Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-26
finds
Way AROUND
Law OF u. S.
Business Thrives AS
Women Wed Ameri-
cans In Order To
Enter This Land
By ARTHUR DWELL
Associated Press Correspondent

HAVANA, Dec. 2s.-tP1-Matri-
riony has cracked the United States
immigration wall and marriages be-
tween American citizens and alien
women have become an important
Cuban industry.
AS the immigration law Il now in
terpreted, citizens Of the United
States may wed on Cuban soil and,
after n residence Of Is days, apply
for permission to enter their wives
into the United States. Many OF
these marriages are not made with
any intention Of fraud on the part OF
husband or wife but they are fire.
quently aimed against the American
immigration restrictions.
The marriage ceremony, in these
cases, is legitimate enough but IN
reality a farce intended to force legal
entry Of the wife into the United
States. There are instances where
this form of matrimony is the cul-
mination off started in Eu-
rope. The husband attained American
citizenship and made n home for his
bride only to find the immigration
door barred against her.
Usually the method for beating the
immigration law is effected by the
man sending the woman passage
money from her home to Cuba. He
then arranges in Cuba with respon-
sible parties acceptable to the Cuban
authorities for her reception and
care. The prospective bridegroom
takes matters up with the state de-
partment and then one 20 Cuba
armed with conclusive proofs Of bis
status. From then on it il smooth
sailing and loving couples are often
seer sitting in the parks of Havana
waiting patiently for the day when
they may he permitted to make the
journey north. Should no provision
he made for the voman's reception
in Cuba she is detained here until
the man she is going 10 marry IS COM
municatsd with or arrives.
There In another method Of getting
S~weethearts or wives into the United
Estates without ENHANCEMENT IN the
maze Of immigration laws. This Is
done through farce marriages be-
tween United States citizens and the
women desiring legal entrance into
the States. In the first place the
marriage Of an American citizen a.
ready on Cuban soil is n different
! matter If he wishes 10 wed the alien
woman.
Tie must stand an investigation by
the United States consulate. III his
! citizenship Is found correct his name
il ulaced in the registry or American
| citizens and the marriage may take
| place but he must show lack of fraud
| or intent 70 commit fraud before rer-
nil sion for marriage Is granted.
Many abuses. how many will
never be known. have been CON-
mittcd in connection with interna-
tional marriage despite the care and
trouble taken by cnnsulates u stnn
them. It II rumnred in Havana that
~ high as 81 900 has been paid Amer
leans n contract such marriages. 20
take the woman 70 the United States,
there In leave her until she secures
a divorce or drops out of her hus-
bands life.
Let an interruptions American dror
q hint here and there about foreign
cafes or restaurants that he Is
"rnatrimonislly inclined" and an ALIEN
a~ont is sure 10 hunt him VI and
make an offer. IN the majority ~
rcscs the bridegroom will receive
$500 and maintenance " 4 hotel
during tho 15-davs wait. The none
viii be handed him v'.h his sterm-
| shin tickets for embarkation Of him
self and wife.
N IL almost impossible "a obtain
evidence ~ fraud in such eases 81
I though consular agents are alert,
| Sailing OF h-onevmooners from h
vPna 10 the United States arc fr@.
qucnt. WORKING girls of nrn.r
| countries are often willi-- ~ err
/ rific~ their s-vi-gs in order ~ rna~h
~~~lrtivev of friends in tho Tinted