The lack of emigration rules and regulations allowed Japan to argue for a temporary halt to emigration to Hawaii in its quest to prevent passage of a Japanese exclusion act.

Since emigration to Mexico was illegal and carried out without government permission, the immigrants initially had no passports. A competent foreign office, moreover, would never have allowed its people to go to a place like the Yucatan where labor conditions were terrible.

Since emigration to Mexico was illegal and carried out without government permission, the immigrants initially had no passports, ... A competent foreign office, moreover, would never have allowed its people to go to a place like the Yucatan where labor conditions were terrible.

Foolishly, the Korean government had failed to post diplomats in Mexico and Hawaii to protect its immigrants.

The law, as changed, removes some of the discretion and lack of rules there might have been in the past, but it doesn't eliminate the flexibility that you need when there are unusual circumstances.

Australia, maybe Africa, maybe even Hawaii on an exchange program.