The Refugee Commission is investigating the possibilities of settling as farmers a group of 200 Jewish exiles from Greater Germany, who entered Mexico as tourists and are now faced with deportation as illegal immigrants within thirty days. The commission, a Jewish body which cooperates with the Government, is negotiating for a 6,000-acre tract of land which is said to be available on the best of terms. Settling of the 200 Jews on this land, it is hoped, will serve to legalize their status.
The problem arose when the Immigration Department arrested the group and subjected them to severe investigation and examination of their documents. It was established by the immigration officials that, although the 200 came as tourists they did not have the means to return and had, for the most part, come from concentration camps in the Reich. The exiles were freed upon intervention by the Refugee Commission, but not before they had been served with 30-day expulsion notices.
At the same time, it was announced that the Immigration Department has on hand 7,000 applications from refugees seeking to enter Mexico. No decision has as yet been reached on the applications, nor on the entire refugee problem. It is believed, however, that those refugees who have come as tourists, presenting the authorities with a fait accompli, have aggravated the situation, precipitating greater difficulties for future tourists from central Europe.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
