Ramon CERVANTES et
al., Petitioners-Appellants, v. v. IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 510 F.2d 89 (10th
Cir. 1975) Jan. 21, 1975. No. 74--1263. Jan. 21, 1975. Aliens petitioned to review an order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals dismissing an appeal from a special inquiry
officer's order. The Court of Appeals, Hill, Circuit Judge, held that the
statute providing for inapplicability of a certain deportation statute to an
alien otherwise admissible at time of entry who is the spouse, parent or child
of a United States citizen or of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence was of no avail to an alien who failed to comply with conditions of
his nonimmigrant status or to his wife who entered the United States without
presenting herself for inspection. The Ninth Amendment of Federal Constitution
did not prevent deportation of the alien parents of a child who was a United
States citizen. Affirmed. *89 Donn J. Everett, Manhattan, Kan., for
petitioners-appellants. John L. Murphy, Chief, Government Regulations
Section, Crim. Div., Robert E. Courtney, III, Atty., Dept. of Justice,
Washington, D.C., for respondents- appellees. Before LEWIS, Chief Judge, and HILL and
McWILLIAMS, Circuit Judges. HILL, Circuit Judge. This case arises out of a petition to review an
order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) dismissing an appeal from a
Special Inquiry Officer's order. Petitioner Ramon Cervantes entered this country
on or about August 25, 1970, at El Paso, Texas. Ramon, entering as a visitor
for pleasure, was authorized to remain in the United States for a period not
exceeding six months. Ramon came to Manhattan, Kansas, and began working at a
steel and pipe supply company, without permission of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (Service). Petitioner Luvia Ocana Ochoa (Cervantes after
marriage) entered the United States near El Paso, on or about October 27, 1970,
without presenting herself for inspection or being inspected by a United States
Immigration Officer. Ramon's and Ocana's minor daughter, *90 Alejandra,
accompanied Ocana. They went to Manhattan where Ramon and Ocana resumed living
together and held themselves out as husband and wife. On February 17, 1971, a
child, Joe Alfred Cervantes, was born to the couple. On April 5, 1971, Ramon
and Ocana were formally married.[FN1] FN1. Petitioners' brief asserts Ramon and Ocana
were lawfully married when they established residency as husband and wife
because of Kansas' recognition of common law marriage. The issue of marriage
and legitimacy of the child are not essential to our determination. On September 27, 1973, the Service agreed not to
institute deportation proceedings against Ramon if he would voluntarily depart
the United States on or before October 27, 1973. An extension was granted until
December 1, 1973. Ramon did not leave by that date; on January 30, 1974, he and
Ocana were served with Orders to Show Cause why they should not be deported and
with Notices of Hearing. On March 18, 1974, a hearing was held before a
special inquiry officer to determine whether Ramon and Ocana should be
deported. Petitioners' counsel conceded deportability but introduced affidavits
'(f)or the purpose of establishing a record for a later appeal.' The affidavits
and a birth certificate establish the birth of Joe Alfred Cervantes. At the
hearing's conclusion, the officer issued an order finding Ramon and Ocana
deportable but granting them a voluntary departure on or before April 18, 1974.
If they did not depart voluntarily, a deportation order would be effective
immediately. Neither Alejandra nor Joe Alfred was ordered deported. A Notice of Appeal to the Board was filed on
March 18, 1974. The grounds of appeal were as follows: That immigrants are saved from deportation by
reason of the facts set forth in the two affidavits received into evidence and
pursuant to the provisions of the United States Code Annotated 8--1251(f)
(which provides:) 'The provisions of this section relating to the
deportation of aliens within the United States on the ground that they were
excludable at the time of entry as aliens who have sought to procure, or have
procured visas or other documentation, or entry into the United States by fraud
or misrepresentation shall not apply to an alien otherwise admissible at the
time of entry who is the spouse, parent, or a child of a United States citizen
or of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.' On April 30, 1974, the Board, relying on
Cabuco-Flores v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 477 F.2d 108 (9th Cir.
1973), cert. den'd, 414 U.S. 841, 94 S.Ct. 98, 38 L.Ed.2d 78; Monarrez-Monarrez
v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 472 F.2d 119 (9th Cir. 1972),
dismissed the appeal. Petitioners challenge the Board's determination
on two grounds: (1) 8 U.S.C. s 1251(f) prevents Ramon's and Ocana's
deportation, and (2) the deportation order contravenes Joe Alfred's rights
under the Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution. On appeal to the Board, petitioners relied on
Godoy v. Rosenberg, 415 F.2d 1266 (9th Cir. 1969), to support the application
of s 1251(f) to this case. In Godoy, the alien had stated in his application
for a special immigrant visa that he was married to a United States citizen;
the marriage had been entered into solely to acquire a benefit under the
immigration laws. In those circumstances, the court said s 1251(f) would
prevent deportation if petitioner could prove he was the parent of a
legitimatized child who was a United States citizen. We are not faced with an
identical situation. [1]
Rather, the reasoning expressed in Preux v. Immigration &
Naturalization Serv., 484 F.2d 396, 397 (10th Cir. 1973), cert. den'd,415 U.S.
