Ex parte Pettine
Ex parte Pettine
Opinion of the Court
This is a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, instituted for the purpose of securing judicial interposition
The constitutional power of Congress — a power exercised under the idea of an inherent right in the sovereign nation in respect to offensive aliens, a right based upon a power necessary and essential to its safety and welfare, a power so paramount as to be exercised in substantial independence of legal phases, such as those involved in treaties, in questions as to the right of judicial trial, in questions of supposed vested right to remain, in questions about the retroactive operation of its laws, in questions whether deportation is punishment without trial — has been so thoroughly considered and definitely established by the Supreme Court that there would seem to be no occasion for an analysis of its decisions. Nor is there any occasion for discussion as to the character and comprehensiveness of the power of Congress, which must be accepted as well-nigh plenary in its absolutism.
Questions of irregularity of proceedings, in the executive department, might perhaps become questions for the court; but there are no such questions here, nor is there anything in the situation which would justify a review of findings of fact or of questions of law.
The power of Congress having been recognized and established in the broadest sense by the Supreme Court, the only question here is whether the executive branch of the government is acting within the scope of the authority conferred by Congress.
The act of October 16, 1918 (40 Stat. 1012, c. 186), is comprehensive and emphatic in declaring against all aliens who are anarchists; and, so far as anarchists are concerned, it would seem that no result depends upon varying degrees of anarchy. Indeed, in enumerating the of
The act applies itself, not only to aliens who came with offensive theories, but to aliens who have become offensive, and it expressly confers upon the Secretary of Labor authority to take them into custody, and provides for deportation in the manner provided in the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917, and this irrespective of the time of their entry into the United States.
The point is taken by counsel for the petitioners that they are only philosophical anarchists, who do not teach violence. But this point only goes to the degree of offensiveness, and cannot be accepted as an answer to the authority of the executive branch of the government to deport, because, as said in 194 U. S. 279, 294, 24 Sup. Ct. 719, 724 (48 L. Ed. 979):
“If the word ‘anarchist’ should be interpreted as including aliens whose anarchistic views are professed as those of political philosophers innocent of evil intent, it would follow that Congress was of opinion that the tendency of the general exploitation of such views is so dangerous to the public weal that aliens who hold and advocate them would be undesirable additions to our population, whether permanently or temporarily, whether many or few, and, in the light of previous decisions, the act even in this aspect would not be unconstitutional.”
Passing all discussion as to the right of freedom of speech as not germane to executive proceedings for deportation under the recent acts of Congress, this view cannot be accepted, because, as said in 149 U. S. 698, 720, 13 Sup. Ct. 1016, 1025 (37 L. Ed. 905):
“In our jurisprudence, it is well settled that the provisions of an act of Congress, passed in the exercise of its constitutional authority, on this as on any other subject if clear and explicit, must be upheld by the courts, even in contravention of express stipulations in an earlier treaty.”
Congress, through the act approved October 16, 1918, having clearly declared against all aliens who are anarchists, the declaration must be accepted as meaning that Congress was of opinion that the presence of alien anarchists is offensive to our society and dangerous to the
For further discussion of the acts of Congress and of executive authority, see the unreported opinion of Judge Knox of December 9, 1918, in the Southern district of New York, in the Lopez Case; also the recent opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the same case (259 Fed. 401, - C. C. A. -) in affirmance thereof.
No intendment is made against the petitioners because they are at large under bail, and this decision is based upon the idea that no judicial authority is found for interfering with the proceedings of the executive branch of the government, with whom Congress has placed the responsibility.
The petition for habeas corpus is denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ex parte PETTINE
- Status
- Published