United States v. Sun

In 1896, the United States sought to deport Suey Sun as an unregistered Chinese laborer under the Chinese registration and deportation acts of 1892 and 1893. Sun was a member of the trading firm Lung Kee & Co. in New York, with a $1,000 interest, and lived at the store with eight other partners, performing housework for them and packing goods in spare time. The District Court of Vermont held that Sun was not a 'laborer' under the acts because his household services were domestic in nature and not for hire, distinguishing domestic service from laborer occupation. The court denied the deportation order and discharged Sun.

The government sought to deport an individual as an unregistered Chinese laborer under historical registration and deportation acts. The individual, a partner in a trading firm who performed household services and occasional packing for co-partners without hire, was deemed not a laborer by the court, distinguishing domestic service from laborer status. The deportation order was denied, and the individual was discharged.

• Definition of 'laborer' excludes domestic service per Standard Dictionary
• Sun's household services for partners are domestic, not for hire as a laborer
• Services do not constitute him as a laborer under the acts

• Application for deportation order against Suey Sun as an unregistered Chinese laborer

• Whether respondent is a Chinese laborer under registration and deportation acts