Legal Document

376 U.S. 560 84 Supreme Court Reporter 833 11 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 911 Ivan MRVICA, Petitioner,v.P. Atlantic ESPERDY, District Director, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Number 353. Argued March 5, 1964. Decided 30, Edith Lowenstein, New York City, for petitioner. Richard W. Schmude, Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. Justice HARLAN delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case involves construction provisions § 249 Nationality Act, 66 Statutes-at-Large 163, 219, 8 Code KF62 1259, which in certain circumstances permits an alien illegally this country to apply a record lawful admission into permanent residence. 2 The petitioner is native citizen Yugoslavia, who entered under temporary landing permit January 1940,1 as nonimmigrant crewman attached merchant ship. He remained beyond period allowed by without permission until September 4, 1942, when warrant his deportation was issued. Soon thereafter, he signed member crew Yugoslav ship about depart from States. sailed with petitionr on board October 6, and, after calling at several ports Chile, returned December 19, 1942. detained days, but then go ashore medical treatment.2 has not left since. 3 In 1951, new proceedings were instituted against petitioner, whose presence apparently had meanwhile gone unnoticed immigration authorities. again found subject granted privilege voluntary departure. decision hearing officer affirmed Assistant Commissioner, order became final 22, 1954, Board Appeals dismissing petitioner's appeal. Other followed, ultimately resulted 1959 that be deported Yugoslavia. application status resident Act denied ground, explained more fully below, departure 1942 made him ineligible such discretionary relief because it deprived prerequisite continuous residence since 1940. 1960 brought action review administrative ruling declaratory judgment eligible 249. summary respondent, 202 F.Supp. 214, affirmed, 317 Federal Reporter, 2nd 220. We certiorari, 375 894, 171, 123, now affirm rulings below. 4 Section provides: 5 'A may, discretion Attorney General regulations may prescribe, any alien, date approval or, if entry occurred prior July 1, 19 entry, no otherwise available shall satisfy inadmissible section 212(a) insofar relates criminals, procurers other immoral persons, subversives, violators narcotic laws or smugglers aliens, establishes he— 6 '(a) June 28, 1940; 7 '(b) continuously entry; '(c) person good moral character; '(d) citizenship.' 72 546, amending 1259.3 9 It agreed both sides satisfies all specified criteria except requirement question whether absence months thereafter defeat claim here 10 been earnestly ably pressed before us, concedes ordered 'executed' deportation. There can doubt latter point correct. Legislation applicable provided '* * States, considered have pursuance law, irrespective source expenses transportation defrayed place departed.' 1929, 1(b), 45 1551, (1940 ed.) 180(b).4 Any possible import provision removed H.R.Rep.No. 2418, 70th Cong., Sess., follows: 'Owing inadequacy appropriations enforcement existing Department Labor has, many cases, issued, refrained executing deporting expense appropriation, might deported, upon condition voluntarily, own expense, leave Some exists so departing 'deported.' Subsection (b) bill (the quoted above) therefore removes providing cases law.' 12 thus properly treated Service, officials marked prepared papers, including 'Description Person Deported,' recording manner accomplished. document also noted Yugoslavian passport.5 13 challenges none above. pitches argument statutory definition 'residence' 'the general abode; abode means principal, actual dwelling fact, regard intent.' 101(a) (33), 170, 1101(a)(33). argues statute makes observable that, basis, throughout voyage must taken having points various surrounding which, argues, establish 'residence,' defined above, interrupted although physically absent voyage. 14 facts relies are two kinds. first typical indicia maintenance bank account continued membership domestic union. More weight, however, placed inclusion 'Ninth Proviso clause,' provided: 15 'If returns time inspection bona fide seaman entitled shore leave, deportation, 9th February 1917, reference ground inadmissibility hereby authorized admitted seaman.' 16 clause, included pursuant authority,6 relieved combined effect making arrest basis exclusion7 depriving exclusion privileges.8 suggests due wartime conditions Yugoslavia impossible reality formality fiction, everyone involved understanding, clause' said attest, would readmitted returned. 17 contradicts what plainly shown record. nothing endorsement its 'execution,' subsequent indicate purported be. No reason suggested why authorities should through meaningless ritual purpose ameliorative clause indicates, anything, intended resident; conditioned finding 'a leave' only 'for 18 Once these arguments laid rest, proper disposition clear unavoidable. By express legislative directive, present purposes regarded think dispute one does continue here, whatever significance factors valid early case, stated: 'The method enforcing return complied performance government nation, acting within constitutional authority, departments, determined continuing reside depend.' Fong Yue Ting versus 149 698, 730, 1016, 1028, 37 L.Ed. 905. 20 quite consider re-entry year felony,9 nevertheless continues country. 