353 U.S. 72
77 S.Ct. 618
1 L.Ed.2d 652
UNITED STATES of America, ex rel. Anastasios  HINTOPOULOS, et ux., Petitioners,v.Edward J. SHAUGHNESSY, District Director of  Immigration and NaturalizationService at the  Port of New York.
No. 205.
Argued March 4, 1957.
Decided March 25, 1957.

Mr. Jay Nicholas Long, New York City, for petitioner.
Mr. Maurice A. Roberts, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
Mr. Justice HARLAN delivered the opinion of the Court.


1
This is a habeas corpus proceeding to test the validity of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals denying petitioners' request for suspension of deportation.


2
Petitioners are husband and wife, both aliens. Prior to 1951 both worked as seamen on foreign vessels. In July 1951 the wife lawfully entered the United States as a crew member of a ship in a United States port. Being pregnant, she sought medical advice; subsequently she decided in the interest of her health to stay ashore. A month later, on the next occasion his ship arrived in the United States, her husband joined her; he also failed to leave on the expiration of his limited lawful stay.1 In November 1951 their child was born; the child is, of course, an American citizen by birth. In January 1952 petitioners voluntarily disclosed their illegal presence to the Immigration Service and applied for suspension of deportation under § 19(c) of the Immigration Act of 1917, which provides, in part:


3
'In the case of any alien * * * who is deportable under any      law of the United States and who has proved good moral      character for the preceding five years, the Attorney General      may * * * suspend deportation of such alien if he is not ineligible for      naturalization * * * if he finds (a) that such deportation      would result in serious economic detriment to a citizen or      legally resident alien who is the spouse, parent, or minor      child of such deportable alien * * *.'2


4
Deportation proceedings were instituted in May 1952 and a hearing was held. On the undisputed facts both aliens were found deportable. As to the issue of suspension of deportation, the Hearing Officer, while finding petitioners eligible for such relief, denied the request, stating as follows:


5
'Both respondents have applied for suspension of deportation      on the ground of the economic detriment that would befall      their minor son in the event they were deported. * * * Both      disclaim having a criminal record anywhere and both allege      that they have been persons of good moral character. Evidence      of record would tend to corroborate their testimony in this      respect. Their only income is from the employment of the male      respondent on two jobs * * *. Their joint assets consist of      savings in the sum of about $500 and their furniture and      other personal property which they value at $1500. While it      would seem that their son * * * would suffer economically if      his parents should be deported, it is not believed that as a      matter of administrative discretion the respondents'      applications for suspension of deportation should be granted.      They have been in the United States for a period of less than      one year. They have no relatives in this country other than      each other and their son. To grant both this form of relief      upon the accident of birth in the United States of their son would be to deprive others, who are patiently awaiting visas      under their already oversubscribed quotas. It is noted also      that neither respondent reported his and her presence in the      United States at any time until January, 1952 when they filed      applications for suspension of deportation just two months      after the birth of their child. * * *'


6
The Board of Immigration Appeals heard petitioners' appeal, and on March 18, 1954, upheld the Hearing Officer's recommendation and denied suspension of deportation. The Board stated:


7
'It is obvious that the American citizen infant child is      dependent upon the alien parents for economic support, care      and maintenance. Documentary and other evidence establish      good moral character for the requisite period. The aliens      have no connection with subversive groups.


8
'As stated above, we have, in the instant case, a family      consisting of two alien parents illegally residing in the      United States and one American citizen child, age about two      and one-half years. These respondents have been in the United      States for a period of less than three years. Both arrived in      this country as seamen. they have no other dependents or      close family ties here. The record indicates that the male      respondent may be able to obtain work as a Greek seaman and      earn about $85 monthly.


9
'Notwithstanding the Fact that * * * the deportation of these      respondents would result in a serious economic detriment to      an American citizen infant child, the granting or withholding      of maximum discretionary relief depends on the factors and      merits in each individual case, and is a matter of administrative discretion. We have carefully examined the facts and      circumstances in the instant case and we find that the      granting of the maximum relief is not warranted by the record      in the case. * * *'


10
Petitioners thereupon moved for reconsideration. On May 5, 1954, the Board denied the motion, stating:


11
'Counsel's motion sets forth no matters of which we were      unaware at the time our previous decision was rendered. It is      crystal clear that Congress intended to greatly restrict the      granting of suspension of deportation by the change of      phraseology which was used in Section 244(a) of the      Immigration and Nationality Act (of 1952) as well as the      Congressional comment at the time this provision was      enacted.3 We indicated in our previous order that the      deportation of the respondents would result in a serious economic detriment to their citizen minor child,      and we do not question that the respondents have established      the statutory requirements for suspension of deportation * *      *.


12
'Upon our further review of the cases of the two respondents,      we adhere to our rpevious decision that suspension of      deportation should be denied as a matter of administrative      discretion * * *.'


13
Taken into custody for deportation, petitioners instituted the present habeas corpus proceeding, alleging that the Board abused its discretion in denying their application for suspension of deportation. The District Court dismissed the writ, 133 F.Supp. 433, and the Court of Appeals, one judge dissenting, affirmed, 2 Cir., 233 F.2d 705. We granted certiorari. 352 U.S. 819, 77 S.Ct. 53, 1 L.Ed.2d 45.


