In our research we also found a number of cases that ran as exceptions to the standard of almost indiscriminate deportation at the Southern border. What was different about these cases was that the immigrants involved were requesting to enter the United Stated in order to receive some sort of medical treatment. Unlike many trying to cross the border, these Immigrants were for the most part not seeking to become US citizens, but rather only wanted to enter the country temporarily. Although these kinds of cases were rare, there were a number of common practices we found that were used during them. First, that Immigrants attempting to enter the US could only do so if they offered up a large enough sum of money to be used as bond, in case the Immigrant became an LPC. The second practice was that if an immigrant was granted entry for treatment, they would be given an escort to make sure that they went where they claimed to be going (Hospital, Sanatorium, etc.).
One case file that we found was about a man named Wong-Fook Gem. Gem was a Chinese citizen in Mexico, and in 1931 requested entrance through the El Paso border in order to receive treatment for his syphilis at a US facility. His request was accepted, and he was allowed entry, and was escorted by border security to a medical facility.[1]
Another of our case files was about Miguel Gutierrez, a 37-year-old farmer who worked on his family’s land in Mexico. In 1919 Miguel was brought by his brother Roberto to the US-Mexico border to request treatment for Miguel. The medical inspector at the border certified that Miguel was afflicted with “feeble-mindedness” in addition to partial paralysis in one of his forearms and hands. The border physician recommended that Miguel be accepted into the US to receive treatment at a designated practitioner in San Antonio, as well as care at a sanatorium. Roberto brought $2,000 to use as bond for his brothers’ entrance, and Miguel was allowed to temporarily enter the US in order to receive treatment. The lead immigration inspector for the case recommended he be allowed to remain for around nine months.[2]
[1] File 55,740-024, accession E9, Subject Correspondence, 1906-1932, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, RG 85 (National Archives, Washington, DC)
[2] File 54,671-003, accession E9, Subject Correspondence, 1906-1932, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, RG 85 (National Archives, Washington, DC)