The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1922-03-22
Immigrants Ignorant Of
u. S. Law Oeported
WASHINGTON PHILANTHROPIST
TELLS OF HEARTRENDING
TRAGEDIES CAUSED BY FAIL
URE OF IMMIGRANTS TO KNOW
LAWS,

OF Europe, so as to prevent, the en-
barkation of aliens who are prevented
from landing in America and strict ac-
countability on the part of the steam
ship companies. arc advocated by 81
mon Wolf. noted Jewish phlanthrop-
list.
Mr.. Wolf recently interested himself
in the case of an imbccile boy whose
father is an American citizen.
The communication of Mr.. Wolf to
DR. Zepin. of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations. and the letter
from the immigration department fol-
low:
Dear Dr. Zcpin:
] have had n great deal of work re-
Gently in the matter, of immigration.
especially in cases of imbccilc chill
drcn. and notably Il case where the
father is an American citizen. His
family Joined him some time ago. and
among tho children there is one hoy
who has been certified by the ply
sicians to he an imbecilc. There is no
discretion vested in the department to
ndmit such aliens. Deportation is i'm
perativc. based on the certificate of
the doctors. Several stays of depOrta-
tion were secured. several exnmina-
tions and re-cxnminations had. all
with the same result
Enclosed is the answer of the de-
Iartment. which in my Judgment is
most humane and cOnsidcrntc. Whnr
the outcome by the first of May will
he in hard to tell. hut this case re-
minds mo. as it has so often reminded
me heretofore, that the immigration
Jaws. as far as the Jews are concern
cd. should he published in Yiddish. or
IN the several languages of Europe, so
ns to prevent the embarkation of sucn
aliens. as would he prevented from
landing. and the steamship companies
should be held strictly accountable.
either by having their own physicians
under the control OF our consular serv-
ice, to examine aliens prior to depar-
ture. Something ought to be done to
mitigate these hcartrending tragedies
that are daily being enacted. without
any fault on the part of the govern
nent. The drastic immigration laws
lave no bearing on cases of this char
acter. except that in my Judgment an
amendment ought to hc had to pres
eht immigration laws. or such as are
now being framed. that imbecile chill
p,. .,tft
might under proper rules and regu-
latiOns by the government be admit
ted under bond. subject to hospital
treatment to he paid for by the par
cnts.
Very sincerely yours.
SIMON WOLF.
The governments letter to Mr.. Wolf:
I have just gone over the heart
breaking story told in this file All
the reasons that existed for tempOr-
ary admission in 1920 still exist and
ere likely. to exist indefinitely. n
wrong done the alien and his relatives
by holding out false hopes when tenn
porary admission was granted. feel
N WOuIu De MISUNDERSTANDING w H'o'7N
them too suddenly out of this fools
paradise 1t is impossible to legalizc
the presence of this child under the
law. Deportation must take place.
Please have some one at Ellis island
get in touch with the parents and eN-
plain the situation to them thorough
ly Advise them that an extension of
the temporary admission can not he
considered unless they will agree in
writing that they will Immediately
take steps to make possible the TAX
ing care of this child somewhere else
than in the United States and that his
presence can never he legalized, and
that they will not ask for further eN-
tension. and that they understand no
further extension will be granted: that
re-eXamination of the child may be
had two weeks before the expiration
of tile temporary extension. if granted.
and unless the child is certified ment-
ally normal their agreement is to he
carried ont promptly.
Upon the signing by the parents of
such an agreement. deportation may
be stayed until May I. 1922. Unless
such an agreement is entered into. de-
pnrtatiOn must be proceeded with.
This matter should be fully explained
ia the distressed parents in detail so
that there may he no misunderstood
ing E. J. HENNISG.
Assistant Secretary.