Alien Case File (A-Files)

By SlovakDennis on Sun, 05/19/2024 - 18:55

Forums

Hello,

I am trying to cite to specific documents contained within old A-Files, or "Alien Case Files," obtained from the USCIS (via either their genealogy program or the Freedom of Information Act). I am having a difficult time; however, determining how they should be formatted: they are essentially folders full of immigration papers, including birth certificates, reports from Displaced Persons Camp officials, etc. etc.

For an A-File obtained via the genealogy program, I relied upon the formatting found here. 

For example, if I wanted to cite to the "Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition," would it look like this:

[first name] [surname], Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition, 23 March 1952; [first name] [surname], Alien Case File no. A-1234567; A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951, Historical Records Series, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington, DC.

Then if I wanted to cite to another document in that same A-File, for example a Report of the United States Displaced Persons Commission, would I need to use the entire cite again? Like this:

Report of the United States Displaced Persons Commission, European Case No. 123456, March 3, 1950; [first name] [surname], Alien Case File no. A-1234567; A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951, Historical Records Series, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington, DC.? 

I am sorry if this is an obvious or foolish question, but this is a tad outside my wheelhouse.

Any guidance is appreciated!

Thank you so much!

Submitted byEEon Sun, 05/19/2024 - 19:07

Welcome, SlovakDennis. We'll have to respond with a couple of questions of our own:

1. What identification details did USCIS supply you when it sent the documents?

2. Can you upload the two images you are trying to cite?

Working blindly, I could say that your citation "looks good." But I would not be able to determine whether there's a problem that needs addressing.

Thank you for the response.

 

1. Unfortunately, they don't really send you much other than a CD with the files on it and a generic cover letter. There isn't any information such as a box, folder, etc. where it was stored (though my assumption, based on the image quality, is that they are stored on microfilm somewhere and not in physical copies).

2. Absolutely! 

Upload a document
Report of the Displaced Persons Commission

Submitted byEEon Tue, 05/21/2024 - 10:36

Oh, what a can of worms!

How did you access these documents?  Using an online query form at archives.gov? Or by contacting NARA-Kansas City? Did you begin with an online database in which you queried for the name? Or … ?

Your two beautiful documents raise at least two issues:

  • One of your documents carries the identifier “European Case No. 150691,” while the other document carries “Alien Registration No. A7442885.”  This raises the question whether there is a separate set of "European Case" files held amid records of the "Displaced Persons Commission," and whether your document is filed there while crosslinked to the A-File (or whether it was transferred from the commission or whether a duplicate copy was made so that one copy was kept in each record collection.)  Files of the Displaced Persons Commission are in RG 278.
  • Your alien petitioner was born 1916.  According to “Research Our Records: Alien Files (A-Files),” National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/aliens#):

 

This NARA catalog description suggests that your file is not actually held by USCIS (which you identified in your draft citation), but by NARA at one of its branches.  Hence, the need to tie down exactly how and from whom you received the images.

Greetings,

Thank you for your feedback!

To answer your first question: "How did you access these documents?"

I purchased this particular A-File from the USCIS Genealogy Program back in 2019. 

I still have the receipt for having done so. The A-File was provided on a CD ROM (alongside a confirmation letter) several months later. However, I see now that it has actually been transferred to NARA in the interim. At the time I first acquired it, though, this A-File was still within the possession of the USCIS.  Should I cite to it as though it is at NARA?

Your second comment: "[W]hether a duplicate copy was made so that one copy was kept in each record collection.)  Files of the Displaced Persons Commission are in RG 278." 

I believe the A-Files contained duplicate copies of the documents from the Displaced Persons Commission, which were compiled along with other miscellaneous records as part of the naturalization process. 

If it would help provide some clarity, I could send you this entire A-File via private message so you can see what it contains? I just feel weird uploading a private citizen's A-File in its entirety for public view (even if they are deceased, as is the case here).

I really do appreciate your help, as I want to make sure all of these sources, some of which are extremely complicated and archaic, are properly cited in my research!

