Opinion ID: 1507360
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Self-Incrimination Privilege

Text: Appellant strongly contends that an alien may invoke the privilege against self-incrimination in deportation proceedings. In a proper case, we assume the privilege would be applicable. United States ex rel. Vajtauer v. Commissioner, supra. However, for the rule of privilege relied upon to be applicable under the facts in the case at bar, the privilege of refusing to answer would have to rest upon a showing that an answer would involve the claimant in tangible danger of conviction of a Federal offense. United States v. Murdock, 1931, 284 U.S. 141, 52 S.Ct. 63, 76 L.Ed. 210, 82 A.L.R. 1376. [14] None of appellant's acts of sexual perversion involved, nor is it claimed that they involved, a violation of any Federal statute. Under the circumstances of this case the claim of privilege here asserted lacks merit. Furthermore, the privilege against incriminating himself (as to the New York offense against a seven year old girl, long since outlawed, and also as to the 1943 Los Angeles offense) was clearly waived when appellant made the claimed incriminatory statements to the investigating inspector voluntarily and under oath after he was carefully advised by the inspector that they might be used in subsequent deportation or criminal proceedings against him. [15] After a hearing on the petition for the writ of habeas corpus, the lower court made and entered Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and it is sufficient to say that they proclaim the fairness and regularity of the deportation proceedings and provide full support for the order deporting Schoeps to Germany. The decision of the court rests upon a record replete with sustaining evidence of a substantial, convincing, and compelling character, and the order discharging the writ of habeas corpus is affirmed.