The US and anarchists

[Palmares]

A friend of mine who is an American anarchist recently told me that there was an old law in the US that prevented anarchists from entering the US.

The reason was because an anarchist assasinated one of the US presidents I think.

I've also heard they have had a vague definition of "anarchist", in that they have used the law to keep out communists too.

So basically I'm asking: is this true? And where does this leave anarchists already in the US? They run the risk of deportation I hear...?

[Taiga]

1903 Anarchists, pimps, and prostitutes were barred from immigration. American immigration officials were dispatched to European harbors to inspect ships and passengers before departure.

Link (http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/kade/adams/chap10.html)


In 1917 Congress passed an immigration law that enlarged the classes of aliens
excludable from the U.S.; its basic provisions were, with some changes, retained
in later revisions of the immigration law. It imposed a literacy test and
included an Asiatic Barred Zone to shut out Asians. Aliens unable to meet
minimum mental, moral, physical, and economic standards were excluded, as were
anarchists and other so-called "subversives". The Anarchist Act of 1918 expanded
the provisions for the exclusion of subversive aliens.(Immigration)

Link (http://www.123student.com/1206.htm)

Another link (http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/12/21/112650.shtml)

[Jersey Devil]

Cthenthar-What you are referring to is known as the first red scare (the second being the McCarthy and HUAC era). Originally it had to do with the fact that many of those who opposed the First World War were leftists. For instance, Eugene Debs himself ran for president from jail because he of his opposition to the war. The jailing of the anti-war protesters was made legal by the aforementioned the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act. The calls for the deportation of anarchists grew after the 1920 Wall Street bombing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_bombing) which killed 40 and left hundreds injured which was believed to have been done by anarchists. Also some anarchists would send mail bombs to government officials even before this attack began. You must also consider the fact that the Eastern European population was growing during this period and the October Revolution had occured in Russia. Xenophobia played a big part in the first Red Scare.

[Donnie]

Thats something new I've learned. Anyway I couldn't afford to go to America anyway lol. The only furthest I've gone is France I think.

This is a question that could be linked to the topic title but didn't an anarchist start a fire in the weimar goverement?

[monkeydust]

From what I've heard from friends who've gone to live over there, you have to fill out a form and get a certain number of "points" involving questions such as "have you ever been involved in a public protest?" or "have you ever written literature opposed to organized government?". Stuff like that.

As long as you lie and don't go over wearing a "fuck the system" or similar t-shirt I'm sure you'll be fine.

[danny android]

In my government class they taught us that if you are an anarchist communist nazi or polygamist you can not become a citizen of the united states. However my government text book was written during the cold war so the information might be off. I asked my teacher if the law was still being used and I never really got an ansewer.

[violencia.Proletariat]

Leon Czolgosz (pronounced shallgosh i think) is the anarchist your talking about, i forgot the name of the president he assassinated though.

i heard about this law too but i dont think its still enforced. and unless they had records from the country your coming from, how would they know?

[black]

Leon Czolgosz (pronounced shallgosh i think) is the anarchist your talking about, i forgot the name of the president he assassinated though.

McKinley, I believe. Propaganda by deed was shit, but I'm not particularly sorry so many aristocrats and world leaders were taken out.


As long as you lie and don't go over wearing a "fuck the system" or similar t-shirt I'm sure you'll be fine.

Unless you reeeeally need to get to America I think on principle you shouldn't lie, cover up who you are and what you believe to suit them. The idea that you can be stopped from traveling in your country (ie. The World) even though you aren't going to harm anyone (well the rich maybe) is preposterous and completley unjust...and it should be challenged at the very least by an open and present defiance. If you're anarchist; bloody tell them!

[CCCPneubauten]

Actually I hear that you can enter if you are a Nazi as long as it was between 1939-1945..good thing for those Nazis that becamse Nazis in 1946...*wink*...but yes I think if someone is a member of a communist party they cannot enter...

[Organic Revolution]

there is no laws against being a nazi immigrant to my knowledge but they check immigrants for radical beliefs heavilly these days, and back in the day.

[danny android]

well that is what my text book from 89 told me, so I can't say for sure.

[Seeker]

In 1990 Congress made it illegal to bar someone from immigration based on their "beliefs, statements, or associations" and overturned the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952.

http://www.closeup.org/immigrat.htm#uslaws



I wonder if "Homeland Security" can disqualify a person from application for immigration, bypassing the law.

