United States v. Bialoglowski

21 F. Supp. 613, 1937 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1244
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedDecember 20, 1937
DocketNo. 914
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 21 F. Supp. 613 (United States v. Bialoglowski) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Bialoglowski, 21 F. Supp. 613, 1937 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1244 (S.D. Cal. 1937).

Opinion

McCORMICK, District Judge.

The government seeks cancellation of the naturalization cerifícate of Jacob Bialoglowski.

The proceeding is instituted by the United States Attorney under section 405 of Title 8, U.S.C.A. which in its applicable part is as follows:

“It shall be the duty of the United States district attorneys for the respective districts, or the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Naturalization, upon affidavit showing good cause therefor, to institute proceedings in any court having jurisdiction to naturalize aliens in the judicial district in which the naturalized citizen may reside at the time of bringing the suit, for the purpose of setting aside and canceling the certificate of citizenship on the ground of fraud or on the ground that such certificate of citizenship was illegally procured.”

It thus appears that there are but two grounds which justify setting aside and canceling a certificate of citizenship: (1) Fraud, and (2) illegal procurement.

There is not and cannot be any contention under the record here that any fraud has been shown, either by the respondent or by any governmental agent or authority. Therefore the sole question for decision is whether the evidence preponderates to justify a finding that the certificate of citizenship of Bialoglowski was “illegally procured.” We think it does not.

The term “illegally procured” connotes affirmative, willful misconduct on the part of the holder of a certificate of citizenship or those acting for him, to impose on the court or to induce the governmental agents to act in a manner not authorized by law. U. S. v. Richmond, 3 Cir., 17 F.2d 28; U. S. v. Lenore, D.C.N.D., 207 F. 865. There is no substantial evidence that Bialoglowski or [614]*614any one acting for him, by willful misrepresentation, concealment, or in any other way imposed upon the court which granted his certificate of citizenship or induced the governmental agents to act as they did act in relation to his petition for citizenship. The sole act of respondent in his dealings with the agents of the government which under any view could be considered as questionable is his signing and verifying the declaration of intention which contained the statement:

“My lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was at New York, New York, under the name of Jakob Bialoglowski, on August 13, 1928, on the vessel S. S. Deutschland.”

The only matter of doubtful verity in this statement is that the entry was made “for permanent residence.” The entry was admittedly lawful and was undeniably made at the time, port, and ship mentioned. The doubt arises because in the application for a nonquota immigration visa signed ana verified by Bialoglowski before the American consul at Warsaw, Poland, there is a statement that, “My purpose in going to the.. United States is temporary resid., and I intend to remain five years,” and that het claimed to be a, nonquota student immigrant under section 4, subdivision (e) of the Im~>migration Act of 1924, 8 U.S.C.A. § 204(e).. The evidence showed that Bialoglowski at' the time was unfamiliar with English, in fact unfamiliar with English to the exten^ that he had been twice previously refused, a visa because of language requirements^ The damaging statements were given) through an interpreter, are typewritten, and were recorded by the consular office. The, record shows further that Bialoglowski did' not inspect the application for visa or the visa itself after issuance, as the documents, were placed by the American consul in a¡ sealed envelope and in this shape handed to the respondent. He delivered' them intact to the immigration authorities upon arrival at New York. They were inspected and retained by the officers, and without further information Bialoglowski was given an immigration card, whereupon he proceeded to Oakland, Cal., and entered the University of California as a foreign student in agricul-' ture. He was unable to pass the entrance» examinations because of his failure to make the English language requirements, but was allowed to enter conditionally upon later qualifying himself in English. He did so, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Science, and later a Ph.D. in Agriculture. He is now employed by the state of California in research work at the University of California at Los Angeles. There is no evidence that at any time Bialoglowski had any knowledge of the character of his entry or admission into the United States until subsequent to the issuance to him of his certificate of citizenship.

While a student at the University, Bialoglowski was told that having an immigration card he was eligible to petition for naturalization, and upon inquiry at the office of the clerk of the Superior Court of Alameda County, Cal., as to his status and right to naturalization, he was informed by an official in said clerk’s office that if he could obtain a, certificate of arrival, he would be qualified to file his declaration of intention to become a citizen. He made application regularly, and the Department of Labor, pursuant thereto, forwarded from Washington, D. C., a certificate of arrival as follows:

“No. 22 790
“Certificate of Arrival
“I hereby certify that the immigration records of the Department of Labor show that the alien named below arrived at the port, on the date and in the manner shown, and was lawfully admitted to the United States cf America for permanent residence:
Port of Entry: New York, N. Y.
Name Jakob Bialoglowski
Date August 13, 1928
Manner of Arrival S. S. Deutschland
“I further certify that this certificate of arrival is issued under authority of and in conformity with provisions of the Act of June 29, 1906 as amended solely for the use of the alien herein named and only for naturalization purposes.
MFG “In witness whereof, this certificate of arrival is issued September 3, 1929 by direction of the Secretary of Labor.
-“Raymond F. Christ (this is not an original but a rubber stamp signature)
“Commissioner of Naturalization
“Endorsed: (Red ink Stamp
“Filed September 20, 1933 over face of
“Geo. E. Gross, County Clerk document)
“By J. J. Kingston, Deputy
“Naturalization Service
Received September 10, 1929,
District Director
San Francisco, California
Department of Labor.”

On October 5, 1929, Bialoglowski, at the office of the clerk of the Superior Court of Alameda County, in Oakland, Cal., filed his (declaration of intention to become a citizen, and thereafter on September 30, 1933, filed his petition for citizenship. In due course he was at an open session of said state court [615]*615held at Oakland, Cal., granted the certificate of citizenship which the government now seeks to annul.

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Related

United States v. Kairys
600 F. Supp. 1254 (N.D. Illinois, 1984)
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56 F. Supp. 201 (S.D. California, 1944)

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Bluebook (online)
21 F. Supp. 613, 1937 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1244, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bialoglowski-casd-1937.