Interim Decision #2200 

MATTER OF PEREZ-ECHEVERRIA 

In Deportation Proceedings 

A-19998844 

Decided by Board May 7,-1978 

Notwithstanding he possesses the requisite familial relationship, an alien who 

entered this country without an immigrant visa on a willfully fraudulent 

claim to United States citizenship, is ineligible for the benefits of section 241(f) 

of the ,Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. (Decision of the Attorney General in Matter of Lee, 13 1. & N. Dec. 214, adhered to, notwithstanding 

Ninth Circuit dictum in Cabueo-Flores v. INS, 477 F2d 108 (C.A. 9, 1973), 

indicating continued adherence by that Circuit to contrary view.) 

CHARGE: 

Order: Act of 1952—Section 241(a)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1251(a)(1)]Excludable at 

entry—not in possession of valid unexpired immigrant 

visa, etc., and not exempted-from possession under section 

212(o.X20) of the Act. 

ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT: ON BEHALF OF SERVICE: 

Mark W. Rollins, Esq. William S. Howell 

Boggust & Dotson Trial Attorney 

Second and E Streets 

Brawley, California 92227 

(Brief filed) 

This is an appeal from an order of an immigration judge, finding 

the respondent to be deportable, denying his request for termination of the proceedings, and granting his application for voluntary 

leparture. The appeal will be dismissed. 

Respondent is a 26-year-old male alien, a native and citizen of 

Mexico, who last entered the United States on or about August 20, 

1972 when he was admitted as a United States citizen on fraudu-

'ently presenting the birth certificate of his deceased brother, who 

aad been born in the United States. At a hearing before an 

mmigration judge on September 13, 1972, at which he was 

represented by present counsel, respondent admitted the truth of 

;he factual allegations of the order to show cause but denied 

leportability. It was brought out that respondent is married to a 

jnited States citizen and they have two United States citizen 

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Interim Decision #2200 

children, born respectively in 1968 and 1971. On the basis of these 

relationships and the fraud involved in obtaining admission as a 

citizen, respondent requested that the proceedings be terminated 

under section 241(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The 

immigration judge denied termination, found respondent to be 

deportable, and granted him the privilege of voluntary departure 

on or before October 13, 1972. 

On appeal, counsel argues that termination under section 241(t) 

is required by Lee Fook Chuey v. INS, 439 F2d (C.A. 9, 1970). That 

decision, it is true, held that an alien who, like respondent, entered 

without inspection as an alien and without the required immigrant visa is not barred from the benefits of section 241(f) as one 

not "otherwise admissible." In Cabuco-Flores v. INS, 477 F2d 108 

(C.A. 9, 1973) the same court by way of dictum indicated its 

continued adherence to the rationale of its decision in Lee Fook 

Chuey. As we pointed out, however, in Matter of Mangabat, 

Interim Decision No. 2131 (B IA, 1972), we are bound by the 

Attorney General's decision in Matter of Lee, 13 I. & N. Dec. 214 

(AG, 1969). The Attorney General therein held that Congress did 

not intend by section 241(f) "to permit the complete circumvention 

of the immigration visa system established by the Act. Such a 

circumvention would result from a holding that section 241(f) 

applies to an alien who neither was granted nor applied for an 

immigrant visa, but obtained his initial entry by posing as a 

citizen." 

While the Attorney General's holding in Matter of Lee, supra, 

was reversed on judicial review in Lee Fook Chuey v. INS, supra, 

the court's expansive reading of section 2.41(f) in that case still 

represents a minority view. The failure of the Solicitor General to 

seek review of that decision in the Supreme Court does not indicate 

acquiescence. For the reasons elaborated in Matter of Mangabat, 

supra, with due deference to the views of the Ninth Circuit, we feel 

justified in continuing to adhere to the Attorney General's conclusion that section 241(f) does not benefit an alien who entered 

without visa or inspection as an alien on a wilfully false citizenship 

claim. 

ORDER: The appeal is dismissed. 

Further order: Pursuant to the immigration judge's order, the 

respondent is permitted to depart from the United States voluntarily within 30 days from the date of this order or any extension 

beyond that time as may be granted by the District Director; and 

that, in the event of failure so to depart, the respondent shall be 

deported as provided in the immigration judge's order. 

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