Washington, dc passed the federal reserve act of 19, the emergency powers clause of the bankruptcy act in 1933, the social security act of 1934, the alien registration act, and the buck act of 1940 all of which applied only to us citizens that is, federal citizens born in washington, dc. The alien registration act of 1940 started out as a measure to ensure the registration of aliens in the united states at a time when the country was nearing war with germany and japan. Alien registration act law and legal definition uslegal. Alien registration act of 1940 alien registration act of 1940 u. In the heat of wwi, nonnaturalized citizens enemy aliens by definition were required to register with u. This act also required all adult residents that are noncitizens to register with the government of the united states. Ooo the alien registration act, 1940 citizens source. Alien registration act of 1940 naturalization mutiny. The act made it illegal for any resident or citizen of the united states of america to teach or advocate. But there were other incidents in the twentieth century, as well, including the alien act of 1940 and registry act of 1929. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. Aka smith act of 1940 made it a criminal offense for anyone to conspire to overthrow the government. Registrations began on august 27, 1940, and the newly created alien.
The first afiles were created in 1940, as mandated by the alien registration act, which for the first time in the nations history required all immigrant aliens to register with the federal government. Act 215 travel documentation of aliens and citizens. Pdf an act to amend the act of march 2, 1929 45 stat. This united states congress image is in the public domain. The alien registration act of 1940 also known as the smith act made it illegal for anyone in the united states to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government, and required all alien residents in the united states over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational status and a. The alien registration act also known as the smith act was passed by congress on the 29th of june, 1940. Philippine immigration laws and other related laws. D the alien registration act of 1940, also called the. The act has been amended several times and can now be found at 18 u. In 1940, congress passed the alien registration act, also known as the smith act, in response to the growing threat of war in europe and in asia. In response, congress enacted the alien registration act of 1940, which required foreignborn persons 14 years of age and older to report to a u. The alien registration act passed by congress on 29th june, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the united states to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government. The alien registration program was a world war iiera national security measure ordered by the original alien registration act of 1940. Act 212 general classes of aliens ineligible to receive visas and ineligible for admission.
Alien registration, sections 451457 call numberphysical location call number. No alien who is deportable under the provisions of paragraph 3, 4, or 5 of this subsection shall be deported until the termination of his imprisonment or the entry of an order. The american civil liberties union has opposed this law, from the. The act punishes with imprisonment or with fine for any federal criminal offences, such as. A quota of 105 per year was established effectively repealing the chinese exclusion lawssee the act of may 6, 1882. The smith act is actually not a legislative act at all, it is simply the advocacy section of the alien registration act of 1940 the smith act, 1956, p. The act served as the basis for the federal prosecution of members of the communist party during the late 1940s and 1950s. Immigration law and the myth of comprehensive registration. Finding your immigrant ancestors national archives.
This may be because it was taken by an employee of the congress as part of that persons official duties, or because it has been released into the public domain and posted on the official websites of a member of congress. Since 1940, congress has provided a statutory framework that requires aliens entering or residing in the united states to provide address information. Sections 30 and 31 of that act were classified to sections 451 and 452 of this title and were repealed by section 403a39 of act june 27, 1952. The alien registration act holocaust memorial center.
The alien registration act the alien registration act also known as the smith act was passed by congress on the 29th of june, 1940. Why did my immigrant ancestor have to register as an enemy. In february 1918, the minnesota commission of public safety passed the alien registration act. The alien registration act of 1940 the smith act the alien registration act of 1940 the smith act was signed into law by president franklin roosevelt on june 28, 1940. When the alien registration act of 1940 was passed, alien immigrants were legally mandated under penalty of immediate arrest to register with the immigration and naturalization service ins. The alien registration act was passed by congress in 1940. The act, which made it an offense to advocate or belong to a group that advocated the violent overthrow of the government, was the basis of later prosecutions of members of the communist and socialist workers parties.
Act 2a requirements for sponsors affidavit of support. The alien registration act of 1940, usually called the smith act because the anti sedition section was authored by representative howard w. This act allowed the commission to gather information on all noncitizens during world war i, but it also encouraged many. The law also required all alien residents in the united states over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement. The alien registration act of 1940 required that all persons who were not citizens or nationals of the united states. Under the new law, all aliens in the united states age 14 and older were required to register and be fingerprinted. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics.
The alien registration act of 1940 also known as the smith act required the fingerprinting and registration of any alienage 14 and older living within or entering the united states. The alien registration act, popularly known as the smith act, 76th united states congress. Smith of virginia, was adopted at 54 statutes at large 670671 1940. Alien registration act of 1940 utah stories from the. The first section of the alien registration act requires all noncitizen adults to register with the government within four months of arrival to the country. The alien registration act passed by congress on 29th june. The alien registration act of 1940, usually called the smith act because the antisedition section was authored by representative howard w. Act 216 conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses and. Smith act, formally alien registration act of 1940, u. The first prosecutions under the smith act, of leaders of the socialist workers party swp, took place in 1941. Registration requirements for aliens in the united states. Ra 9225 citizenship retention and reaquisition act of 2003. The alien registration act of 1940 mckendree university.
Smith smith act 1940 1 the alien registration act of 1940, usually called the smith act because the antisedition section was authored by representative howard w. The act became the analogue of the new york criminal anarchy act sustained in gitlow v. This act made it illegal for anyone in the united states to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government. The act requires all the noncitizen adult residents to register with the government. Amended the alien registration act of 1940, adding to the classes eligible for naturalization chinese persons or persons of chinese descent. That 1940 act directed ins to fingerprint and register every alien age 14 and older living or arriving in the united states. Alien registration records are one of the best sources for tracing immigrant ancestors who never completed the naturalization process. By 1981, aliens who remain in the united states for 30 days or more were required to initially register and report their address information and then to report their change of address only if they move. The smith act alien registration act of 1940 is a federal statute of the united states that imposes criminal penalties for those who advocate the overthrow of the government. Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the gov ernment of. These records were completed from august 1, 1940, to march 31, 1944, and document over 5 million noncitizen residents of the united states during this period. T he smith act of 1940 makes it unlawful to conspire advocate a bringing about of forceful or violent overthrow of the government, and to organize a group so to teach.
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