Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/38

 24 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

alien during the process of deportation and including a receipt of delivery from the proper relatives or authorities at the point of final destination.

It is an axiom of international law that dependents are justly- supportable at the expense of the government of which they are legal citizens. The principle is also fundamental in the law of self-preservation as applied to states or nations. In the recog- nition of this principle the United States has encountered a prob- lem the pressure of which has been keenly felt in the older and more densely populated communities. Where the demand for relief has expressed itself in legislation, however, the state has remained true to its traditions by specifically guarding the per- sonal rights of the alien through the incorporation of measures aimed at the avoidance of undue severity in the enforcement of the law.

An examination of sees. 20 and 21 of the act of 1907, and the regulations predicated thereon, will make this fact apparent. These sections provide for the depyortation at any time within three years from the date of landing, at the expense of the steam- ship company bringing them, of aliens found to be unlawfully in the United States. Among this class are aliens who become public chaises in hospitals or other charitable institutions from causes existing prior to landing, and alien inmates of penal insti- tutions (or otherwise apprehended) who are ascertained to have committed a felony or crime involving moral turpitude prior to entering the United States.^ An alien, on the other hand, who becomes a public charge from causes arising subsequent to land- ing is not subject to expulsion under the immigration laws. Nor is there provision for dealing with the cases of alien malefactors for crimes and misdemeanors committed in this country.^

within three years from the date of landing: (i) Aliens who, at the time of entry, belonged to any of the classes excluded from admittance and who should, therefore, have been then debarred ; (2) alien women or girls found to be leading an immoral life ; and (3) aliens found to have entered the country at any other place or in any other manner than as provided by the regulations or designated by the immigration officers.
 * The following additional classes of aliens are subject to deportation

•A single exception to this statement relates to alien women or girls found to be leading an immoral life within three years from the date of landing. With