Petition for Naturalization of Millan

266 F. Supp. 545, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8405
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedApril 13, 1967
DocketNo. 275361
StatusPublished

This text of 266 F. Supp. 545 (Petition for Naturalization of Millan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Petition for Naturalization of Millan, 266 F. Supp. 545, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8405 (C.D. Cal. 1967).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION

FERGUSON, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court as a final hearing upon a petition for naturalization pursuant to 8 U.S.C.A. § 1447.

The petitioner is a native of the Republic of Mexico who entered the United States in 1949 and has never been admitted for permanent residence.

On March 24, 1964, and April 3, 1964, hearings were held before a special inquiry officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in regard to deportation proceedings against petitioner.

An order of deportation was entered against him, and on April 5, 1965, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed. Millan-Garcia v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 343 F.2d 825 (9th Cir. 1965).

Thereupon the petitioner petitioned for a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which Court, on November 8, 1965, in a per curiam opinion (382 U.S. 69, 86 S.Ct. 247, 15 L.Ed.2d 144), directed as follows:

“The motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and the petition for writ of certiorari are granted. The judgment is vacated and the case is remanded to the Court of Appeals upon examination of the entire record and in light of the representations of the Solicitor General that the petitioner will be afforded an opportunity to apply for citizenship and that there will be no deportation proceedings until such determination.”

On January 11, 1966, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its order directing the petitioner be granted an opportunity to file his petition for naturalization with the District Court.

On January 31, 1966, the petitioner filed his petition for naturalization, and on February 17, 1966, and March 14, 1966, a preliminary examination was conducted by an officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Pursuant to 8 U.S.C.A. § 1446(d) a recommendation to deny the petition and the reasons therefor were submitted to the Court.

The Court received into evidence the oral testimony of the petitioner, and that of Glen Michael and Rose Uylhara, who were favorable to the petitioner. The petitioner examined under oath Brian H. Simpson of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, who had conducted the administrative hearings in regard to the naturalization proceedings. In addition, the Court received into evidence (1) the petitioner’s military service record; (2) the transcript of the preliminary examinations conducted on February 17, 1966, and March 14, 1966; (3) the transcript of the deportation proceedings held on March 24, 1964, and April 3, 1964; and (4) the application to file a petition for naturalization, dated January 31, 1966.

The only serious challenge of the petitioner to the introduction of evidence was in regard to the transcript of the hearing at the deportation proceedings. He objects to the introduction of the transcript for the reason that at that hearing he was not represented by counsel and the Government failed to appoint counsel to represent him. The objection is fully answered by the Ninth Circuit in [547]*547the deportation proceedings and need not be discussed further here. Millan-Garcia v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 343 F.2d 825 (9th Cir. 1965).

Preliminarily it should be stated that the hearing before the Court was a final hearing in accordance with 8 U.S.C.A. § 1447(b), and the Court has arrived at its judgment independently of any findings and recommendations of the naturalization examiner.

The threshold of the petitioner’s difficulties with the Government over his deportation and naturalization concern his involvement with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, the July 26th Movement, the Socialist Workers Party and the Young Socialist Alliance, and his association or contacts with individuals known or suspected to have Communist Party affiliation. The Government does not develop the involvement and association by independent witnesses, but instead chooses to rely on the testimony of the petitioner given under oath at the various proceedings before the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The petitioner explained to the Court that he has now changed his political beliefs, and states that he is in favor of the “United States type of government because it is more democratic”. He testified that when he learned that Castro was a Communist he “thought very hard about it”. His acquaintances were not helpful to him, but in time “I alone changed my mind about Castro during the missile crisis. If he wasn’t a Communist, he had gone too far in his ties with Russia.”

During the deportation proceedings, petitioner stated that in the event of armed conflict between the United States and any Spanish-speaking country, he would not bear arms against such a country. He now states that he would bear arms without any reservation.

In summary, he states that in 1964 during his deportation proceedings he was in a mixed-up state of mind in regard to his loyalty to the United States; he “didn’t know where he stood”. He states that now he knows that his loyalty is with this country where he seeks to become a citizen.

The following sworn testimony, in part, was given by petitioner on March 24, 1964, at his deportation proceedings:

“Q Well, let me ask it then, Mr. Millan. Have you ever advocated or furthered the principles of Communism?
A I probably did when I was in FAIR PLAY, but that was unknowingly. The questions here are knowingly.
Q Well, sir, the question isn’t exactly that way. Let’s read it: ‘Do you now, or have you ever, advocated, taught, believed in or knowingly supported or furthered the interests of Communism?’
A No, not knowingly.
Q Let me ask you now: Have you ever advocated the principles of Communism?
A No.
Q Have you ever taught the principles of Communism ?
A Yes, I taught the principles of Communism.
Q Then, as I understand this question, sir, you couldn’t honestly answer ‘no,’ because the ‘knowingly’ portion of it relates to whether you have supported or furthered the interests of Communism.
A Well, the question to one of your answers is ‘yes,’ to the other is ‘no.’
Q All right, then we are clear on the fact that you have taught the principles of Communism?
A Yes.
Q And the other portion is: ‘Have you ever believed in the principles of Communism?’
A Yes, I believed in the past in the principles.
Q Very well, sir. You do, however, deny having knowingly supported [548]*548or furthered the interests of Communism, is that correct?
A Knowingly, yes.

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266 F. Supp. 545, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8405, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/petition-for-naturalization-of-millan-cacd-1967.