Source: http://openjurist.org/338/us/491/savorgnan-v-united-states
Timestamp: 2016-05-05 20:25:11
Document Index: 295544257

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 401', '§ 735', '§ 735', '§ 242', '§ 2', '§ 801', '§ 801', '§ 803', '§ 803', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 1999', '§ 800', '§ 800', '§ 735', '§ 735', '§ 504', '§ 904', '§ 904', '§ 504', '§ 2', '§ 747', '§ 747', '§ 904', '§ 904', 'art, 260', '§ 308', '§ 708', '§ 708', '§ 242', '§ 403']

338 US 491 Savorgnan v. United States | OpenJurist
338 U.S. 491 - Savorgnan v. United States Homethe United States Reports338 U.S.
A. One contention of the petitioner is the novel one that her naturalization did not meet the requirements of § 2 of the Act of 1907,13 because it did not take place within the boundaries of a foreign state. The answer is that the phrase in § 2 which states that 'any American citizen shall be deemed to have expatriated himself when he has been naturalized in any foreign state in conformity with its laws, * * *' (emphasis supplied) refers merely to naturalization into the citizenship of any foreign state. It does not refer to the place where the naturalization proceeding occurs. The matter is even more clearly dealt with in the Act of 1940.14 Section 401(a) there lists 'Obtaining naturalization in a foreign state, * * *' as a means of losing nationality. Section 403(a) then states that expatriation shall result from the performance of the acts listed in § 401 'within the United States * * *' if and when the national performing them 'thereafter takes up a residence abroad.' Thus Congress expressly recognized that 'naturalization in a foreign state' included naturalization proceedings which led to citizenship in a foreign state, but took place within the United States.
B. The petitioner's principal contention is that she did not intend to give up her American citizenship, although she applied for and accepted Italian citizenship, and that her intent should prevail. However, the acts upon which the statutes expressly condition the consent of our Government to the expatriation of its citizens are stated objectively.15 There is no suggestion in the statutory language that the effect of the specified overt acts, when voluntarily done, is conditioned upon the undisclosed intent of the person doing them.
The United States has long recognized the general undesirability of dual allegiances. Since 1795, Congress has required any alien seeking American citizenship to declare 'that he both absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever, and particularly by name, the prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, whereof he was before a citizen or subject; * * *.' 1 Stat. 414, see 8 U.S.C. § 735(a), 8 U.S.C.A. § 735(a).16 Temporary or limited duality of citizenship has arisen inevitably from differences in the laws of the respective nations as to when naturalization and expatriation shall become effective. There is nothing, however, in the Act of 1907 that implies a congressional intent that, after an American citizen has performed an overt act which spells expatriation under the wording of the statute, he, nevertheless, can preserve for himself a duality of citizenship by showing his intent or understanding to have been contrary to the usual legal consequences of such an act.17
The petitioner, in the instant case, was a competent adult. She voluntarily and knowingly sought and obtained Italian citizenship.18 Her application for naturalization and her oath of allegiance were in Italian, which she did not understand, but Savorgnan did understand Italian, and he was with her and able to translate and explain them to her when she signed them. She knew that the instruments related to her citizenship and that her signature of them was an important condition upon which her marriage depended. She thus was as responsible for understanding them as if they had been in English. On that basis, she was married. Whatever the legal consequences of those acts may be, she is bound by them.
C. The Government contends vigorously that the petitioner's Italian naturalization, in 1940, then and there expatriated her. It contends that this provides sufficient basis, under the Act of 1907, to affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals without reference to the petitioner's subsequent residence abroad. While recognizing the force of this alternative ground for affirmance, we do not rest our decision upon it. It is, however, entitled to be noted. The Government's argument is that, while residence abroad may have been required before the Act of 1907 and is now expressly required by the Act of 1940, it was not required under the Act of 1907. See Mackenzie v. Hare, 239 U.S. 299, 36 S.Ct. 106, 60 L.Ed. 297, Ann.Cas.1916E, 645. The Government concedes, however, that, at least since 1933, the State Department has considered residence abroad to be a necessary element of expatriation. 3 Hackworth, Digest of International Law §§ 242—250 (1942). In our view, the petitioner's residence abroad from 1941 to 1945 makes it unnecessary to determine, in this case, what would have been her status if she had not taken up her residence abroad. We accordingly do not do so.
