M/T "DONA RITA"

Interim Decision #2508




                        MATTER OF M/T "DONA RITA"
                                  In Fine Proceedings
                                   NYC- 10/52.3953

                         Decided by Board July 30, 1976
(1) Alien crewman arrived in New York via British Airways and was inspected and
  admitted into the United States as an alien in transit without a visa enroute to his vessel
  which was do eked in Trinidad. Since his vessel was not in New York, he was taken into
  custody there by the vessel's owners, and subsequently absconded. The Service then
  instituted these fine proceedings against the vessel pursuant to section 254(a)() of the
  Immigration and Nationality Act.
(2) Section 254(a)(2) of the Act is directed against the carrier which, having brought an
  alien crewman to the United States, fails to detain him on board the vessel after he has
  been refused a landing permit. Since the .M/T "Dona Rita" was not in the United States
  and was not expected to be in the United States, the fine proceedings were unproperly
  instituted anc the fine will be cancelled.
In re:   MIT "D )NA RITA% alien crewman involved: Asadulo Hogue

Basis for Fine: Act of 1952—Section 254(a)(2) [8 U.S.C. 1284].
ON BEHALF Or CARRIER:          John C. Lane, Esquire
                               Freehill, Hogan & Mahar
                               21 West Street
                               New York, New York 10006


  The Acting District Director in New York imposed a fine of $1,000
upon the carrier, with regard to the vessel M/T "Dona Rita," for a
violation of section 254(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
and, in a decision dated October 14,. 19'75, he denied a request for
cancellation of the fine. The carrier has appealed from that decision. The
appeal will be sustained and the fine will be cancelled.
  Section 2541(a)(2) of the Act provides in pertinent part as follows:
 "The owner, agent, consignee, charterer, master or commanding officer of any vessel or
 aircraft arriving in the United States from any place outside thereof who fails . . . (2)
 to detain any alien crewman on board the vessel . . . after such inspection [as set out in
 section 254(a)(1)] unless a conditional permit to land has been granted such alien
 crewman . . . shall pay to the collector of customs of the customs district in which the
 port of arrival is located or in which the failure to comply with the orders of the officer
  ',mum the sum of $1,00.0 for each alien crewman in respect of whom any such failure
  occurs." (Emphasis supplied.)
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                                                Interim Decision #2508
  The record shows that an alien, a citizen of Bangladesh, was hired in
Bangladesh as a crewman on the M/T "Dona Rita," which was docked in
Trinidad. A ticket was purchased for him from Bangladesh to New York
on British Airways. According to the carrier, the alien was to be flown
from New York to Trinidad where he would join the vessel. Upon
arrival in New York he was inspected and admitted as an alien in transit
without visa through the United States.
   In his decision of October 14, 1975 the Acting District Director states
that it was the understanding of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and British Airways that the MIT "Dona Rita" was in New
York. Upon learning that the vessel was, not in New York, British
Airways notified the carrier in New York, who thereupon took custody
of the alien. The alien subsequently absconded and the Service instituted these proceedings.
   Section 254(a)(2) is directed against the carrier which, having brought
an alien crewman to the United States, fails to detain him after he is
refused a landing permit. Since the M/T "Dona Rita" was not in the
United States and was not expected to be in the United States, fine
proceedings under section 254(a)(2) were improperly instituted. Accordingly, the appeal will be sustained and the fine will be cancelled.
   ORDER: The appeal is sustained; the fine is cancelled.




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