A Brief History of The Bureau of Immigration
The Bureau of Immigration evolved from a mere division of the Bureau of Customs in 1899, in the early years of the American regime in the Philippines. This was pursuant to Act No. 702 of the Philippine Commission. It seems that the government then, attached more importance on the entry of goods than on monitoring of aliens coming into the country. The government was more interested in customs duties that they may generate from these incoming goods, than in the control and regulation of the arrival and stay of foreigners. The functions of immigration remained under the said bureau until 1937, when it was transferred again as a division under the Bureau of Labor. This was mainly to respond to the arrival of Chinese nationals who owned and operated trade houses, stores, and restaurants in the country.
On 22 January 1940, the Second National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth enacted the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (Commonwealth Act No. 613). It was signed into law by the President of the United States of America on September 3, 1940, creating the Bureau of Immigration under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President. A year or so later, it became an attached agency of the Department of Justice. Later, its administrative control was returned to the Office of the President.
When the Pacific war broke out in December 1941, the Bureau, then under the Department of Justice, moved to the Bilibid Prison in Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto Avenue) which the Japanese Imperial Army declared “off limits” to anyone during the occupation. Immediately after the war, the Bureau was transferred to the Bacharach Building at Gate 1 of the South Harbor in Manila, then eventually was moved again to Building No. 5 at the Customs Bureau at Gate 4. In 1945, in line with the reorganization plan of the government, the Bureau was put under the supervision and control of the Department of Labor. This was at the time when there was an influx of foreign labor and the government deemed it appropriate to do so. In August 1948, the administrative control of the Bureau was returned to the Department of Justice where it remains up to this time.
In 1951, the Bureau relocated to the Court of Appeal’s Building at Adriatico St., in Ermita Manila, before finally transferring to Intramuros where it presently stands.
On September 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed Martial Law. Through General Order No.1 dated September 22, he ordered and decreed the adoption and implementation of the Integrated Reorganization Plan. Hence, the Commission on Reorganization issued the Letter of Implementation No. 20, dated December 31, 1972 which embodies the plan , including among other things, the change of name of the office from the Bureau of Immigration to Commission on Immigration and Deportation, being a collegial body and performing both administrative and quasi-judicial functions. The Commissioner and his two Associate Commissioners composed the Board of Commisioners of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation. Letter of Implementation No. 20 also abolished the Deportation Board and transferred its functions to to the Board of Commissioners who has now the exclusive power to try and decide deportation cases.
The Bureau has now the sole authority to enforce and administer immigration and alien registration laws including the admission, registration, exclusion, deportation and repatriation of aliens. It also supervises the immigration into and emigration from the Philippines of aliens. It can be gleaned from these functions that the office is a vital component of government and a potent factor in the development of the nation.
On July 25, 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 292 also known as the Administrative Code of 1987. Said order renamed the office, "Bureau of Immigration." It continues, however, to perform all the powers and functions it had while still a commission, and its head of office still remains to be called Commissioner as provided under DOJ Circular Order No.31, dated December 1,1989.
On 22 January 1940, the Second National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth enacted the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (Commonwealth Act No. 613). It was signed into law by the President of the United States of America on September 3, 1940, creating the Bureau of Immigration under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President. A year or so later, it became an attached agency of the Department of Justice. Later, its administrative control was returned to the Office of the President.
When the Pacific war broke out in December 1941, the Bureau, then under the Department of Justice, moved to the Bilibid Prison in Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto Avenue) which the Japanese Imperial Army declared “off limits” to anyone during the occupation. Immediately after the war, the Bureau was transferred to the Bacharach Building at Gate 1 of the South Harbor in Manila, then eventually was moved again to Building No. 5 at the Customs Bureau at Gate 4. In 1945, in line with the reorganization plan of the government, the Bureau was put under the supervision and control of the Department of Labor. This was at the time when there was an influx of foreign labor and the government deemed it appropriate to do so. In August 1948, the administrative control of the Bureau was returned to the Department of Justice where it remains up to this time.
In 1951, the Bureau relocated to the Court of Appeal’s Building at Adriatico St., in Ermita Manila, before finally transferring to Intramuros where it presently stands.
On September 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed Martial Law. Through General Order No.1 dated September 22, he ordered and decreed the adoption and implementation of the Integrated Reorganization Plan. Hence, the Commission on Reorganization issued the Letter of Implementation No. 20, dated December 31, 1972 which embodies the plan , including among other things, the change of name of the office from the Bureau of Immigration to Commission on Immigration and Deportation, being a collegial body and performing both administrative and quasi-judicial functions. The Commissioner and his two Associate Commissioners composed the Board of Commisioners of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation. Letter of Implementation No. 20 also abolished the Deportation Board and transferred its functions to to the Board of Commissioners who has now the exclusive power to try and decide deportation cases.
The Bureau has now the sole authority to enforce and administer immigration and alien registration laws including the admission, registration, exclusion, deportation and repatriation of aliens. It also supervises the immigration into and emigration from the Philippines of aliens. It can be gleaned from these functions that the office is a vital component of government and a potent factor in the development of the nation.
On July 25, 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 292 also known as the Administrative Code of 1987. Said order renamed the office, "Bureau of Immigration." It continues, however, to perform all the powers and functions it had while still a commission, and its head of office still remains to be called Commissioner as provided under DOJ Circular Order No.31, dated December 1,1989.