Hempel v. Weedin

23 F.2d 949, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 954
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedJanuary 23, 1928
Docket12043
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 23 F.2d 949 (Hempel v. Weedin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hempel v. Weedin, 23 F.2d 949, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 954 (W.D. Wash. 1928).

Opinion

CUSHMAN, District Judge.

In April, 1927, petitioner was, upon a warrant of the Assistant Secretary of Labor, arrested, the charge being that he was found in the United States in violation of the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917 (8 USCA). In May, after a hearing conducted by an immigrant inspector in which the only testimony taken was that of the petitioner, his deportation was recommended. In June a board of review made the following recommendation:

“ * * * This alien, male, aged 37, married, native and citizen of Germany, of the German race, arrived at New York November 16, 1923, ex S. S. President Roosevelt, and was admitted on primary inspection. He has been released on bond. Alien was granted a hearing at Seattle, Washing *950 ton, May 4, 1927, by Immigrant Inspector Joseph H. Gee.
“This ease came to the attention of the Immigration Service through information hy a representative of the staff of the German Consul General at Seattle, who reports that alien had been convicted of embezzlement in Germany. Alien admits that he was convicted for misappropriating money, but he claims that he restored all the money he took and was pardoned after serving eighteen months. He also claims that he told the American consul in Berlin of his conviction and pardon prior to the issuance of his visé. Even though the alien’s statement that he has been pardoned be true, yet, under the decision of the court in the case of United States ex rel. Palermo v. Smith, 17 F.(2d) 534, the alien is subject to deportation. In the case cited, the Circuit Court of Appeals held that that part of section 19 of the Immigration Act of 1917 exempting from deportation those aliens who had been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude and were later pardoned only applied to aliens who had been convicted in this country and pardoned. In view of this fact, and the admission of the alien that he has been convicted abroad, deportation appears mandatory.
“Considered and recommended that alien be deported to Germany at the expense of the steamship company, on the grounds: That he is in the U. S. in violation of the Act of February 5, 1917, in that he has been convicted of or admits having committed a felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude prior to entry into the United States, to wit, theft; and that he was 'a person likely to become a public charge.”

Upon the foregoing report petitioner’s deportation was ordered by the assistant to the Secretary. A rehearing was asked by the petitioner to introduce documentary evidence of his pardon of the offense committed by him in Germany, which rehearing was denied, and the petitioner is held for deportation. Upon the return of the order to show cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not issue discharging petitioner, a certificate showing full pardon of such offense was introduced. The fact of such pardon has not been questioned. The sole question for decision, is as to the effect of the pardon. This is shown by the recommendation of the board of review. Comp. St. § 4289%jj (8 USCA §’ 155), provides for the deportation of:

“ * * * Except as hereinafter provided, any alien who is hereafter sentenced to imprisonment for a term of one year or more because of conviction in this country of a crime involving moral turpitude, committed within five years after the entry of the alien to the United States, or who is hereafter sentenced more than once to such a term of imprisonment because of conviction in this country of any crime involving moral turpitude, committed at any time after entry; * * * any alien who was convicted, or who admits the commission, prior to entry, of a felony or other crime or misdemeanor-involving moral turpitude. * * * ”

The second proviso of section 19 of the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917, 39 Stat. at Large, • c. 29, pp. 874, 889, 890-(Comp. Stat. Supp. 1919, § 4289%jj), provides :

“ * * * Provided further, that the provision of this section respecting the deportation of aliens convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude shall not apply to one who has been pardoned, nor shall such deportation be made or directed if the court, or judge thereof, sentencing such alien for such crime shall, at the time of imposing judgment or passing sentence or within thirty days thereafter, due notice having first been given to representatives of the state, make a recommendation to the Secretary of Labor that such alien shall not be deported in pursuance of this act.”

Respondent’s contention is:

“ * * * The entire context of the second proviso shows plainly that it relates solely to aliens convicted of crimes committed after entry into the United States, and has no application to the tenth clause of the section. In this connection attention is invited to the opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in the case of United States ex rel. Palermo v. Smith, decided February 7, 1927, 17 F.(2d) 534.”

Petitioner cites Mast v. Stover, etc., 177 U. S. 485, 20 S. Ct. 708, 44 L. Ed. 856, 858; 20 R. C. L. 558; Ex parte Garland, 4 Wall. 333, 18 L. Ed. 366; Young v. United States, 97 U. S. 39, 24 L. Ed. 992; Ill. Central R. Co. v. Bosworth, 133 U. S. 92, 10 S. Ct. 231, 33 L. Ed. 550; Jones v. Alcorn County, 56 Miss. 766, 31 Am. Rep. 385; Rison v. Farr, 24 Ark. 161, 87 Am. Dec. 52; Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U. S. 113, 16 S. Ct. 139, 40 L. Ed. 95, 108; 29 Cyc. 1565. Respondent cites Ex parte Riley (D. C.) 17 F.(2d) 646; United States ex rel. Palermo v. Smith (C. C. A.) 17 F.(2d) 534.

Full disclosure of petitioner’s conviction in Germany, and pardon, it appears, was made by him to the United States consul in Berlin. While the board of review states, *951 “He (petitioner) also claims that he told the American consul in Berlin of his conviction and pardon, prior to the issuance of his visé,” the fact that he did so does not appear to be seriously questioned. The testimony given after his arrest concerning this matter is detailed, specific, and withal convincing. In this testimony he states that ho furnished the American consul in Berlin a police certificate relating to his conviction. While he does not so state, it is to be concluded that the record of his pardon was covered by the certificate; otherwise it ddcs not appear reasonable that he would have obtained the visé. The pardon shows that petitioner was sentenced by the Circuit Court of Prankfurt A/Oder. It is also to be noted that on June 17, thirteen days before the date of the board’s recommendation, that Commissioner Weedin wrote the Commissioner General of Immigration:

“If any official document having reference to the matter was filed with the American consul, it is probably attached to the immigration visó, which should be in tho files of the Naturalization Bureau at Washington, and to which reference may be had if the point is considered material.”

There has been no showing that such papers as those mentioned were not attached to the “immigration” visé.

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Bluebook (online)
23 F.2d 949, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 954, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hempel-v-weedin-wawd-1928.