Evening star., 1924-03-11
GIRLS STORY BARES
BIG SMUGGLING PLOT
Aliens Brought to Mexico and Cuba
Under False Pledge of Entry
to United States.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

Special Dispatch to The star.
NEW YORK, March ll.-crueities
practiced in the "bootIegging'' of i'm
migrants into the United States have
stirred the immigration authorities
here into an appeal to Washington to
make a thorough investigation into
the subject. '-.+ rs- BE-.
The plight Of young Italian girl,
deported because she arrived here
/ after the Italian quota had been
closed until next July 1, has pointed
the. necessity OF the new inquiry
which may be extended tc European
countries where the bootIegging plots
are formed
1t is not alone the violation of
United States laws which has aroused
the ire Of the officials, but the hard
ships Of the innocent victims of the
plots.
Left to Shift for Selves,
virtually all of the immigrants
from Europe who find their way into
the United States over the Mexican
and Canadian borders pay for what
into New York city. After their
money has been taken by, the
schemers they are herded together
In all manner of unfit vessels and
dumped mostly in Cuba or in Mex
to And their own way as best they
can TO the hoped for promised land.
10th in Mexico and in Cuba they
are frequently arrested for viola
ton or the immigrant laws in those
countries or for the petty thefts they
are compelled to commit to eke out
a miserable existence.
Maria's story has barred an inn
mense Immigration swindle. 1t has
been known for a long time thai
-bootlegging" was in effect, but the
Eillainy of the system has been lost
to sight in the consideration Of tech
nical violation of the federal laws
committed by each and every one of
the ignorant sufferers who have toll
ed their way into America after hav-
ing been dumped onto an unfriendly
coast
SmuEEiinE Of Orientals.
Now an attempt will be made by an
appeal to, foreign countries to sfop
the fraud on the other side Of the
water. Ortentals long have been
smuggied into the country, at so
much per. head. In their cases the
American authorities have wasted no
sympathy, for the immigrants were
party to the fraud. With the Euro,
More than six months ago Maria's
brother, Giacomo. who lives in De
troit, sent for her to come from their
old home In Italy. He sent her plenty
o, money to pay for accommodations
IN the steerage and on the trains.
He asio sent for her in plenty of time
TO come within the italian restric-
ton quota. 4 =
Maria was happy when she received
.ne ihnS1.atlon TO go out to America
JOY was such that she told ali the vii
iage. Immediately there were voiun-
teers. to- tell her what to do. Her
brother had given her Instructions,
her. She fell. into the hands OF
schemers and gave them her money.
Kept Mt St. Naxaire.
Marie was sent to st. Naxaire,
, France. That was where the first
American soldiers landed in France.
In st. Eazaire the girl met several
score Of her fellow countrymen,- ali
, waiting for passage to America on.
/, the big liner" which had been prom.
there until after christmas. By n thas
time the Italian quota in America had
dwindled to the vanishing point.
The emigrants were housed in
aonss sauae to nsep them ana alive fed AZ hta5sly
after many protestations from them.
they were bundled together and
i placed on board an old freighter, a
tramp steamship, and. instead Of
supposed. they landed in Vera Cruz.
The girl told pitfully Of how all the
m Miserable hundred gathered on deck
at sight of land and looked in vain
for the statue Of liberty. which all
had been told was to be the beacon
of their new life. =; =.
Shooed ashore in Vera Cruz and
left to their own resources, some of
the immigrants were deported by the
Mexican authorities. Others escaped,
among them Maria, and got as far as
Monterey. where they we're arrested.
From Monterey Maria got word to
her brother In Detroit. He arranged
for her release and she was shipped
TO New York. r..
There is room for no more Italians
this fiscal year. however, and Maria,
fearful, is waiting to be sent away
She has a brother in Cuba and will
go there until the laws permit her
once more to enter America to stay,