Abstract

Michigan Passes the "Spolansky Act"

On May 18, 1931, the legislature of Michigan passed a registering, photographing, fingerprinting, excluding, deporting, and jailing act. Governor Wilber M. Brucker approved it. The act provides that any person of foreign birth who has illegally entered the U.S. cannot maintain a legal residence in Michigan or travel within the state. He is "declared to have entered the state illegally," and is "subject to deportation" and "shall when detected be denied admission at its borders." Such person "is prohibited from having employment or engaging in business within the state except as hereinafter in the penal section of this act provided." "Certificates of legal residence" shall be issued to all aliens legally resident in Michigan "after they have established proof of legality of their entrance to the U.S. from the records of the office of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration."