Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/524bv.pdf
Page Number: 715.0

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Unit: $U97

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UNITED STATES v. BALSYS

Opinion of the Court

OSI, which was created to institute denaturalization and
deportation proceedings against suspected Nazi war crimi-
nals, is now investigating whether, contrary to his repre-
sentations, Balsys participated in Nazi persecution during
World War II. Such activity would subject him to deporta-
tion for persecuting persons because of their race, religion,
national origin, or political opinion under §§ 1182(a)(3)(E) and
1251(a)(4)(D), as well as for lying on his visa application
under §§ 1182(a)(6)(C)(i) and 1251(a)(1)(A).

When OSI issued a subpoena requiring Balsys to testify
at a deposition, he appeared and gave his name and address,
but he refused to answer any other questions, such as those
directed to his wartime activities in Europe between 1940–
1945 and his immigration to the United States in 1961.
In
response to all such questions, Balsys invoked the Fifth
Amendment privilege against compelled self-incrimination,
claiming that his answers could subject him to criminal
prosecution. He did not contend that he would incriminate
himself under domestic law,1 but claimed the privilege be-
cause his responses could subject him to criminal prosecution
by Lithuania, Israel, and Germany.

OSI responded with a petition in Federal District Court to
enforce the subpoena under § 1225(a). Although the District
Court found that if Balsys were to provide the information
requested, he would face a real and substantial danger of
prosecution by Lithuania and Israel (but not by Germany),
it granted OSI’s enforcement petition and ordered Balsys to
testify, treating the Fifth Amendment as inapplicable to a
918 F. Supp.
claim of incrimination solely under foreign law.
588 (EDNY 1996). Balsys appealed, and the Court of Ap-
peals for the Second Circuit vacated the District Court’s
order, holding that a witness with a real and substantial fear
of prosecution by a foreign country may assert the Fifth
Amendment privilege to avoid giving testimony in a domes-

1 The Government advises us that the statute of limitation bars criminal

prosecution for any misrepresentation. Tr. of Oral Arg. 4.