Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-23

wv ries of families separated by the i'm
migration quota law are largely ex-
aggerat1on was explained to the writer by
Mr. w. w. Husband, commissioner general of
immigration today
''It has been the policy of the department, "
said Mr.. Husband, mot to- separate families
In no case has a small child been sent back
to his native country without his parent or a
guardian. And even larger children who are
debarred are not allowed to go back without
relative or some substitute guardian au-
thorized by the family.
''Yet numerous stories are printed and cir
culated to the effect that this family of i'm
migrants and that has been separated be-
cause one member was ineligible for admis-
sion 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
into effect. Then his wife, born in England,
came to join him. bringing their four chill
dren, all Australians. The Australian quota
was exhausted, while the English was not.
The children were paroled, however, and al
lowed to spend the night with their mother
at hotei. Next day they went to Ellis Is
land and after the case was reviewed the
family was allowed to proceed to California.
1t was decided to admit the children tempo
rarily as students since all were between 10
and II years of age
The Boyd story as the public read it con-
veyed an entirely different impression of the
handling of the case. 1t said: "a mother
was allowed to land but immigration re-
liner Finland doched here yesterday. e.
Mrs Boyd refused to leave her children and
steps to have them admitted were taken"
The quota law uses the country of birth
rather than the complicated and confusing
laws as a basis for determin-
ing nationality. Thus, man born in Rus
STA and married to woman born in Poland
may bring to this country family of chill
dren born in England. At present, the Rus
sian and English quotas have not been filed
and the man and children are received. But
the Polish quota is exhausted
"In such cases." says Mr.. Husband, "the
whole family is held for board of special
inquiry and the case is reviewed. The Polish
wife is not separ 4ted from her family, and
there is no suggestion of this being done, but
the story of this first act Of the drama at
tracts attention and is printed. The public
learns that Polish mother is debarred from
this country and her children and husband
have been admitted. This is abstractly true,
but in actual fact there has been no separa-
ton.
Cases Decided on Their Merits
"The board of special inquiry goes into the
case and makes it's decision. Perhaps the
mother is admitted, 743 immigrants have
been admitted in excess of the quotas in just
such cases as this We have admitted them
simply to avoid doing what people think we
have been doing-separating mothers from
children.
''These immigrants in excess of the quota
limitations have been temporarily admitted
in order to prevent undue hardship. They
are placed under bond to return to their own
countries if congress does not pass legislation
them to stay permanently. 1t would
be almost impossible to gather up these 1,743
immigrants from all parts of the country to
deport them. 1t is hoped that congress will
legislate to settle satisfactorily these COM
paratively few cases which the quota law did
not anticipate" -
Mr.. Husband points out that the quota law
is new and that these cases represent the
main hitch in the law as it stands. The de-
partment has tried to treat these exceptional
cases with fairness. 1t has even, he says,
been over-symp Ithetic in a good many in
stances. The case of one Scotch boy, while
not quota case, illustrates the departments
hestitancy to cause hardship.
"This boy" Mr.. Husband explained "was
widely known as =. cripple in accounts of his
case. In reality he was an imbecile-he was
so certified by board Of surgeons at two diff
ferent times He should therefore, have
been sent back to Europe at once when his
mother came here with him year ago to
join his father.
But friends were aroused and pressure was
brought to bear on the department to admit
the boy for a visit. The department express
ed the opinion that it would be best for all
for the boy to go back at once.
Zone bureau of immigration letter in the
voluminous correspondence said in part:
&c 1T is distressing thing to deport child
in the present situation, but it would be still
more distressing and a prolongation of the
agony to tear him from the parental roof,
once admitted, and return him to Scotland