Sabine County Louisiana Archives News.....Letter From Home Town Marshal Saves Louisiana Boy From Being Deported to Mexico As Alien March 15, 1925
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karra Porter karra.porter@chrisjen.com April 20, 2009, 12:17 am

San Antonio (TX) Express March 15, 1925

Martin Garcia, 16, was on a truck at Bexar County jail to be deported to 
Mexico as an alien, when over at the sheriff's office a letter was being read 
which seemed to prove that the lad was a native born American.  Acting Chief 
Deputy Charles Peters read the letter and telephoned the jail.

"Yes, we have him," came the reply.  "Rather we did have him. He has just been 
turned over to an immigration officer for deportation."

"Has he gone?"

"No, he is on a truck outside the jail now waiting to go."

Peters explained the situation.

The prisoner was without the jurisdiction of the sheriff.  The Federal 
government had him in charge and Peters called for the officer in charge of 
the deportation party and explained the matter.

"Well, we will hold him here pending investigation," was the decision, and 
Garcia went back to jail.  Within a few minutes he would have been on
his way to Mexico.

The letter received by Sheriff James Stevens was from E. A. Hubiers, city 
marshal of Converse, Sabine Parish, La.  The marshal declared the lad was well 
known to him and that he was born in Sabine Parish.  A check for $23 was 
inclosed asking that the sheriff buy the lad a ticket and send him home as 
soon as possible.  The money had been furnished by Garcia's mother who resides
at Converse, the letter said.

Inclosed with the letter was a certificate signed by 12 residents of Sabine 
Parish who declared they knew the lad and that he was born in Louisiana.  

Garcia was being taken to Mexico on a voluntary return privilege after he had 
said that he was born in Lampasas, Mexico, according to immigration officials 
in charge of the deportation.

Garcia told immigration officers that he had gained illegal entry into this 
country by crossing tho Rio Grande at Brownsville and had worked for a short 
time in Mercedes before coming to San Antonio, officers said.

The boy was released by immigration authorities Saturday afternoon.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sabine/newspapers/letterfr131gnw.txt

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