New York State Department of Mental Hygiene Register of Reports of Alleged Non-Resident or Deportable Aliens

Chronological.

Under Chapter 766 of the Laws of 1946, the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene was made responsible for the investigation and examination of all alien and non-resident persons who were mentally ill, mentally defective, or epileptic in state or public institutions in New York, and to attend to the deportation or removal of such persons to their respective countries or places of residence. In such instances, the commissioner needed to notify the proper mental hygiene and immigration officials in that locality of the transfer, and could enter into reciprocal agreements with other states or countries to facilitate said transfer. Deportation or removal was mandated for all such aliens and non-residents, except where such removal was judged to cause the patient undue hardship and the interests of the state would not be materially harmed by forgoing it.

This register is a bound volume that lists persons who were alleged to be aliens or non-residents living in state or public mental health facilities. It appears to be the first (and possibly only) volume created after the commissioner was given authority to deport or remove such persons. Each person's entry is on a two-page form. Basic biographical data is given, such as name, institution, sex, color, admission date, place and date of birth, marital status, war veteran status, previous admission history, and regular correspondents.

More detailed personal information includes arrival in New York and residence beforehand, whether in condition to travel, voting habits, and personal funds. If a recommendation to deport was made, information is provided about the location to deport to, and name of the person or department that care should be transferred to at the outside location.

These records were transferred to the State Archives in 1999, mixed in with series 20279, Patient admission, discharge, and parole registers, and were accessioned as a separate series in 2013.

Restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the Office of Mental Health.