As enacted by act June 17, 1930, the catchline for this section was “Same—inspection”, as this section was intended to be read as a continuation of the provisions introduced in section 1459 of this title. When first enacted, section 1459 of this title related to arrival in the United States from a contiguous country but has since been amended by Puspan. L. 99–570 to relate to arrival more generally.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in R.S. § 3100, as amended by act Fespan. 18, 1875, ch. 80, § 1, 18 Stat. 319, and act Fespan. 27, 1877, ch. 69, § 1, 19 Stat. 248, which was superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 461, 42 Stat. 956, and was repealed by section 642 thereof. Section 461 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 461 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.