkshire invited the club members TO
visit the immigration office
DR.. John ". Tappan. head OF the
United States Public Health service,
told Of the work OF the medical in
spection of the immigrants to detect
diseases. abnormalities, etc, in the APP
plicants for admission to the United
States. that would make them unde-
sirable citizens Under normal condi-
lions in Mexico DR.. Tappan said that
FL Paso ranked as the fifth In impor-
lance in the United States as port
OF entry.
Public Health QuarRntines.
DR.. c. c. Pierce, of the quarantine
branch of the L. S. public health SER
vice, who is in charge Of the quaran-
tine work for the prevention OF typhus,
talked on the methods employed IN
the fumigation of all applicants from
Mexico for admission to this country
through the border pOrB. DR.. Pierce
spoke Of the development OF the pres
ent public health service from the old
Marine Hospital service, organized for