The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-22

WASHINGTON. ID. C., Feb. IL
That stories of families separated by
the immigration quota law are largely
exaggeration was explained to the
writer by Mr.. w. w. Husband, COM
missioner general of immigration to-
day.
1T has been the policy of the de-
partment," said Mr.. Husband, mot to
separate families. In no case has
small child been sent back to his ma
tive country without his parent or
guardian. And even larger children
who are debafred are not allowed to
go back without a relative or some
substitute guardian authorized by the
; family.
yet numerous stories are printed
and circulated to the effect that this
family of immigrants and that has
been separated because one member
was ineligible for admission under the
quota law and must go back alone.
The name of the family and details of
the case give these stories an aspect
of being undeniably true. The trouble
with them is that they are only half
truths"
Mr.. Husband gave as an example
the case of Major Boyd and his
family The major, an Australian who
fought at Gallipoli, came to this
country before the quota law went in
to effect. Then his wife, born in Eng
| land came to join him, bringing their
four children, all Australians. The
| Australian quota was exhausted, while
the English was not. The children
were paroled, however, and allowed to
spend the night with their mother at
hotel. Next day they went to Ellis
Island and after the case was re-
viewed the family was allowed to pro-
coed to California. 1t was decided to
admit the children temporarily as stu
dents since all were between 10 and
II years of age.
The Boyd story as the public read
! it conveyed an entirely different i'm
preston of the handling of the case.
1t said: "a mother was allowed to
land, but immigration restrictions
barred her four children when the
liner Finland locked here yesterday
-. Mrs. Boyd refused to leave her
children and steps to have them adj
m.tted were taken"
The quota law uses the country of
birth rather than the complicated and
confusing naturalization laws as a
basis for determining nationality.
Thus, a man born in Russia and mar
ried to woman born in Poland may
bring to this country family of chill
dren born in England AT present, the
Russian and English quotas have not
been filled and the man and children
are received. But the Polish quota is
exhausted.
In such cases." says Mr.. Husband
! h. yLA14 60, l1II CO, n
of special inquiry and the case is re-
viewed. The Polish wife is not sep
arated from her family, and there is
no suggestion of this being done, but
the story of this first act of the drama
attracts attention and is printed. The
public learns that a Polish mother is
debarred from this country and hel
children and husband have been ad
mitted. This is abstractly true, but
in actual fact there has been no sep
aration.
Cases Decided on Their Merits.
"The board of special inquiry goes
into the case and makes its decision
Perhaps the mother is admitted-174G
immigrants have been admitted in ex
cess of the quotas in just such cases
as this. We have admitted them sim
ply to avoid doing what people thinl
we have been doing-separating moth
ers from children.
These immigrants in excess of thu
quota limitations have been Temporal
lily admitted in order to prevent undue
hardship. They are placed under bone
to return to their own countrie!
if congress does not pass legisla
ton allowing them to stay permanent
ly. It would be almost impossible Il
gather up these 1743 immigrants iron
all parts of the country to depor
them. 1t is hoped that congress will
legislate to settle satisfactorily thes
comparatively few cases which tn
| quota law did not anticipate"
Mr.. Husband points out that tn