14
We do not think that there was error in these proceedings. It is clear from the record that the Board applied the correct legal standards in deciding whether petitioners met the statutory prerequisites for suspension of deportation. The Board found that petitioners met these standards and were eligible for relief. But the statute does not contemplate that all aliens who meet the minimum legal standards will be granted suspension. Suspension of deportation is a matter of discretion and of administrative grace, not mere eligibility; discretion must be exercised even though statutory prerequisites have been met.4


15
Nor can we say that it was abuse of discretion to withhold relief in this case. The reasons relied on by the Hearing Officer and the Board—mainly the fact that petitioners had established no roots or ties in this country—were neither capricious nor arbitrary.


16
Petitioners urge that the Board applied an improper standard in exercising its discretion when, in its opinion on rehearing, it took into account the congressional policy underlying the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the latter being concededly inapplicable to this case. We cannot agree with this contention. The second opinion makes clear that the Board still considered petitioners eligible for suspension under the 1917 Act5 and denied relief solely as a matter of discretion. And we cannot say that it was improper or arbitrary for the Board to be influenced, in exercising that discretion, by its views as to congressional policy as manifested by the 1952 Act. Section 19(c) does not state what standards are to guide the Attorney General in the exercise of his discretion. Surely it is not unreasonable for him to take cognizance of present-day conditions and congressional attitudes, any more than it would be arbitrary for a judge, in sentencing a criminal, to refuse to suspend sentence because contemporary opinion, as exemplified in recent statutes, has increased in rigour as to the offense involved. This conclusion is fortified by the fact that § 19(c) provides for close congressional supervision over suspensions of deportation. In every case where suspension for more than six months is granted a report must be submitted to Congress, and if thereafter Congress does not pass a concurrent resolution approving the suspension of deportation, the alien must then be deported.6 In other words, every such suspension must be approved by Congress, and yet petitioners would have us hold that the Attorney General may not take into account the current policies of Congress in exercising his discretion. This we cannot do.


17
There being no error, the judgment is affirmed.


18
Affirmed.


19
Mr. Justice WHITTAKER took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.


20
Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, with whom Mr. Justice BLACK concurs, dissenting.


21
This case, on its face, seems to be an instance of a deportation which would 'result in serious economic detriment to a citizen,' as those words are used in § 19(c) of the Immigration Act of 1917.


22
The citizen is a five-year-old boy who was born here and who, therefore, is entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities which the Fourteenth Amendment bestows on every citizen. A five-year-old boy cannot enjoy the educational, spiritual, and economic benefits which our society affords unless he is with his parents. His parents are lawabiding and self-supporting. From this record it appears that they are good members of the community. They do not seem to have done anything illegal or antisocial that should penalize their American son.


23
It would seem, therefore, that the maintenance of this young American citizen in a home in America is the way to effectuate the policy of the 1917 Act.


24
The Board did not treat the case that way. Instead it imported into the 1917 Act the standard prescribed by the 1952 Act, which concededly is inapplicable here. That was the error which led Judge Frank to dissent below. 2 Cir., 233 F.2d 705, 709, 710. I think Judge Frank was right. Prevailing congressional policy on the approval or disapproval of suspension orders in nowise affects the standards prescribed for administrative action under the 1917 Act.


25
The Board erroneously followed irrelevant standards instead of exercising its discretion under the applicable statute, viz. § 19(c) of the 1917 Act.



1
 Under certain conditions alien crewmen are permitted to enter the United States for periods not exceeding 29 days. See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1281—1287, 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1281—1287.


2
 8 U.S.C. (1946 ed., Supp. V) § 155(c), now 8 U.S.C.A. § 1254(a).


3
 Section 244 of the 1952 Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1254(a), 8 U.S.C.A. § 1254(a), provides, in pertinent part: 'As hereinafter prescribed in this section, the Attorney General may, in his discretion, suspend deportation * * * in the case of an alien who—
'(5) * * * has been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of not less than ten years * * * and proves that during all of such period he has been and is a person of good moral character; has not been served with a final order of deportation * * * and is a person whose deportation would, in the opinion of the Attorney General, result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to the alien or to his spouse, parent, or child, who is a citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.'
A report of the Senate Judiciary Committee on this provision states: 'The bill accordingly establishes a policy that the administrative remedy should be available only in the very limited category of cases in which the deportation of the alien would be unconscionable. Hardship or even unusual hardship to the alien or to his spouse, parent, or child is not sufficient to justify suspension of deportation. * * *' S.Rep. No. 1137, 82d Cong., 2d Sess. 25. (Footnote not in original.)


4
 United States ex rel. Kaloudis v. Shaughnessy, 2 Cir., 180 F.2d 489; United States ex rel. Adel v. Shaughnessy, 2 Cir., 183 F.2d 371. Cf. Jay v. Boyd, 351 U.S. 345, 76 S.Ct. 919, 100 L.Ed. 1242.


5
 Petitioners would clearly be ineligible for suspension under the 1952 Act. See note 3, supra.


6
 The statute provides: 'If the deportation of any alien is suspended under the provisions of this subsection for more than six months, a complete and detailed statement of the facts and pertinent provisions of law in the case shall be reported to the Congress with the reasons for such suspension. These reports shall be submitted on the 1st and 15th day of each calendar month in which Congress is in session. If during the session of the Congress at which a case is reported, or prior to the close of the session of the Congress next following the session at which a case is reported, the Congress passes a concurrent resolution stating in substance that it favors the suspension of such deportation, the Attorney General shall cancel deportation proceedings. If prior to the close of the session of the Congress next following the session at which a case is reported, the Congress does not pass such a concurrent resolution, the Attorney General shall thereupon deport such alien in the manner provided by law * * *.' 8 U.S.C. (1946 ed., Supp. V) § 155(c).


