Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25
THE UNWELCOMED ALIEN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Current fiction and newspaper
stories as well have indicated that the
business of smuggling Into the United
States foreigners who cannot gain
entrance lawfully Is a growing one.
This is not to be denied. What Is
equally true, however. Is that it is a
business that is growing less success
ful and less profitable. The unwel.
coined alien is finding II increasingly
difficult to get across our borders with
any prospect OF being able to remain
here.
During the last fiscal year 12,09s
smuggled foreigners were captured by
immigration authorities as compared
with 3.3s2 for the preceding year.
That IL n measure OF increased eff
cheney In the Government service that
the Department OF Labor takes no
little pride in reporting TO the new
Congress. 1t will probably result In
an increased appropriation for the
immigration bureau that will make
possible still greater record next
year.
During the year covered by the re-
port. 1882 persons were arrested and
delivered to other officials as COM
pared with n total OF $3.50 for the pre-.
seized az compared with 537 for 1926:
pared with 241.
The unwelcomed alien IL he who
persists in coming into the United
States in the face OF laws that ex-
clude him. lie knows or Is told that
this country has thousands OF miles
Of seacoast and land border, and he
Is easily persuaded that II will be
comparatively a simple matter to
smuggie him in, provided he has SUN.
cient money TO make II worth while
for the smugglers.
Sufficient money usually means all
that he has, above IA minimum sum,
known rates that have been charged
ranging all the way from $500 to
81 900, and IL is reported that I'm some
cases the foreigners have been mulct'
ed of sums as large as $4,000. The
smugglers have learned that the alien
who is determined to get into the
United States will stand and deliver
all thu money he has. and they have
no scruplcs about exacting all that
the victim can produce.
Three Avenues Of Approach.
There are three main avenues of
approach for the unwelcomed alien.
lie can go 10 Cuba and get himself
smuggied across to Florida ny boat.
He can go TO Canada and attempt to
effect entry by boat down either coast.
or by automobile or airplane nj any
place along the 3.700.odd miles Of
border between this country and
Canada. lie can go to Mexico and
similarly take his chances Of getting
In by boat. automobile or airplnne.
The Mexican route IL said to be the
one most often attempted.
Gruesome stories are told or the
ruthless practices of the Hmugslers.
who are said In have little regard for
human lives other than their own,
There are tales OF smuggiers who have
1ettis0ned their boats OF their human
carg0es when In imminent danger af
being apprehended by the authorities.
and of smugglers via land routes who
have abandoned their charges In places
where death or capture was inevitable,
The nmuggier Is actuated only by two
considerations first, money. and sec
ond, saving his own skin. lie gets
money In advance. and he saves his
own skin by whatever methods seem
to him TO DO necessary In an cmer'
gency.
he but know II, has but u split second
chance of getting into. the United
States and remaining here. and when
he does attain his objective IL IN IRE
aurntly AT II cost or indeacfthhhle
hardship and suffering Chinese who
seek unlawful entry into the United
States are said To be the most numer-
GUS group of victims of the nnusgiers,
nr ALLEN hnotieggers" as they are
nometimes denignated The Chinese
nav higher than any others for the
chance Of getting into this country.
and they are sacrificed more mefcl'
iessIy In critical situations, what n
another think. more ar lessP'' IN said
Ia lbs tho faVarite expression of thn
amuEsleIa.
The nmuggiers are fairly immune
from their crimes against the unfnr-
uunatu aliens. Government authorities.
naturally, are not sympat hetio IN their
attitude toward foreigners who seek
Ia evads on break our laws. and
uslthsr the victims nor their friends
have legal recourse against the opera
tors in this nefarious frame, The
sm,ienlers, therefore. can rob ana kill
with comparative impunity,
Growth of the ratroi Service,
The border patrol of the immigra'
| zion service In but years old and
accordingly Ia barely out Ut It's awad
| ding tiuthss an an arm Of the uoH
eminent iaet year II numbered az
| men Tnia wear tna atiI hut iAHu force