Hamburg-American Line v. Elting

73 F.2d 272, 1934 U.S. App. LEXIS 2665, 1935 A.M.C. 36

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: November 5, 1934
• Docket: No. 29
• Status: Published

Opinions

MANTON, Circuit Judge.

The appellee sued the appellant, collector of customs, to recover a $1,000 fine, imposed on it by the Secretary of Labor because it transported to the United States an immigrant not in possession of an immigration visa. The alien, a German, embarked at Hamburg October 14, 1926, without having in his possession either an immigration visa or a re-entry permit. He did have a letter from the Commissioner General of Immigration, dated August 19, 1926, stating that a re-entry permit had been issued to him on May 4,1926,.and had been mailed to his home in New Jersey. The alien had applied April 13, 1926, for a re-entry permit, and, without receiving it, left the United States May 5, 1926, returning October 28th, at which time the permit could not be found. The alien was detained on Ellis Island until December 4, 1926. It is said that a thorough search was made for the permit. He was excluded from admission' by the board of special inquiry pursuant to section 13 (a) (1) of the 1924 Immigration Act (8 USC § 213 (a) (1), 8 USCA § 213(a) (1), because he had neither his re-entry permit nor an immigration visa. An appeal to the Secretary of Labor resulted in an affirmance. However, his deportation was stayed until December 15th. The ease was reopened for the purpose of permitting the alien to identify himself as the person who had applied for the permit. At the rehearing on November 20, 1926, he satisfied the board of special inquiry that he was the person who made the application for re-entry. Again the board excluded the alien, but, on December 1, 1926, his appeal was sustained, and he was admitted by the Secretary oil Labor under section 13(b) of the 1921 Immigration Act (8 USCA § 213 (b).

The appellee was afforded an opportunity to present its defenses to the fine imposed under section 16 of the Immigration Act of 1924 (8 USC § 216 [8 USCA § 216]), and protested against the imposition of the fine, alleging that the re-entry permit had been issued and possibly lost, but that the alien had a letter showing that it had in fact been issued to him. The quesfion presented on this appeal is whether that constituted a defense which should have been accepted by the Secretary of Labor.

The Secretary of Labor may impose a fine against a steamship line which unlawfully brings into the United States an alien who does not have an nnexpired immigration visa. 8 USC § 216(a), 8 USCA § 216(a). This fine is to be paid to fho collector of customs when imposed. 8 USC § 216(h), 8 USCA § 216(b). An unexpired re-entry permit is the equivalent of an immigrafion visa as referred to in section 16. Hamburg-American Line v. United States, 291 U. S. 420, 54 S. Ct. 491, 78 L. Ed. 887.

Must the immigrant have his visa or reentry permit in his possession to present to the immigration officials upon his arrival, or is it sufficient to show merely that a re-entry permit had been issued to him? Is a letter from the Commissioner General of Immigration stating that such permit had been issued equivalent to a permit for the purposes of section 36?

Of course, the purpose of requiring an immigration visa or re-entry permit is to facilitate the arrival of the immigrant and avoid investigation in verifying the right of the immigrant to admission. It is evidence of his permissive entry. Specific sections of the immigration law and the regulations made thereunder should be read and construed so as to be a useful and effective part of the whole. Lloyd Royal Belge Societe Anonyme v. Elting, 61 F.(2d) 745 (C. C. A. 2). An elaborate system for the identification of arriving immigrants has been established, and immigrants are required to possess, and to present to the immigation officials, immigration visas. Section 13(a), 8 USC § 213(a), 8 USCA § 233(a). An immigrant once lawfully in the country, who is returning from a temporary visit abroad, may present a reentry permit in place of the visa. Section 13(b), 8 USC § 213(b), 8 USCA § 213(b); paragraph 3, subd. F, and paragraph 2, subd. I, of rule 3, Immigration Rules of January 1, 3.930. The visa specifies the nationality of the immigrant, whether he is a quota or non-quota, the date on which the validity of the visa expires, etc. (Section 2(a), 8 USC § 202(a), 8 USCA § 202(a); a photograph must be attached to it (section 2(b), 8 USC § 202(b), 8 USCA § 202(b); and the photograph is also required on the re-entry permit, and, in addition, a description of the color of Ms eyes and hair and Ms height, etc., are attached (section 2(h), 8 USC § 202 (b), 8 USCA § 202(b); section 10(c), 8 USC § 210(c), 8 USCA § 210(c).

The failure to have an immigration re-entry permit on arrival may bo due to many causes — its nonexistence, loss, unlawful use by another, and perhaps others. The immigration officials would he at a loss as to whieh. The failure to have it in any case is a failure to comply with the requirements of the immigration law. For the officials to be compelled to make investigation and ascertain the reason for its nonproduetion is imposing a burden upon them. Congress intended to avoid this result by section 16 of the 1924 Immigration Act (8 USC § 216 [8 USCA § 216]). In no section of the Immigration Law is provision made for a substitution of any other paper for a re-entry permit or an immigration visa. Either one is sufficient but one or the other is required. Hamburg-American Line v. United States, 291 U. S. 420, 425, 54 S. Ct. 491, 78 L. Ed. 887.

The production of a letter indicating that one had been issued is insufficient. The letter does not specify the necessary facts for identification as the law requires; namely, the immigrant’s photograph, his signature, and his physical description. It is but an attempted substitute for the necessary visa or permit and is insufficient within the requirements of the statute.

Judgment reversed.