VARGAS-MOLINA

Interim Decision #2069

MATTER OF VARGAS-MOLINA

In Exclusion Proceedings

A-18863065

Decided by Board January 8, 1971

An applicant for admission, whether or not the application is made at a land port, and whether or not the special inquiry officer has entered a de- cision, may not withdraw his application as a matter of right; however, the special inquiry officer, in his discretion, may permit withdrawal of an application for admission if justice may best be served by permitting the withdrawal. [Matter of Estrada-Tena, 12 I. & N. Dec. 429, overruled; Matter of Le Floch, Interim Decision No. 1970, modified.] EXCLUDABLE: Act of 1952—Section 212(a) (23) [8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (23)]— Convicted of illegal importation of marihuana. Act of 1952—Section 212(a) (26) [8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (26)]— Nonimmigrant not in possession of valid visa. ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT: ON BEHALF OF SERVICE: Pro se Irving A. Appleman Appellate Trial Attorney

The special inquiry officer excluded the applicant on the grounds stated in the caption and certified the case to the Board for final decision. No change will be made in his order. This case concerns the right of an applicant for admission to withdraw his application before the special inquiry officer enters an order in exclusion proceedings. The applicant, a 31-year-old single male, a native and citizen of Colombia, applied for admission in June 1969 as a nonimmigrant visitor for pleasure at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Service learned that his nonimmigrant visa had been irregularly issued and that he had illegal possession of marijuana. The Service pa- roled him into the United States under section 212(d) (5) of the Act so that he could be prosecuted for possession of the mari- . juana. He was convicted on August 14, 1969 in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico for illegally importing marijuana. A Service officer questioned the applicant on August 14, 1969 concerning his immigration status. The applicant attempted to

Interim Decision #2069 withdraw his application for admission and stated that he desired to return to Colombia. However, he was brought before a special inquiry officer in exclusion proceedings. Here he again sought to withdraw his application for admission. His request was refused and he was excluded as we have previously stated. The regulations and statutes do not provide for the situation before us. Three cases must be considered. In Matter of Estrada-Tena, 12 I. & N. Dec. 429 (BIA, 1967), an exclusion hearing, the applicant for admission attempted to withdraw his application before the special inquiry officer entered gis decision. We held that the applicant had the right to with- Iraw his application. We found a practice existed whereby orgi- iarily the Service permitted a withdrawal. In Matter of Le Floch, Interim Decision No. 1970 (BIA, 1969), ve held that after the special inquiry officer had entered an order d exclusion, the applicant had no right to withdraw his applica- ion for admission. We indicated, however, that the board or the pecial inquiry officer could, as a matter of discretion, permit the vithdrawal of an application for admission if a miscarriage of ustice would otherwise result. D'Agostino v. Sahli, 230 F.2d 668 (5 Cir., 1956), a habeas cor- us proceeding, involved an alien deported to the United States y the Mexican Government. After the United States authorities xcluded him, he was turned over to the United States Marshal in mnection with a narcotic charge pending against him in New *ork City. The court held that a person presented at a port of itry, whether voluntarily or otherwise, comes within the exclu- onary provisions of the Act and that the Service, therefore, had e authority to examine him, to exclude him, and to transfer stody to the Marshal. The case therefore indicates that once an ien comes within the jurisdiction of the Service in an exclusion oceeding, he has no right to defeat this jurisdiction by with- awing his application for admission. An applicant for admission who comes under the Service juris- Aion should not have the power to compel the Service to relin- ish jurisdiction. Consideration of an application calls for ocation of Service resources and expenditure of public funds. to orderly, expeditious and efficient disposition of an application the applicant or to deny permission for such withdrawal. This in accord with past practice in which the Service permitted thdrawals in some cases and not in others. We therefore rule at an applicant for admission, whether or not the application is ide at a land port, and whether or not the special inquiry

Interim Decision #2069 officer has entered a decision, may not withdraw his application as a matter of right. He may be permitted to withdraw his appli- cation if justice may best be served by permitting the with- drawal. Matter of Estrada-Tema, supra, is overruled. Matter of Le Flock, supra, is modified insofar as its language is in conflict with this decision. ORDER: It is ordered that no change be made in the special in- quiry officer's order.