Alexiou v. McGrath

• Decision Date: 19 November 1951
• Docket Number: Civ. A. No. 222-50.
• Citation: 101 F. Supp. 421
• Parties: ALEXIOU v. McGRATH et al.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Columbia

101 F. Supp. 421

ALEXIOU v. McGRATH et al.

Civ. A. No. 222-50.

United States District Court District of Columbia.

November 19, 1951.

David Rein, Washington, D. C., for the plaintiff.

Ross O'Donoghue, Samuel K. Abrams, and Jerome Powell, Asst. U. S. Attys., Washington, D. C., for the Government.

YOUNGDAHL, District Judge.

Plaintiff is seeking a judgment setting aside an order of deportation and restraining defendants from deporting her pursuant to such order.

The essential facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff is an alien and a native of Canada. She is married to a citizen of the United States. She entered this country from Canada without an immigration visa and is therefore subject to deportation.

Pursuant to the provisions of 8 U.S.C.A. § 155(c), plaintiff applied for suspension of deportation because of her marriage to a citizen of the United States. She was granted a hearing on her request for suspension of deportation in accordance with the regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. After the hearing before the Presiding Inspector, he concluded "that under Section 19(c)(2) of the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917, as amended, the respondent is ineligible for suspension of deportation".

The Acting Commissioner of Immigration reviewed and affirmed the Inspector's opinion and said, inter alia, "Upon examination of the file covering the alien, which contains not only the record of hearing but other evidence concerning the alien's activities, we are satisfied that as a matter of discretion the recommendation of the Presiding Inspector should be followed and the alien deported. * * * Since relief from deportation is not a matter of right but of discretion, it is quite apparent that any evidence, whether or not of record, officially touching upon the question of qualification for the benefit sought may be considered. The evidence in the file (some of it confidential in nature) establishes to our satisfaction that the alien's continued presence in the United States would be prejudicial to the interests of this country. Obviously, therefore, the request made by this deportable alien must be denied."

Thereafter, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service plaintiff appealed the decision of the Acting Commissioner of Immigration to the Board of Immigration Appeals. On November 8, 1949, this Board reversed the decision of the Acting Commissioner. The Board held that it was an error of law for the Acting Commissioner of Immigration to base his conclusion upon not only the record of hearing but other evidence concerning the alien's activities.

Thereafter, on November 16, 1949 the Acting Attorney General issued an order approving the decision and order of the Board of Immigration Appeals.

However, on December 17, 1949, without notice or hearing, the Acting Attorney General entered an order withdrawing his approval of November 16, 1949; disapproved the decision and order of the Board of Immigration Appeals and approved the order of deportation. The record does not disclose the reason for the reversal of the position of the Acting Attorney General.

Plaintiff contends that she was denied a fair hearing because, admittedly, evidence not of record was considered on the issue of eligibility for suspension of deportation. The government at the time of trial conceded that plaintiff was eligible for suspension of deportation and that the action of the Attorney General in refusing to suspend is not reviewable.

Under the regulations adopted by the Attorney General a quasi-judicial procedure has been established for the purpose of enabling him to properly and reasonably exercise his discretion in determining whether deportation shall be suspended under 8 U.S.C.A. § 155(c). These regulations are quite comprehensive in affording an opportunity for a fair hearing. 8 C.F.R., 150 6(a, b, c, g,), 150 7(a, b, c). They have the force and effect of law. Bilokumsky v. Tod, 263 U.S. 149, 44 S.Ct. 54, 68 L.Ed. 221; Bridges v. Wixon, 326 U.S. 135, 65 S.Ct. 1443, 89 L.Ed. 2103. These rules are designed as safeguards against essentially unfair procedures. Bridges v. Wixon, supra. The Court in the Bridges case said at page 154 of 326 U.S., at page 1452 of 65 S.Ct.: "Here the liberty of an individual is at stake. Highly incriminating statements are used against him — statements which were unsworn and which under the governing regulations are inadmissible. We are dealing here with procedural requirements prescribed for the protection of the alien. Though deportation is not technically a criminal proceeding, it visits a great hardship on the individual and deprives him of the right to stay and live and work in this land of freedom. That deportation is a penalty — at times a most serious one — cannot be doubted. Meticulous care must be exercised lest the procedure by which he is deprived of that liberty not meet the essential standards of fairness." What the government contends in essence is that even though this procedure has been established, suspension of deportation is not a vested right and a fair hearing is not required to be given; that the Attorney General is not bound by the hearing; that his decision is final and not reviewable.

It is true, of course, as the government contends, that the grant or denial of suspension of deportation is discretionary. Immigration Act of February 5, 1917, as amended, Section 19(c), 8 U.S.C.A. § 155 (c); U. S. ex rel. Weddeke v. Watkins, 2 Cir., 166 F.2d 369; U. S. ex rel. Von Kleczkowski v. Watkins, D.C., 71 F.Supp. 429. But it is quite another thing to assert that after regulations have been adopted providing for a fair hearing on the issue of eligibility for suspension of deportation that the Courts are precluded from examining the record to determine if a fair hearing has been accorded. If the position of the government were to be sustained then no matter how much the hearing was tainted with unfairness, no relief would be available, because the action of the Attorney General is final and is not reviewable....