916, 94 S.Ct. 1413, 39 L.Ed.2d 470 (1974), applies to this case. (T)he provisions of 8 U.S.C. s 1251(f) may
operate as a waiver of a deportation charge if, and only if, the deportation
*91 charge 'results directly from the misrepresentation.' In Robles v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv.,
485 F.2d 100 (10th Cir. 1973), s 1251(f) was held not to prevent deportation of
a person staying beyond the period of her one-month visitor's visa; the grounds
for deportation were not related to any alleged antecedent fraud. Ramon is to
be deported pursuant to 8 U.S.C. s 1251(a)(9) for failure to comply with the
conditions of his nonimmigrant status. Ocana is to be deported pursuant to 8
U.S.C. s 1251(a)(2) [FN2] for entering the United States without inspection. We
agree with the Board that in view of these charges Ramon and Ocana cannot
receive any benefit from s 1251(f). Robles v. Immigration & Naturalization
Serv., supra; Preux v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., supra;
Cabuco-Flores v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., supra; Monarrez-Monarrez
v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., supra. FN2. 8 U.S.C. s 1251(a) provides in pertinent
part: (a) Any alien in the United States shall, upon
the order of the Attorney General, be deported who-- (2) entered the United States without inspection
or at any time or place other than as designated by the Attorney General or is
in the United States in violation of this chapter or in violation of any other
law of the United States; (9) was admitted as a nonimmigrant and failed to
maintain the nonimmigrant status in which he was admitted or to which it was
changed pursuant to section 1258 of this title, or to comply with the
conditions of any such status; [2] [3]
Petitioners devote their brief to the second argument; they contend the
Ninth Amendment gives Joe Alfred, a United States citizen, a right to continue
to have the love and affection of his parents in the United States. The Ninth
Amendment provides: 'The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.'
Petitioners believe their interpretation of the Ninth Amendment is supported by
the Supreme Court cases of Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 486, 85 S.Ct.
1678, 14 L.Ed.2d 510 (1965) (Goldberg, J., concurring), and Roe v. Wade, 410
U.S. 113, 95 S.Ct. 705, 35 L.Ed.2d 147 (1973). Although we have found no mention of this
constitutional argument in the prior proceedings, we consider it because a
constitutional issue is involved and because of the outcome we reach. Pilapil
v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 424 F.2d 6 (10th Cir. 1970), cert.
den'd 400 U.S. 908, 91 S.Ct. 152, 27 L.Ed.2d 147. The only novelty in petitioners' constitutional
claim is its foundation, the Ninth Amendment. Courts have rejected similar claims
based upon other constitutional provisions. Robles v. Immigration &
Naturalization Serv., supra; Faustino v. Immigration & Naturalization
Serv., 432 F.2d 429 (2d Cir. 1970), cert. den'd, 401 U.S. 921, 91 S.Ct. 909, 27
L.Ed.2d 824 (1971); Perdido v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 420 F.2d
1179 (5th Cir. 1969); Mendez v. Major, 340 F.2d 128 (8th Cir. 1965). The
petitioner in Robles relied on the Fifth Amendment claiming the deportation
would be unconstitutional because a family would be divided and her children
would be deprived of their constitutional right to the family unit's
continuation. This Court rejected that argument and said: In Silverman[FN3] and Perdido, [FN4]
consideration was given to the incidental impact of immigration and naturalization
laws on the marriage status and on the family unit where there be minor
children involved, and in each case it was concluded that such incidental
impact is not in and of itself significant and does not raise constitutional
problems.[FN5] FN3. Silverman v. Rogers, 437 F.2d 102 (1st Cir.
1970), cert. den' d, 402 U.S. 983, 91 S.Ct. 1667, 29 L.Ed.2d 149 (1971). FN4. Perdido v. Immigration & Naturalization
Serv., 420 F.2d 1179 (5th Cir. 1969). FN5. Robles v. Immigration & Naturalization
Serv., 485 F.2d 100, 102 (10th Cir. 1973). The deportations involved herein cause only an
'incidental impact' on the minor *92 child, albeit a serious one. We cannot
agree with petitioners that the Ninth Amendment as interpreted in a concurring
opinion of Griswold and in Roe compels a different result than we reached in
Robles. Congress clearly has the '. . . power to prescribe conditions under
which aliens may enter and remain in the United States . . . even though their
enforcement may impose hardship upon the aliens' children . . ..' Application
of Amoury, 307 F.Supp. 213 (S.D.N.Y.1969). The incidental impact on aliens'
minor children caused by the enforcement of duly-enacted conditions on aliens'
entrance and residence does not create constitutional problems. Order affirmed. |