812.00Sonora/600
The Assistant Secretary of Labor (White) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to state that advices received from the District Director of Immigration at El Paso, Texas, are to the effect that he has issued oral and confidential instructions (but not written instructions) to inspectors in charge at ports in Western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona that if Mexican revolutionary officers or soldiers or civilian officials or their dependent families [Page 389] attempt to cross the border as refugees, such persons may, upon evidence of activities against the constituted government of Mexico, properly be excluded as likely to become public charges, but that they should be paroled upon claims of jeopardy if not wanted by United States Army or Department of Justice officials. It is manifestly the intention of the District Director in issuing this instruction to have of record an excluding decision of the Board of Special Inquiry in order that the aliens so excluded may be expelled from the country thereafter when such action can be taken without jeopardy to their lives. This instruction was repeated orally and confidentially, but not in writing, by the inspector in charge at Nogales, Arizona, to his subordinates concerned.
The Commissioner General of Immigration has telegraphically instructed the District Director at El Paso that he will handle rebel officers, soldiers and civilian officials seeking in good faith to come to American side to make purchases or transact other lawful business as other applicants of the kind are handled.
I am [etc.]