NOW, Volume 5, Number 15, August 30, 1940 Page: 2
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N O W
3,600,000 Aliens
Now Under Surveillance
According to United States News, the
United States is placing under surveill-
ance the 3,600,000 aliens within its bor-
ders. No other nation has so many non-
citizens, none has such a diverse group.
Aliens have been welcomed to this
country from its earliest beginnings.
From the work of immigrants this na-
tion grew and prospered. Into the Amer-
ican melting pot were thrown Anglo-
Saxons, Scandinavians, Germans, Latins
and Slavs. This openhanded, unquestion-
ing welcome is now ending. For the first
time, the Government is starting to
treat aliens as other countries have long
treated them. Henceforth, their move-
ments are to be policed and watched as
alien movements are watched in Europe.
Between August 27 and December 26,
every alien in the United States must
register at a first or second class post
office. Those 14 years of age and older
must be fingerprinted. Each of them will
receive a registration card and any
change of address must be reported to
the Immigration and Naturalization
Service in Washington within five days.
Willful failure to register or the giving
of false information will render an alien
liable to a fine of $1,000.
The decision to register all aliens in
the country is no indication that the
Government or the people suspect the
entire 3,600,000 of unpatriotic or dan-
gerous activity. Rather it is a recogni-
tion of new forces in the world; forces
seeking to upset the American form of
government.
In guarding this country against
Fifth Column attacks, however, high
officials stress that proper liberties of
peaceable aliens must be protected.
President Roosevelt, Attorney General
Jackson, Solicitor General Francis Bid-
dle and Earl G. Harrison, Philadelphia
attorney who will direct the alien tally,
have emphatically stated that no "witch
hunt" will accompany the registration.
Government officials are stressing the
friendly nature of the program. Data on
all alien questionnaires will be secret,
free from inspection except upon specific
order of the Attorney General.
Many aliens resent this new ruling;
some even say: "We have lived peace-ably and usefully in this country for
years -in fact our lives are superior to
many of those who are citizens."
But they must know that good living
though highly commendable is not citi-
zenship. Distinction must be made be-
tween things that differ. Citizenship de-
pends upon birth or naturalization -not
upon proper living.
Each person is a citizen or an alien in
relation to heaven, as well as to this
country.
The Apostle Paul was a twofold citi-
zen. Referring to his birth in Tarsus, a
city of Cilicia, he said he was "a citizen
of no mean country." (Acts 21:39). He
was a "free born" Roman citizen. (Acts
22:28).
When writing to a group of Christians
at Philippi, he said: "Our conversation
(or citizenship) is in heaven." (Phil.
3:20).
It is to be regretted that so many fine
people are content to be citizens in but
a single sense - citizens of the country
wherein they were born or naturalized.
Many of the present aliens in the
United States intended becoming citi-
zens as soon as the required time for
naturalization was fulfilled; but they
kept putting off the matter of their
papers until now they are chagrined to
find they must register, be fingerprinted
and live under surveillance as aliens.
Likewise, many persons intend to be-
come citizens of heaven, but they keep
on neglecting the important matter and
are still "aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the cove-
nants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world." (Eph. 2:12).
For all asking: "How can one become
a citizen of heaven?" let it be said that
it is by what Scripture calls a new birth
or birth from above. (John 3:3).
And the Apostle Peter informs us that
his being born again is by the "incor-
ruptible seed" of the Gospel. (1 Peter
1:23-25). The Gospel is the good news
of Christ's death for our sins, His
burial and resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:3-5).
All who are united to Christ by faith
become "children of God" (John 1:12)
and have their citizenship in heaven. In
relation to heaven, are you a citizen or
an alien?
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R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. NOW, Volume 5, Number 15, August 30, 1940, periodical, August 30, 1940; Peoria, Illinois. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1532574/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting LeTourneau University Margaret Estes Library.