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 22 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

spirit in recent years has culminated in the Immigration Act approved February 20, 1907, which in effect constitutes the immigrant's bill of rights.

To acknowledge this fact is merely to recognize a notable expression of that universally advancing spirit of humanity which, despite many appearances to the contrary, is the dis- tinguishing mark of modern civilization. Nevertheless the example of the United States is unique among the great nations in respect to its attitude toward the individual immigrant and toward the immigrant as an individual. It would hardly be possible, for example, elsewhere to secure the enactment of such an elaborate legal system for safeguarding the interests of the alien immigrant as is found in the act of Congress to which reference is made.

This statement does not necessarily imply a corresponding neglect of the rights of the citizens of the United States nor the omission of measures designed to guard their interests. Those classes of aliens, in other words, that are deemed by general con- sent to be totally undesirable, are excluded from admittance. Thus provision is made for the absolute exclusion of aliens afflicted with tuberculosis or with a loathsome or dangerous, con- tagious disease, as well as idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, insane persons, persons who have been insane within five years previously, persons who have had two or more attacks of insanity at any time previous to arrival, and persons certified to have a mental defect which may affect their ability to earn a living.^ From the excluding decision of the immigration officers at the port of arrival, in the case of an alien found to be within any of the foregoing classes, there is no appeal. But an alien de- barred for other cause — such as pauperism or as being a contract- laborer — has the right of appeal to the Secretary of the Depart-

^ There is an exception within the first class mentioned in the case of an alien who has, after landing, filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States. Thus it is provided that if his wife or any of his children, for whom he may thereafter send, is found to be "affected with any contagious disorder," admittance may be secured if it shall be determined that the "disorder is easily curable" or if "they can be permitted to land without danger to other persons."