21 obvious terminate defy common understanding disregard intent we hold achieved instance. 22 affirmed. 23 Affirmed. 24 GOLDBERG, whom BLACK DOUGLAS join, dissenting. 25 Congress humanely designed 1952, amended August 8, 1958, General, satisfied, regularize categories aliens Among prerequisites obtaining status—' registry' commonly termed—are (1) 1940, (2) (3) character. 26 acknowledges satisfied character statute. holds, considered, matter aboard vessel S.S. Dubravka round trip half months' duration between California Chile. 27 difficulty Court's conclusion rests, & N Dec. Decisions show, entirely legal fiction. am unwilling attribute Congress, enacting remedial long-res dent country, deport them fictions refuted facts. 28 relies, directed Government concedes, indeed must, 'practical impossibility' midst war. overrun occupied enemy forces. Petitioner could been, Great Britain seat exile. while seamen stranded during war, not. actually executed way. itself shows foreign returning 'executed,' official scribbled face 'Reshipped.'1 caused typed printed word 'Executed' warrant, 'October 6th, Jogo Slav MS Dubravka.' contains following telegram agents Service Commissioner Naturalization: 29 'Ellis Island, N.Y.H., 21, 1942—99563/665. 30 'Immigration 31 'Philadelphia, Pa. 32 'ATWAR Mrvica RESHIPPED. 33 'W. Judge Zucker, 34 'Acting Director 35 'New 36 'By 'J. CHRISTOPHERSON 38 'Inspector Charge 39 'Law Division' confirmed 40 reshipped ex Dubravka, San Pedro, California. Original appropriately executed, attached.c 41 light occurred, there support that: 'There be.' Ante, 567. On contrary, clearly accordance terms warrant. Equally untenable Government's taking single brief round-trip South America terminated States: 'because boarded flew flag once resumed former His fact ship.' 42 refutes view 'physical presence' abandoned American residence.2 statute, 101(a)(33) states 'term *.' ship; 'place abode' where Ever overstayed sought remain aim never deviated country.3 ing departed mere remembered privately owned flying flag, part allied marine effective control 43 Of course knowingly voluntarily leaves avoid consequences enforced will deemed 'left States,' meaning 180(b). like Law, 'cannot 'mechanically applied," Costello 120, 130, 580, 586, situation where, negate 44 show advised notified being shipped vessel. To contrary shows, language officer, 'reshipped.c Nor did 'voluntarily.' frankly states, known, shortage used insure 'ship foreign,' i.e., ships. imply criticism efforts man needed ships exigencies do maintain, 'voluntarily' 'reshipped.' knew sailed, moreover, prevailing limited itinerary voyage, shortly Indeed itself, given permission, notwithstanding alleged receive returning.4 Under circumstances, my gave up States.5 Since cannot, 101, 'as For one's 'actual fact' physical short nor 'intent' here—an merely 'reshipped §§ Dubravka.'6 view, u der 101 follows met registry. 46 decided less than ago, 'in specific history extend fiction relationback concept) similarly long-time afforded himself shipping, encouragement, two-and-a-half-month Rosenberg Fleuti, 374 449, 83 1804, 1000, refused construe 'entry' mechanically impute 'to exclude long stepped across international border 'about couple hours." Id., 461, 1812, 1000. Here, too, refuse define intent, humane 249, almost quarter century. exact uncertain. Both parties state their briefs 1952. issued 25, established brief, came 'by sailing,' Brief Page presumably contained discussed hereafter. preceded later testified special ill, officer. Which grounds is, reasons appearing later, immaterial case. 1958 amendment inter alia, applying 'subject deportation.' Compare 219 546. change indicates favorable situation. But humanitarian motives prompted reach concerned residence, untouched amendment. enactment excluding felony enter attempt 1(a), 180(a). carried forward current generally. 101(g), 173, 1101(g). foundation suggestion kind called 'reshipment' executi g outstanding order. signing it. notation 'Reshipped' scrawled pencil back unidentified unknown purpose, appears underneath warrant's execution Inspector. (More relevant connection name appear blank 'steamer deported'—italics added—on Deported.') recently hearing. Just month deported. those scarcely maintained understand (Any doubts score assuredly cleared detention return.) Indeed, discussion seems beside concession (If managed execute undeported, able improve leaving untenable.) (T)he Secretary issue rules prescribe conditions, exaction bonds necessary, regulate admission.' 3, 875, 878, 136(q). Similar inc uded 212(d)(3), 187, 1182(d) (3). 180(a), 212(a)(17), 276, 183, 229, 1182(a)(17), 1326. 1(c), 180(c). related 252(a), 220, 1282(a). statement 'made *,' difficult understand. 564, n. 5. exclusive possession Government. That provides term intent. Residence sections 1482 1484 title continuity stay necessarily uninterrupted outside States.' concealed authorities, either registered selective service times willing, oath hearing, 'fight Government.' brother relatives States; wife children, regularly sends $200 pending visa awaiting regularization join here. correctly constitute 'an invitation' return. does, confirm aware While ship, ties union membership. contention ship,' cites number statutes, May 9, 1918, 542, giving credit serves 'three years fishing vessels questions power grant credit. statutes converts 'his fact.'

Classification Label: 1