Court Opinion

ID: 9463432
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:07:00.774763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:06.813766
License: Public Domain

GIBSON, Chief Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I find the Government’s decision to bring deportation proceedings against petitioner to be based upon a hypertechnical interpretation of our immigration laws, which exhibits gross insensitivity to a resident alien of twenty years and to his large family of United States citizens.
In drafting the statute applied to effect petitioner’s deportation, Congress expressed the clear intent to ameliorate “the harsh results” which had previously befallen resident aliens. Rosenberg v. Fleuti, 374 U.S. 449, 458, 83 S.Ct. 1804, 10 L.Ed.2d 1000 (1963). In recognition of this ameliorative intent, the Supreme Court has refused to fossilize the term “entry” as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(13) (1970) by rigid definition. Instead, it has preferred a flexible approach, which permits a court faced with a question of interpretation of “entry” under § 1101(a)(13) to consider and balance a variety of relevant factors. “Given that the congressional protection of returning resident aliens in [§ 1101(a)(13)] is not to be woodenly construed”, the Court declined to reduce these factors to a closed or definitive list and left the development of other possibly relevant factors to the “gradual process of judicial inclusion and exclusion.” Rosenberg v. Fleuti, 374 U.S. at 460, 462, 83 S.Ct. 1804, 1811, 1812. The most significant factor to be so added since Fleuti has been that of the impact of deportation upon a particular alien. In recent decisions, a consideration of the effect of deportation upon an individual has been deemed integral to a proper implementation of our immigration laws either explicitly, Lozano-Giron v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 506 F.2d 1073, 1077-78 (7th Cir. 1974), or sub silentio, Vargas-Banuelos v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 466 F.2d 1371 (5th Cir. 1972); Yanez-Jacquez v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 440 F.2d 701 (5th Cir. 1971).
The Supreme Court has recognized that “[t]he stakes are indeed high and momentous for the alien who has acquired his residence here”, Rosenberg v. Fleuti, 374 U.S. at 458, 83 S.Ct. at 1810, quoting Delgadillo v. Carmichael, 332 U.S. 388, 391, 68 S.Ct. 10, 92 L.Ed. 17 (1947). In light of the legislative history of § 1101(a)(13) and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of this provision, I believe that a consideration of the effect of deportation upon a particular alien is a factor that should be considered in determining whether an “entry” has been effected. This is especially imperative where, as here, it was unnecessary to procure travel documents and there is no evidence of any intent to leave the country for more than a brief interlude, such as an hour for lunch, or of a meaningful departure. Concededly there was no intention on petitioner’s part to abandon his alien residency of many years when he crossed the Mexican border for lunch.
The potential effect of deportation in the present case is indeed lamentable. In departing from this country, Longoria-Castenada will leave behind him eight children, all United States citizens, a wife who is a lawful permanent resident alien and the employment whereby he has successfully supported this large family. Petitioner committed an offense for which he was duly punished. I am dismayed at the Government’s decision to parlay a one hour lunch trip across the border into the basis of the instant deportation proceedings. The instigation of these proceedings epitomizes *239a mechanical and inhumane application of our immigration laws.
I agree with the majority that the facts of this case pertaining to petitioner’s intent are distinguishable from those underlying other decisions where no “entry” was found. I do not believe, however, that § 1101(a)(13) requires that petitioner’s intent be weighed more heavily than other relevant factors. A balancing of all relevant factors, including the impact of deportation upon petitioner, convinces me that the order of deportation here is inconsonant with both the letter and spirit of our immigration laws.
I would reverse the deportation order.