The border vidette., 1934-02-17
COURTESY IS STRESSED TO
BORDER OFFICERS

! MCu UbtS VI WIG 4uIuIk
and Naturalization Service at
Nogales, Arizona. were told
Tuesday afternoon by United
States Commissioner Daniel w.
MacCormack that they must per.
form their duties efficiently but
at the same time humanely aud
ia spirit CT helpfuness. rather
than persecution. The commits.
sioner's message was read by
Chief Inspector Miller. Il was
the first Of a weekly series by
experts covering the purposes
and policies of the I'm migration
and Naturalization authorities in
Washington.
The following are some of
the points which I would like to
have all Of you keep constantly
in mind" Com missioner Mac
Cormack's message said:
u. We are Service. That
means that not only are we pub.
lie servants in the ordinary seuse
OF the word, but that our organ
ization is assigned TO serve and
assist aliens coming to this
country, OF seeking American
citizenship.
2. Prosecutions are an in
evitable incident to our work,
but they must never degenerate
into prosecutions. We must al.
ways keep in mind the essential
ly judicial nature of our duties,
our obligation to accord fair and
impartial hearings and our re-.
sponsibi!ity for the development
of all facts, both for and against.
the interests of the Government
and of the alien concerned.
"3. Courtesy and considera.
tion are the least expensive and
perhaps the most useful of the
tools we must employ ia our
| work.
The immigrant inspector on
line duty who greets the border
crosser with good morning and
smile goes far toward eliminat.
in2 the possibility Of friction or
resentment at the questions be
must necessarily ask those com.
ing before him. Ii be must turn
him back or hold him for further
questioning. be can soften the
decision by prefacing his re.
marks with I'm sorry
The bordering officer who
greets the citizen or alien ex.
aminee courteously, couches his
questions in polite phraseology.
avoids gruff. impersonal tone
aud strives to use one that is
friendly and encouraging. not
only will complete his examina-
tioas more rapidly and with less
friction but will make friends for
himself. his Service, and his
country.
Inspectors in final hearings
should take steps to see that the
alien is accorded an opportunity
to be properly represented by a
welfare ageocy, if necessary, as
this does much TO inspire confid.
ence in the justice of our proceed.
ure. The presence of a repre-.
sentative Of welfare agency
does not, Of course, preclude the
right of an alien to be represent
ed by counsel, and in 10 instance
should the inspector fail to ad.
wise the alien of such right.
The naturalization examiner
who is courteous, avoids any ap-
pearauce OF harshness, arbitrari.
ness, or irrita bility, does much
to dispel fear, expedite examina-
ton, and inspire confidence in
the Service and ia the Govern
| meGt.
IF, in our contact with the
aliens who come before US, we
constantly have in mind the
necessity for courtesy. considera
ton and fairness, we may conf
IDENTIFY expect prompt recogni.
ton Of this treatment on the
part of the alien population aud
Of those concerned with their
welfare.
We must bear constantly in
mind that the port inspectors
constitute the first contact of re-
turning Americans and arriving
aliens with the officials Of our
Government and that the treat.
msnt they accord those coming
before shem has reactions thro.
ughout our country and far be.
yond our shores. They can and
should be not only guardians of
the gate but ambassadors of
good will"