Evening star., 1950-10-26
Enforce 1t Without Bios

The sharp drop in the number of aliens
detained under the new International Security
Act at Ellis Island since the much -publicized
roundup aboard the liner Saturnia last Mon
day indicates either that there has been better
screening of passengers abroad or that enforce
ment authorities on this side are beginning to
use rule of reason. Only three aliens out of
more than 500 arriving on the Lberte were
detained, as compared with 130 out of 424 on
the Saturnia The circumstances of the Saturnia
raid suggest that there was a propagandiStc
angle involved in that caSe-propaganda de-
signed to dscredit law that an immigration
official described as "bewildering" Enforce
ment agencies, of course, should not indulge in
propaganda against law they are required
to enforce
1t is worth noting that the Saturnia round
up was staged in the presence of a corps Of
reporters and photographers most unusual
procedure. The press was informed by Edward
J. Shaughnessy, New York immigration chief,
that the Department of Justice thought 'it
would be we'll to let the public visualize the
processing of these people" The inspectors did
thorough job of applying the controversial
law in its most literal sense. Yet some of the
passengers protested that they had already been
thoroughly questioned before embarkng
The public demonstration of the new law
at work did show the desirability of further
study of the immigration provision by Congress.
If enforced strictly in the case of the
Saturnia immigrants, absurdities can result.
Aliens who children were members of black
shirt or other subversive political organizations,
or who reluctantly joined such groups as adults,
under threat of imprisonment or death If they
refused, are barred from entry, along with
avowed Nazis, Fascists and Communists If i'm
migration authorities are unable or unwilling
fo oza icfin nofio hofu
the law should be changed so as to avoid such
ineduites.
The law seems to be working out better with
respect to dangerous aliens already within our
borders. The drive to rid the country of alien
Communists so far has turned up more than
score of persons, some of whom long ago became
unwelcome guests Of the United States. A num-
ber of the latter previously had been ordered
deported, but have remained at large in this
country for various reasons All of this group
of aliens can be detained at Ellis Island for six
months, pending new deportation proceedings.
The law moved slowly in third direction
the registration of allegedly subversive organiza-
tions and individuals. The machinery is ready
to function soon as the Department of Justice
gives the signal. That will be when the first
action" organization is cited to the new Sub
versive Activities Control Board for non-regstra-
ton. It is indicated that this dubious honor
will go to the American Communist Party, which,
as was expected, failed to register voluntarily.
The stage then will be set for long -drawn-out
legal battle which may end in the Supreme
Court. 1t is certain the Reds will seek to drag
it out as long possible. The prospects are
that Congress will have revised the whole law
before the Legal controversy over registration is
finally settled. Meanwhile, officers charged with
enforcing the law in all its aspects would do we'll
to avoid the appearance of lobbying against the
act, however skeptical they may be of the wis
dom Of some of its provisions.