Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-04-14
MIR. REYNOLDS
GIVES VIEWS
ONPASSPORTS
immigration Official Ex-
plains Situation AT
Border Ports

-. sCyhuiuS, Inspector III CnaFEe
of the immigration Department in
this city, in discussing the passport
situation, as developed yesterday as
result of orders by the Mexican
Government canceling the issuance
of further passports to foreigners,
pending further instructions. said:
Congress at its last session.
March 3rd, rcscinded all passport re-
gulations in so far as the United
States is concerned, except that por-
tion requiring all aliens coming to
the United States from foreign coun-
tries to have passports
1--WE issue border passport to Mex
leans and we do not make any
charge. They are free notwith-
standing the considerable work we
have to do. The only cost is that for
a small photograph the applicant has
to furnish. After a Mexican gets a
passport, il serves a double purpose
in that it shows his immigration
status as well as complying with the
passport laws. At the time a pass
port is issued, the proper immigra
tion records are made, head tax col
lected, if due, and the passport
stamped accordingly. These passports
are great convenience TO the alien
thereafter in crossing or re-crossing
at any legal port of entry, as they
show he has complied with the i'm
migration laws and passport laws,
and he is passed promptly, simply on
Identification"
''lf Mexico sees fit to impose pass
port regulation on Americans, there
Is no good or valid reason why Mex
lean Consuls should not be empower
ed to issue whatever kind of passport
Mexico requires, each passport of
course certifying to the correct ma
tionality."
For the past several months,
Mexico has been charging more pass
port fees for Americans residing
within the forty mi'e border zone,
than has been required by the Unit
ed States on Mexican aliens residing
within the forty mile zone on either
side of the river. For instance, all
Americans who do not reside within
the corporate limits of Brownsville.
have been required to pay s2 for
either a one-day trip wise, or
ten day trip wise. They have also
been required to pay $40 for one
year wise or for wise emitting them
to go into the interior of Mexico
"At this office we have issued be
tween $4,000 and 10000 passports
which are still good when properly
stamped by Mexican Consul"
"The present American passport
laws are very simple and on.y re-
quire aliens coming to the United
States to secure passports-these
laws cannot be changed Of abolish
ed by departmental order, Congress
alone having the power to change or
abolish them. IL seems that the Mex
lean passport laws are simply exc
cutive DEGREES. which can be chang
ed Us easily ar thNs efAN
force"
There is a slight relaxation Of pass
port regulations required by the Mexi-
can Consulate in this city today over
yesterday in order to visit Mexico.
The new requirement is certificate
Of American citizenship by proper au-
thorities. With this certificate, tae
Mexican consulate will issue the pass
port. either for the border or interior,
as desired, upon the payment OF the
usual fees.
As a result Of this ruling, the office
of Judge Dancy is doubtless the busi-
est in the Valley. Judge. Dancy said
that he had been issuing certificates
Of American citizenship to parties til
the way from Brownsville TO Mime
apolis-