Submitted byEEon Thu, 05/23/2024 - 10:11

Dennis, thanks for the examination copies. The information in the cover letter provides us with the details needed to create the most-accurate citation possible.  For the benefit of others, I'm taking the liberty here of posting the first two paragraphs, with personal information redacted so I do not reveal any more information than you already have revealed:

The second paragraph is particularly important. It tells us.

  • Your request is considered a FOIA request.
  • You are not being supplied all documents from the file.
  • The decisions as to what information is made known to you is being made by USCIS. That is a serious handicap for any researcher because (a) the decisions you make from this material will not be based on thorough use of surviving records; and (b) the decisions USCIS made as to what you are allowed to see is based upon their policies, not your need for full information, and they do not have the perspective you have from your own research into other records created by the immigrant by which you might note important contradictions, etc.

Your citations to these files will need to convey your inability to access the full files.

Your original post suggested this citation:

first name] [surname], Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition, 23 March 1952; [first name] [surname], Alien Case File no. A-1234567; A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951, Historical Records Series, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington, DC.

An Evidence Style citation would modify this to reflect the difference between examining the case file and examining the selected documents supplied in response to a FOIA request. Following 3.14 “Multi-layer Citations”  would give us this:

  • LAYER 1: Identify the document (who, what, where, when—and where within if the document is lengthy)
  • LAYER 2: Identify the file (who and what—in this case, personal name, type of file, file  number)
  • LAYER 3: Identify your access to the file (this will be more descriptive than formulaic)

Using the universal templates that EE4 offers for mix-and-match, your first two layers of the citation would follow Template 8 "Formal Archives (Artifact or Manuscript Document)" and the remainder of your citation would follow Template 7 "Private Holdings (Artifact or Manuscript Document)."

The results would be something like this (using a different color for each layer in the first, full, reference note):               

          FIRST REFERENCE NOTE:

        1. John Smith, “Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition,” 23 March 1952; Alien Case File no. A-1234567, John Smith; selected and partially redacted documents from "A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951," supplied to [name and address for private use), 22 May 2019, by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services National Records Center, FOIA/PA Office, Lee’s Summit MO, in response to FOIA request.

SUBSEQUENT NOTE:

       1. John Smith, “Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition,” 23 March 1952; Alien Case File no. A-1234567, John Smith.

SUBSEQUENT NOTE (DIFFERENT DOCUMENT FROM SAME FILE):

      11. John Smith, Petition No. XXXXX, Alien Registration No. XX XXX XXX, 8 November 1971; Alien Case File No. A-1234567, John Smith.

SOURCE LIST ENTRY:

United States, Citizenship and Immigration Services. National Records Center FOIA/A Office.  Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Selected and partially redacted documents from "A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951." Supplied to [name and address for private use]. Year(s) of request.

I cannot thank you enough for your help. You have solved one of the great mysteries of my research and I am eternally grateful! 

I do have one more relevant question, though, and would appreciate your guidance:

As mentioned earlier, the National Archives contains many A-Files.

How would one go about accurately citing an A-File, which is almost universally going to be partially redacted, when there is a NARA control number and Local Identifier? 

Thank you again!

SlovakDennis, for an A-file that is obtained in the manner above, not openly available online, with partial redactions and with the NARA control number and Local Identifier given, then your citation would have one alteration: your final layer (the "citing ..." layer) would say "Citing NARA control number ..... and Local Identifier ....."

Hello,

Okay, because the draft version I had come up with for a NARA citation was:

John Smith, “Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition,” 23 March 1952; Alien Case File no. A-1234567, John Smith; Alien Case Files 1944-2003; Record Group 566: Records of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 2003-2004, National Archives, Kansas City, Missouri.

But that would not be correct, then?

So would it need to be something like: 

John Smith, “Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition,” 23 March 1952; Alien Case File no. A-1234567, John Smith; citing “Record Group 566: Records of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 2003-2004, Series: Alien Case Files 1944-2003. Box 12."

Thanks!