A. The Nationality Act of 1940, including its repeal of § 2 of the Citizenship Act of 1907, took effect January 13, 1941.19 The petitioner's residence abroad began after that date. It is contended that the effect of such residence may be determined either by the terms of the Act of 1940, or by those of the Act of 1907 continued in force by a saving clause in the Act of 1940.20 We find, however, that the petitioner's residence and her naturalization have the same effect whether or not resort is had to the saving clause. Accordingly, it is not necessary to determine here whether the petitioner's residence and naturalization are to be tested under the saving clause or under the rest of the Act of 1940.21
B. The petitioner's residence abroad met the requirements of the Act of 1940. Sections 403(a) and 104 used the terms 'residence' and 'place of general abode' without mention of the intent of the person concerned.22 The Act cleared up the uncertainties which had been left by early decisions as to the type and amount, if any, of residence abroad that was required to establish expatriation.23 In contrast to such terms as: 'temporary residence,' 'domicile,' 'removal, with his family and effects,' 'absolute removal' or 'permanent residence,' the new Act used the term 'residence' as plainly as possible to denote an objective fact.24 To identify the required 'place of residence,' it required only that it be the 'place of general abode.' Confirmation of this intended simplification appears in the Report on Revision and Codification of the Nationality Laws of the United States, submitted by the Secretary of State, Attorney General and Secretary of Labor to Congress on the bill which became the Nationality Act of 1940:
'Definitions of 'residence' frequently include the element of intent as to the future place of abode. However, in section 104 hereof no mention is made of intent, and the actual 'place of general abode' is the sole test for determining residence. The words 'place of general abode,' which are taken from the second paragraph of section 2 of the Citizenship Act of March 2, 1907 (34 Stat. 1228), seem to speak for themselves. They relate to the principal dwelling place of a person.'25
The District Court did not find that the petitioner failed to take up an actual residence or place of general abode abroad. It found merely that in 'July 1941 when she left this country for Italy she did so without any intention of establishing a permanent residence abroad or abandoning her residence in the United States, * * *.' (Emphasis supplied.) See 73 F.Supp. at page 110. Under the Act of 1940, the issue is not what her intent was on leaving the United States, nor whether, at any later time, it was her intent to have a permanent residence abroad or to have a residence in the United States. The issue is only whether she did, at any time between July, 1941, and November, 1945, in fact 'reside' abroad. The test of such 'residence' is whether, at any time during that period, she did, in fact, have a 'principal dwelling place' or 'place of general abode' abroad. She testified that, from 1941 to 1945, she lived with her husband and his family in Rome, except for six months' internment in Salzburg, Germany. Whatever may have been her reasons, wishes or intent, her principal dwelling place was in fact with her husband in Rome where he was serving in his Foreign Ministry. Her intent as to her 'domicile' or as to her 'permanent residence,' as distinguished from her actual 'residence,' 'principal dwelling place,' and 'place of abode,' is not material. She expatriated herself under the laws of the United States by her naturalization as an Italian citizen followed by her residence abroad.26
'(b) Taking an oath or making an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state; * * *.' (Emphasis supplied.) 54 Stat. 1168—1169, 8 U.S.C. § 801(a) and (b), 8 U.S.C.A. § 801(a, b).
'Sec. 403. (a) Except as provided in subsections (g), (h), and (i) of section 401, no national can expatriate himself, or be expatriated, under this section (*) while within the United States or any of its outlying possessions, but expatriation shall result from the performance within the United States or any of its outlying possessions of any of the acts or the fulfillment of any of the conditions specified in this section (*) if and when the national thereafter takes up a residence abroad.' (Emphasis supplied.) 54 Stat. 1169—1170, 58 Stat. 677, 8 U.S.C. § 803(a), 8 U.S.C.A. § 803(a).
'Sec. 104. For the purposes of sections 201, 307(b), 403, 404, 405, 406, and 407 of this Act, the place of general abode shall be deemed the place of residence.' (Emphasis supplied.) 54 Stat. 1138, 8 U.S.C. § 504, 8 U.S.C.A. § 504.
The Santissima Trinidad, 7 Wheat. 283, 5 L.Ed. 454; Murray v. The Charming Betsy, 2 Cranch 64, 2 L.Ed. 64; Case of Isaac Williams, opinion of Ellsworth, C.J., see 2 Cranch 82—83, note; Talbot v. Jansen, 3 Dall. 133, 1 L.Ed. 540; Ex parte Griffin, D.C.N.D.N.Y., 237 F. 445; Comitis v. Parkerson, C.C.E.D.La., 56 F. 556, 22 L.R.A. 148; 14 Op.Atty.Gen. 295 (1872 1874); 8 Op.Atty.Gen. 139 (1856—1857).
'Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any declaration, instruction, opinion, order, or decision of any officers of this government which denies, restricts, impairs, or questions the right of expatriation, is hereby declared inconsistent with the fundamental principles of this government.' 15 Stat. 223—224, R.S. § 1999, 8 U.S.C. § 800, 8 U.S.C.A. § 800.
'I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion: So help me God. In acknowledgment whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.' 54 Stat. 1157, 8 U.S.C. § 735(b), 8 U.S.C.A. § 735(b).
The Citizenship Board of 1906, appointed by the Secretary of State, proposed the expatriation provisions of the Act of 1907, and said in support of them: 'It is true that because of conflicting laws on the subject of citizenship in different countries a child may be born to a double allegiance; but no man should be permitted deliberately to place himself in a position where his services may be claimed by more than one government and his allegiance be due to more than one.' H.R. Doc. No. 326, 59th Cong., 2d Sess. 23 (1906—1907).
Congress found it necessary after World War I to enact special legislation to assist men to regain their American citizenship after they had expatriated themselves by taking a foreign oath of allegiance required to permit them to enlist in the armies of certain foreign nations. 40 Stat. 340, 542 et seq. See 55 Cong.Rec. 6935, 7665—7666 (1917); S.Rep. No. 388, 65th Cong., 2d Sess. 7—8 (1917—1918); H.R.Rep. No. 532, 65th Cong., 2d Sess. 3—4 (1917—1918); 56 Cong.Rec. 608—609, 6011—6012 (1917 1918).
See §§ 504, 601 of the Act of 1940, 54 Stat. 1172, 1174, 8 U.S.C. §§ 904, 906, 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 904, 906.
'Sec. 347. (a) Nothing contained in * * * chapter V (including § 504 which expressly repealed § 2 of the Act of 1907) of this Act, unless otherwise provided therein, shall be construed to affect the validity of any declaration of intention, petition for naturalization, certificate of naturalization or of citizenship, or other document or proceeding which shall be valid at the time this Act shall take effect; or to affect any prosecution, suit, action, or proceedings, civil or criminal, brought, or any act, thing, or matter, civil or criminal, done or existing, at the time this Act shall take effect; but as to all such prosecutions, suits, actions, proceedings, acts things, or matters, the statutes or parts of statutes repealed by this Act, are hereby continued in force and effect.' 54 Stat. 1168, 8 U.S.C. § 747(a), 8 U.S.C.A. § 747(a).
Section 504 also included the following clause: 'The repeal herein provided shall not terminate nationality heretofore lawfully acquired, nor restore nationality heretofore lost under any law of the United States or any treaty to which the United States may have been a party.' 54 Stat. 1174, 8 U.S.C. § 904, 8 U.S.C.A. § 904.
Section 403(a) of the Act of 1940 (see note 2, supra) may apply to antecedent naturalizations and oaths of allegiance, as well as to future ones. 'A statute is not made retroactive merely because it draws upon antecedent facts for its operation.' Cox v. Hart, 260 U.S. 427, 435, 43 S.Ct. 154, 157, 67 L.Ed. 332. See also, Reynolds v. United States, 292 U.S. 443, 54 S.Ct. 800, 78 L.Ed. 1353; United States v. Bradley, 7 Cir., 83 F.2d 483; United States ex rel. Rojak v. Marshall, D.C.W.D.Pa., 34 F.2d 219; 39 Op.Atty.Gen. 474 (1937—1940).
Where 'permanent residence' was intended, the statute used that term. E.g., §§ 308 and 407 of the Act of 1940, 54 Stat. 1143, 1170, 8 U.S.C. §§ 708, 807, 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 708, 807.
If the test is to be made under the saving clause quoted in note 20, supra, that may mean that the need and character of her residence are to be determined under the Act of 1907. Under the contention of the Department of Justice no residence abroad would be required. Under the practice of the Department of State some residence abroad would be required. 3 Hackworth, Digest of International Law §§ 242—250 (1942). But we believe that the provisions of §§ 403(a) and 104 of the Act of 1940 substantially reflect the requirements of that residence.