[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 8, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 8CFR215.5]

[Page 386-387]
 
                     TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
 
      CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (IMMIGRATION AND 
                             NATURALIZATION)
 
PART 215_CONTROLS OF ALIENS DEPARTING FROM THE UNITED STATES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  215.5  Hearing procedure before special inquiry officer.

    (a) The hearing before the special inquiry officer shall be 
conducted in accordance with the following procedure:
    (1) The special inquiry officer shall advise the alien of the rights 
and privileges accorded him under the provisions of Sec.  215.4.
    (2) The special inquiry officer shall enter of record: (i) A copy of 
the order served upon the alien temporarily preventing his departure 
from the United States, and (ii) a copy of the notice of hearing 
furnished the alien.
    (3) The alien shall be interrogated by the special inquiry officer 
as to the matters considered pertinent to the proceeding, with 
opportunity reserved to the alien to testify thereafter in his own 
behalf, if he so chooses.
    (4) The special inquiry officer shall present on behalf of the 
Government such evidence, including the testimony of witnesses and the 
certificates or written statements of Government officials or other 
persons, as may be necessary and available. In the event such 
certificates or statements are received in evidence, the alien may 
request and, in the discretion of the special inquiry officer, be given 
an opportunity to interrogate such officials or persons, by deposition 
or otherwise, at a time and place and in a manner fixed by the special 
inquiry officer: Provided, That when in the judgment of the special 
inquiry officer any evidence relative to the disposition of the case is 
of a confidential or security nature the disclosure of which would be 
prejudicial to the interests of the United States, such evidence shall 
not be presented at the hearing but shall be taken into consideration in 
arriving at a decision in the case.
    (5) The alien may present such additional evidence, including the 
testimony of witnesses, as is pertinent and available.
    (b) A complete verbatim transcript of the hearing, except statements 
made off the record shall be recorded. The alien shall be entitled, upon 
request, to the loan of a copy of the transcript, without cost, subject 
to reasonable conditions governing its use.
    (c) Following the completion of the hearing, the special inquiry 
officer shall make and render a recommended decision in the case, which 
shall be governed by and based upon the evidence presented at the 
hearing and any evidence of a confidential or security nature which the 
Government may have in its possession. The decision of the special 
inquiry officer shall recommend: (1) That the temporary order preventing 
the departure of the alien from the United States be made final, or (2) 
that the temporary order preventing the departure of the alien from the 
United States be revoked. This recommended decision of the special 
inquiry officer shall be made in writing and shall set forth the 
officer's reasons for such decision. The alien concerned shall at his 
request be furnished a copy of the recommended decision of the special 
inquiry officer, and shall be allowed a reasonable time, not to exceed 
10 days, in which to submit representations with respect thereto in 
writing.
    (d) As soon as practicable after the completion of the hearing and 
the rendering of a decision by the special inquiry officer, the district 
director shall forward the entire record of the case, including the 
recommended decision of the special inquiry officer and any written 
representations submitted by the alien, to the regional commissioner 
having jurisdiction over his district. After reviewing the record, the 
regional commissioner shall render a decision in the case, which shall 
be based upon the evidence in the record and on any evidence or 
information of a confidential or security nature which he deems 
pertinent. Whenever any decision is based in whole or in part on 
confidential or security information not included in the record, the 
decision shall state that such information was considered. A copy of the 
regional commissioner's decision shall be furnished the alien, or his 
attorney or representative. No administrative appeal shall lie from the 
regional commissioner's decision.
    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the 
Administrator of the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs referred to 
in section 104(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or such other 
officers of the Department of State as he may designate,

[[Page 387]]

after consultation with the Commissioner, or such other officers of the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service as he may designate, may at any 
time permit the departure of an individual alien or of a group of aliens 
from the United States if he determines that such action would be in the 
national interest. If the Administrator specifically requests the 
Commissioner to prevent the departure of a particular alien or of a 
group of aliens, the Commissioner shall not permit the departure of such 
alien or aliens until he has consulted with the Administrator.
    (f) In any case arising under Sec. Sec.  215.1 to 215.7, the 
Administrator shall, at his request, be kept advised, in as much detail 
as he may indicate is necessary, of the facts and of any action taken or 
proposed.