Opinion ID: 1182697
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: (3) The Huergas Immigration Matter

Text: Crispin and Zenaida Huergas retained petitioner on May 17, 1972, to represent them in obtaining permanent resident status. Petitioner made attempts to obtain the desired status for Crispin, but on December 7, 1972, the service ordered Crispin deported. Zenaida testified petitioner advised her to divorce Crispin, marry an American citizen and, after she got her permanent status, divorce again and remarry Crispin. Zenaida thereafter arranged to marry Jesse Almanza. According to Zenaida, petitioner informed Almanza the marriage was to last only until Zenaida obtained permanent status. On January 15, 1973, the Huergas divorce became final; Zenaida married Almanza that same day. Petitioner then prepared and filed documents with the service, alleging Zenaida and her spouse were lawful husband and wife. Zenaida testified she paid Almanza $500, on petitioner's advice, to assure Almanza's cooperation in appearing with her at an Immigration and Naturalization Service interview. Zenaida was granted conditional permanent status after testifying she was then living with Almanza and she and Crispin had divorced because of long standing marital problems. She later acknowledged she had lied under oath in an effort to conceal from the service the sham nature of her marriage to Almanza. During the course of further Immigration and Naturalization Service proceedings, it was disclosed Zenaida had suffered a prior felony conviction in the Philippines. Zenaida testified that petitioner advised her this fact was an obstacle to obtaining permanent resident status, and that they would have to buy the trial attorney in order to assure a favorable result from the service. Zenaida further testified that she paid petitioner a total of $1,100 for purported bribes of service employees, and that petitioner represented the money would be so used. There is no evidence petitioner paid money to immigration authorities, as bribes or otherwise. As in the Abellana matter, the board found the State Bar had failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence petitioner advised his clients to obtain a divorce or advised Zenaida marry a United States citizen in order to obtain permanent resident status. However, the board found petitioner knowingly submitted a false application on behalf of Zenaida to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. We are persuaded, based on the record before us, the disciplinary board made proper findings in the Huergas matter.