C-C-Y

9 I. & N. Dec. 225
CourtBoard of Immigration Appeals
DecidedJuly 1, 1961
Docket1129
StatusPublished

This text of 9 I. & N. Dec. 225 (C-C-Y) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Board of Immigration Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
C-C-Y, 9 I. & N. Dec. 225 (bia 1961).

Opinion

MATTEn or C C Y

In DEPORTATION Proceedings

A-10436785

Decided by Board February 28,1961 Fair hearing—Deportation proceedings—Defects in original hearing cured by valid reopened hearing—Privilege against self-incrimination waived 1 ...y vol- untary pre-hearing statement—Validity of warrant of arrest unaffected by withdrawal of deportation order and reopening of proceedings. (1) Defects in original deportation hearing in 1954 which may have arisen from failure to inform respondent of right to counsel and to provide an in- terpreter were cured when the proceedings were reopened in 1959 and the respondent was accorded a further hearing satisfying the requirements of due process. (2) Respondent is not entitled to invoke the privilege against self-incrimina- tion in respect to pre-hearing statement which was voluntarily given to Service investigating officer; such statement was admissible in evidence at the deportation hearing, although the special inquiry officer excluded It from the record. (3) The warrant of arrest which initiated the deportation action in 1954 re- mained effective as authority for respondent's detention, despite withdrawal in 1959 of the original order of deportation and subsequent reopening of the proceedings. See 309 F.2d 857 (1962). CH.MIGE : Warrant : Act of 1052 Section 241 (a ) (11) [8 U.S.C. 1251(a) (11)] —Con- victed of law relating to illicit traffic in narcotic drugs: Title 26, U.S.C., sections 2553 and 2557 (unlawful sale of heroin); and Title 21, U.S.C., section 174 (unlawful concealment of heroin).

BEFORE THE BOARD

DISCUSSION: Tn our decision of

225 654377-63-1e 1906, as a merchant's son. He has resided in the United States continuously since that entry, with two trips to China. Respond- ent's immigration and entry documents, protested as inadmissible by counsel, establish that he last entered the United States at San Francisco, California, on July 28, 1926. The special inquiry officer found respondent deportable on the charge stated in the warrant of arrest and ordered his deportation to China. The hearing under the warrant charge began on September 15, 1954, at the United States Penitentiary, McNeil Island, Washington, after which the special inquiry officer ordered respondent's deporta- tion. Respondent was not represented by counsel and filed no appeal from the special inquiry officer's order. Therefore, the record was not transcribed. Shortly before his scheduled release from that institution, counsel appeared and asked to see a record of respond- ent's hearing. The record was transcribed on August 19, 1959, after which the examining officer recommended that the hearing be reopened because of errors in procedure. The examining officer's motion of August 20, 1959, stated that the record of the first hearing did not indicate that at the time of hearing the respondent was informed of his right to counsel, nor was he asked any questions with regard to his ability to understand the English language. On the same day, August 20, 1959, the special inquiry officer, stat- ing that the procedural defects reached the question of essential fairness, granted the motion for reopening. Counsel appeals on the ground that the motion of the examining officer and the order of the special inquiry officer granting the re- opening do not comply with the requirements of Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, section 11 (now section 103.5)? The objection is not well taken for two reasons. First, counsel has repeatedly requested a "fair hearing" and "due process," which the order to reopen was designed to guarantee. Respondent had no cause to oppose the reopening which was designed to benefit him. He suf- fered no damage from the fact that the motion and order were served on the same date. Counsel was granted several delays and postponements thereafter. Second, if counsel had desired to oppose the reopening, he had an opportunity to do so when the hearing was reconvened at Seattle, Washington, on September 1, 1959. He did not oppose the reopening and, in fact, stated, "As I understand it, the warrant of arrest which was served on the respondent was served prior to the time that orders to show cause were used, and for that reason we would like at this time to consent on behalf of the respondent to proceed under the current regulations." Counsel's only request at that time was that the reopened hearing be not eon-

1 8 CFR 103.5 provides: The party opposing the motion shall have 10 days from the date of service thereof within which he may submit a brief.

226 fined to what happened at the first (1954) hearing, and to this request the, special inquiry officer assented. Counsel again consented to continue with the hearing when he stated that he waived any -further explanation through the interpreter of respondent's rights, inasmuch as they had advised him of rights. Counsel further waived - the reading and explaining to respondent of the warrant of arrest, in that it also had been explained to him through the interpreter. Not having objected to the reopening on September 1, 1959, as a "party opposing the motion" and having consented to proceeding with the hearings, counsel cannot now raise the issue on appeal. Counsel appeals on the ground that the hearing of September 18, 1954, and all proceedings thereunder are invalid. Counsel points -again to the fact that the Immigration Service did not provide an interpreter at the first hearing (1954), and that the record does not show the special inquiry officer advised appellant of his right to counsel. The warrant of arrest states, "The alien was then in formed as to cause of arrest, the conditions of release, advised as to right of counsel and furnished with a copy of this warrant" (emphasis supplied), and it is signed by the investigator who served the warrant on respondent on August 18, 1954. However, the hearing was reopened twice, once by the Service and once by.us, and the evidence taken in the first hearing was ignored by • the special inquiry officer and all documentary evidence introduced there has been reintroduced, over objections of counsel. Counsel appeals on the ground that the warrant of arrest was not served upon the warden of the penitentiary. The warrant of arrest shows service upon respondent and the record will not neces- sarily indicate service upon the warden. Service upon the warden is for the convenience of the Immigration Service, to alert the warden to the interest of the Immigration Service in the case, and to assure that the prisoner will be turned over to the Service upon release from the institution. Respondent is not "incompetent" to understand the nature of the proceedings against him in the sense that mentally deficient or insane persons are considered to be in- competent and in 'need of protection. The warrant shows service upon respondent, and respondent's rights were protected, at least from September 1, 1959, through the present time.

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9 I. & N. Dec. 225, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/c-c-y-bia-1961.