Imperial Valley press., 1939-08-24
LAxITY AND ENFORCEMENT
IN DEPORTATION ACTIONS

throughout the United States during
the last three months there have devel-
oped numerous instances in which the
United States government, through the
department of labor's bureau of immi-
grafton and naturalization, has deported
or is attempting to deport aliens who
are key members of large families.
In Imperial Valley a case is pending
in which deportation to Mexico is sought
for man who has lived in this country
since he was 10 years old, who is the
father of four children, and whose wife
is an American citizen. He has left the
country only twice, once for six months.
many years ago, and once for four hours,
to attend funeral in Mexicali He is
not a criminal, nor an undesirable char
acter
In Los Angeles several such cases have
appeared. In the most recent a 19-year-
old-mother. native of Canada, is the sub
Ject of deportation proceedings. Her hus-
band is an American citizen. Her baby
was born in Los Angeles. Her father,
also a Canadian, was recently deported
to Canada with his wife and two of seven
children. The other four children were
left in Los Angeles when the Canadian
government at first refused to allow
them entry to Canada. That country,
kinder than Uncle Sam, recently recon-
sidered and agreed to accept the four
children born in the United States.
Until a little more than three months
ago, immigration authorities ignored
such cases, feeling that deportation, even
though legally possible, was unjust be-
cause it broke up families which were
by no means undesirable units in the
community.
Then Madame Frances Perkins, sec
retary of labor, came under criticism be-
cause of her deportation policies. There
was even talk of impeachment because
she failed to carry out deportation pro-
ceedings against such radicals as Harry
Bridges with dispatch. (The Bridges
case hung fire five years before it was
brought to a hearing.)
Criticism against the secretary of la
Dor was based solely upon such cases as
that of Bridges, figure much in the
public eye, a man considered by many to
be highly undesirable and one whose
beliefs and policies have caused untold
trouble.
Now Madame Perkins, asked about
proceedings which split families and de-
port people who are in no way undesir-
able except that they are aliens, explains
that, since failure to enforce the depor-
tation laws brought about talk of her
impeachment, she is going to enforce
the laws to the letter.
The answer has more than a little in
it of the element of childish vexation.
Criticized for befriending alien radicals,
Mrs. Perkins takes a course with which
she knows the entire nation will be un-
sympathetic. That is her right, if she
wishes to do it. 1t seems somewhat un-
fair however, to attempt to place the
blame upon those who have insisted that
men like Bridges, against whom deporta-
tion proceedings have been filed, should
be brought to hearing without the lapse
of any such ridiculous time as five years.
If Bridges escapes deportation, as he
probably will, there will be many who
watch these other cases of broken fami-
lies and wonder if the quality of justice.
as we'll as mercy is not lacking in the
u. S. department of labor.