Matter of Estrada-Tena (Board decision, September 1, 1967)

Plain-English summary

A Mexican national who lived with his family in Tijuana sought to return to the United States as a commuter resident. A Public Health Service certificate found that he had pulmonary tuberculosis, and a special inquiry officer excluded him under the law then in force. During the hearing, he had asked to withdraw his application for admission, but the officer refused because the evidentiary record was complete. The Board took the certified case only to decide the withdrawal issue and held that a completed hearing did not prevent the applicant from withdrawing his request. It approved the withdrawal, withdrew the exclusion order, and terminated the proceeding.

Decision snapshot

• Cited authorities: INA §§ 212(a)(6), 234, and 236(d); 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6).
• Outcome: Withdrawal approved; exclusion order withdrawn and proceedings terminated.
• Key point: An applicant could withdraw an admission request even after the exclusion hearing had finished, before the decision issued.

Full text (BIA official public release)

Interim Decision #1787

MATTER OF ESTRADA-TENA

IN EXCLUSION PROCEEDINGS

A-18129779

Decided by Board September 1, 1967
An alien may withdraw his application for admission to the United States not- withstanding a hearing in exclusion proceedings has been completed and nothing remains but the rendering of the decision by the special inquiry officer. EXCLUDABLE: Act of 1952—Section 212(a)(6). [8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)]—Alien afflicted with tuberculosis.
ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT: Marion S. Richards, Esquire 110 West O Street
San Diego, California 92101

We take jurisdiction of the case by certification solely insofar as it relates to the right of the applicant to withdraw his application for admission. The facts have been fully set forth in the decision of the special inquiry officer. Briefly, the record relates to a native and citi- zen of Mexico, 25 years old, male, single, who was admitted to the United States for permanent residence on May 12,1962 at San Ysidro, California. In 1963 he commenced to live with one Rozio Felix, a na- tive and citizen of Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico and his two children by her, born in Mexico on February 11, 1964 and April 23, 1966. In February 1966, the nature of his residence was changed to that of a commuter. In September 1966 in connection with his application for admission to the United States, he was examined by a medical officer of the United States Public Health Service who, on September 29, 1966, issued a Class A Medical Certificate certifying that the applicant was afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis. We agree with the special inquiry officer that the applicant's absence to Mexico where he resided with his wife and two children was a meaningful departure; that an alien who is in the status of a commuter-resident on the basis of the very nature of that residence could not be considered as coming

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within the purview of Rosenberg v. Fleuti, 347 U.S. 449; and that when the applicant sought to return to the United States in September 1966, he was seeking to make an entry into the United States. The Class A Medical Certificate issued by the Public Health Service on September 29, 1966 (Ex. 4) is conclusive in this proceeding.¹ Under the provisions of section 234 of the Act, there is no appeal to a Board of Medical Officers of the United States Public Health Service with respect to a Class A Certification under section 212(a) (6) of the Act. Section 236(d) of the Act further provides that there is no appeal from the decision of the special inquiry officer excluding an alien under section 212 (a) (6) of the Act. During the course of the hearing on February 21, 1967, the applicant, through counsel, attempted to withdraw his request for admission at that time (p. 28). However, the special inquiry officer refused to per- mit a withdrawal and excluded the applicant on the ground stated in the caption. The special inquiry officer concedes that there is no precedent deci- sion relating to the withdrawal of an application for admission nor is there any regulation or statute which provides for the withdrawal of an application for admission. He concludes that where the record has been completed and nothing remains but to render a decision, it is not considered that the withdrawal of the application for admission will defeat the determination of the application. We agree with the special inquiry officer that there is no precedent decision or statute or regulation relating to the withdrawal of an ap- plication for admission. Nor have we been able to find any unreported decisions relating to this subject. The very absence of pertinent de- cisions troubles us because in the long administration of the immigra- tion laws, there must have been numerous cases involving this aspect. Some light is thrown on this subject in Gordon and Rosenfield's ex- cellent book on Immigration Law and Procedure.² The authors ob- served that it sometimes happens that during the hearing—usually one held at a land border port—the applicant decides to withdraw his application for entry, in order to avoid an order of exclusion or to en- able him to assemble documents or meet other preliminary require- ments. Such withdrawal ordinarily will be permitted. The fact that withdrawals of application for admission are ordi- narily permitted may explain the absence of any precedent or un- reported decisions on this point. We see little to be gained by insisting upon the entry of an order of exclusion and not permitting the with- ¹ Section 236(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. ² Published by Banks and Company (1966 Edition), section 3.20e.

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 Interim Decision #1787 drawal of the application for admission. Certainly, the alien is under no compulsion to enter the United States. He remains in Mexico, which accomplishes the same result as if he were excluded and deported with- out the necessity of seeking permission to reapply within a year after exclusion and deportation. In the event he is satisfied that the tuber- culosis has been completely arrested, the applicant may again seek to apply for admission to the United States. Or, he may not desire to seek to enter the United States and to remain with his family in Mexico. The decision should rest with the applicant. We will enter an order up- holding his right to withdraw his application for admission and ter- minating the exclusion proceedings. ORDER: It is ordered that the withdrawal by the applicant of his application for admission to the United States be and the same is hereby approved. It is further ordered that the order entered in exclusion proceedings be withdrawn and that the exclusion proceedings be terminated.

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