Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-01
w.
BY THOMAS r.. HENRY y

BY THOMAS r.. HENRY
The second string to the immigration
racketeers bow is smuggling.
This is the simplest and cheapest way
for an alien who cannot get on the
immigration quota to get into the
United States, but 1t Is reserved for the
poor or for those whose cases do not fit
any of the tricks. There Is more or
less physical risk involved Once here.
the alien has no credentials which will
enable him to stay here If he happens
to be discovered. His hope is to bury
himself in the multitude and lead a
quiet. obscure life in the hope that he
never will attract attention.
After he is established here. Assistant
Secretary Of Labor Carson has found,
he may remedy this by reSorting to one
of the strategems by which aliens can
be naturalized. But this costs money
and requires influential connections.
The local political leader may help.
after the alien has made his acquaint
ance.
Smuggling Has Problems.
Smuggling, Carson points out, is by
no means SO simple as one might sup
pose from the long sweep OF the coast
line and of the Canadian and Mexican
borders 1t is across these borders that
most aliens are brought. Each affords
its own problem OF course, the United
States doe. at maintain an immigration
inspector al every point on the line be-
tween the United States and Canada.
There is much forest and farm land.
lone man, familiar with the country
might walk across in many places, espe-
cially If he was willing to undergo a
little hardship.
But this is calculating, Carson says
without much appreciation Of the
psychology of the alien. Those snug
gled usually are poor and ignorant men.
They know nothing Of the lay Of the
land and cannot remain in Canada
long enough TO become familiar with IT,.
Many of them believe there actually
is a fence between the United States
and Canada, and that one must pass
through gate to get in this country.
They are familiar with the borders Of
their own countries, every foot OF which
are patroled by armed soldiers. They
are entirely in the hands Of their
friends. the smugglers. Every likely
entry from Canada is guarded. Even
where the alien crosses through the
in few miles to a road or a village
where he is almost certain to be picked
up, if he is proceeding entirely on his
own resources. A man must eat. He
must have some place to go to in the
new country. So don't be deceived by
the long stretch of Canadian border,
Carson advises. 1t is almost certain
to prove a trap. unless one Is aided by
the services of an expert.
Lot Of Methods Employed.
Canada now prohibits immigration
altogether, but it admits visitors. So
the smuggler brings the aliens whom
he had contracted to get into the
United States to Canada as visitors.
Once they land in the Dominion, they
quietly disappear. When their visitors
permits have expired, the Canadian
government starts a search for them
in Canada. They are not there. The
Dominion authorities have no authority
to pursue their search into the United
States.
The aliens are rushed over the Dor
der in all sorts of ways. The airplane
is too conspicuous, but the speed boat
and the fast automobile are pressed
into service. 1t is practically the story
OF rum-running over again, except that
aliens are more bulky commodity.
Many are rushed In speed boats across
the Detroit River. Others are hidden
in automobiles and brought across the
border at break-neck speed. favorite
vehicle Is the moving van. Four or f1ve
aliens can be packed in, without great
discomfort, at the bottom Of a load OF
beds, tables and chairs. The smugglers
trust that the innocent-appearing load
will be allowed to pass with only super
fetal examination. Unless there is
some ground for suspicion the inspector
is not likely to demand that every bit
nf furniture ho doI
ton.
Any American citizen, Carson warns,
should communicate to the Government
any rtdiculously low offer to move his
furniture from Canada. Only the other
day New England clergyman told OF
having his household belongings moved
several hundred miles across the Cana
dian border for $50 by a trucking firm
hard hit by the depression and needing
business, whereas the lowest offer from
any other firm was $3.50. The minister
was exultant over his bargain. At least
half dozen aliens must have come in
with that load, Carson is confident.
Crossing From Mexico Easier.
The Mexican border affords a more
difficult problem than the Canadian,
Carson says, partly because many Of
the aliens entering in that way are per-
fectly familiar with the lay of the land.
1t is easier to get over without detec-
ton. Mexico, like Canada, has fairly
strict immigration laws, but aliens seep
into the country in various ways. From
this direction, for example, come most
Of the Chinese. The race Is barred from
Mexico altogether, yet they get there,
possibly landing at obscure points on
the coast. Then they are run into the
United States in much the same ways
as others are run in from Canada.
Many are landed directly on the At
lantic coast, just as liquor and dope are
landed. In nearly every case, Mr.. Cars /
son says, the alien Smuggler is also a
rum runner or a narcotics Smuggler.
Aliens tell pitiful tales. Of life aboard |
these smuggling ships. Those able to |
pay are treated well enough but the /