The New York herald., 1921-12-24
Immigrants Held at Ellis ISL
and Permitted to Land and
Remain 80 Days.
CHRISTMAS DELIVERANCE
Order Issued After Talk With
President Affects All Amer
lean Stations.

The Government extended its Yule.
tide clemency yesterday to include the
aliens who are held at Ellis Island ant
other immigration stations for depor-
tation because their number exceeds
the 3 per cent. quota allowed by the
law to land in the United States this
year. The order was sent out by
James J. Davis, Commissioner of La
bor. directing that all not barred by
health and morality rules be released
for a period of ninety days.
All Of these people, who came to the
United States in good faith and not
knowing that they would not be al
lowed to enter the country. will be
permitted to go to their relatives and
friends, so that they can enjoy the
Christmas in America that has been
one of their dreams.
The only thing that is binding upon
them Is their personal bond, their prom
ise that at the end of the ninety days
they will return to Ellis Island or TO the
station from which they are allowed to
enter for deportation IL the immigration
authorities so direct. But they arc not
under any obligation to return unless
they received orders to do so--and II
may be that the Labor Department Will
never get around to issuing the orders.
The decision of the Government TO let
the aliens land affected more than LOO
persons, who have been held at Ellis
Island and who faced the saddcnlng
prospect Of a Christmas In the great
barracks OF the immigration station
there, with very little cheer for any
excepting those who had relatives OF
friends In New York. The majority OF
these persons are women ana children
come to the United states to join fathers
and husbands already here. Very young
children are among them and very old
people. and they have been at Ellis
Island faced with the thought that they
must go back to the devastated places Il
Europe whence they came, many OF .her
without even getting a sight of the sors
and daughters and mothers and fathers
waiting for them here.
There was no Joy on Ellis Island yes
terday morning. IL was just anothe,
day--a bleak one at that--to wande.
iDOuL dittitssiy, Wttu WiiHbifS VI iEtFtt
and tears and the omniprcscnt thought:
Of fearful exile.
Relatives Of few came over on the
painting little ferry and looked at them
sad eyed offering them little presents
with a sprig OF holly or a bit OF red
ribbon. Guards were relieved by other
guards and hustled away. The shadow
Of the Statue of Liberty moved around
northward and slanted to the cast on
the ruffled waters.
That was all--except after n while
night would come and the time would
be one day nearer when steamer would
come 70 take them back to starving
lands and wasted homesteads.
Then came the news: Christmas in
America! In real homes, with rea
friends--and maybe we will not have to
be 'deported after all
Families embraced and wept for Joy.
After the first rejoicing they waited
quietly, fearing the news might not be
true.
But IL was true. Word went forth
that all who were not disqualified by
health and morality rules were to make
preparations 10 leave the island and
proceed at once 20 their destinations.
Robert Tod, Commissioner OF Tmmi-
grafton for this port put every available
employee to work The papers and re-
leases of those who had to go 10 the
middle West were put first. and within
an hour after the order was received