[enigma2517]

My parents had to take a citizenship test. They had to swear allegiance to the US. Being an anarchist/communist would probably be considered subversive and they could quite possibly deny you citizenship. Also, under new terrorism laws I'm sure you they stop you from entering the country for just about anything.

However, its not hard to lie. As an individual in the United States there is not an immense risk of getting persecuted, the real trouble begins when you start getting organized. Groups are constantly under surviallance. A local progressive action coaliation from my town actually made it on the US "watch-list". At one of our demonstrations there was a guy on top of some stairs taking pictures of us. One of our guys turned towards him and yelled "Hello CIA!" through a megaphone. Fun stuff :)

Edit: This reminds me, the new terrorism laws are a great new subversive weapon. Not only have terrorist acts polarized a lot of the American public towards more fanatic nationalism they also brought about this new wonderful new legislation. This legislation basically makes "terrorism" a special case. A lot of the rights and due process associated with criminals are completely ignored when dealing with "terrorists". The language used in the Patriot Act is very scary, it defines terrorism as doing anything to undermine the State and its sovereignty. Not in those exact words, but the point is the definition is so broad that any domestic disobedience can be construed as "terrorism" thus effectively making a proto-facist state. Yay!

[SHROoM]

theres no law against anarchist in the U.S.Its considered your political beliefs they cant do anything (legally).

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2005, 11:58 PM
theres no law against anarchist in the U.S.Its considered your political beliefs they cant do anything (legally).
under the patriot act they can.

[4514]

my grandfather was refused entry to the U.S because being apart of the red,
this was some time ago though, late 70's i think.
4514
rank and file

[Severian]

Originally posted by rise up+Jul 24 2005, 03:51 AM--> (rise up @ Jul 24 2005, 03:51 AM)
[email protected] 23 2005, 11:58 PM
theres no law against anarchist in the U.S.Its considered your political beliefs they cant do anything (legally).
under the patriot act they can. [/b]
Which provision would that be?

***

I haven't heard of anyone recently being denied entry to the U.S. on the basis of being an anarchist. I don't think that law's enforced, or that it could be with the present relationship of forces.

[violencia.Proletariat]

i guess they could do it legally, afterall is it not illegal to overthrow the government?

[Severian]

The Smith Act outlaws "advocating the overthrow of the government by force and violence". The current Supreme Court position, however, is that law is unconstitutional as applied to ideology or theory, as in the prosecutions of Communist Party and Socialist Workers Party leaders. The Smith Act can only be enforced against a plan to take up arms soon.

That legal situation is a product of the changed political relationship of forces, compared to the 1950s.

[destroyauthority]

I'm close to positive that no laws are in place any longer regarding anarchists. If there are, they can't be very well enforced. It's not the most difficult thing to hide your beliefs from others if need be. I know the temptation to flaunt your allegiance to the communist and/or anarchist party may be strong, but you have to know when to speak and when not to.

[CEWS]

Anarchist don't have those parties.

The FBI considers anarchists terrorists IIRC.

[Bannockburn]

afterall is it not illegal to overthrow the government?

Classical political thought, mostly found within Locke gives 5 reasons for overthrowing the government. His last reason is the right to revolution. Its standard, that the right to revolution is implict. Moreover, Jefferson was greatly influenced by Locke, and you can tell by the decleration of independence. So we can basically assume that all Americans have the right to revolution. Furthermore, some states, for example new Hampshire actually states it within their state consitution.

However, you must remember that any government is going to try to stop any kind of revolution. People who are in people, want to stay in power. Even if its the will of the people and consented among the majority - democracy my ass.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

Quite funny, reading this. The Constitution gives you the right to overthrow the government (thus a reason for owning weapons) - but if you try to overthrow the government, you become a terrorist!

So, basically, what they are saying is that the constitution is a terrorist document...

[Bannockburn]

More or less. All the american founding fathers are patriots. thisis how they are seen in America. However, if you were on the other side of the pond in England, your declared a rebel and you acted within treason. Actually, I think when jefferson wrote the document, Ben Franklin said, "here's to high treason".

You gotta remember the American founding fathers hated government. They distrusted it very much. Take for example Tim McVeigh. He did what his consitutional right. What did the government do - kill him. State murder.