Crimes of Moral Turpitude

Rape.  Rape invariably constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude.[210] 

Levin v. INS, 4 Fed.Appx. 402 (9th Cir. 2001) (gang rape of minor in violation of the law of the Soviet Ukrainian Republic constituted a crime of moral turpitude);

Gouveia v. INS, 980 F.2d 814 (1st Cir. 1992) (rape of child under 16 held CMT);

Marciano v. INS, 450 F.2d 1022, 23 A.L.R. Fed. 466 (8th Cir. 1971), cert. den., 405 U.S. 997, 31 L.Ed.2d 466, 92 S.Ct. 1260 (1972);

Pino v Nicolls, 215 F.2d 237 (1st Cir. 1955), rev’d on other grounds, Pino v Landon, 349 U.S. 901, 99 L.Ed. 1239, 75 S.Ct. 576 (1955); 

Schoeps v. Carmichael, 177 F.2d 391 (9th Cir. 1949), cert. den., 339 U.S. 914, 94 L.Ed. 1340, 70 S.Ct. 566 (1950);

Wing v. United States, 46 F.2d 755 (7th Cir. 1931) (common law rape);

Ng Sui Wing v. United States, 46 F.2d 755 (7th Cir. 1931);

Bendel v. Nagle, 17 F.2d 719, 57 A.L.R. 1129 (9th Cir. 1927); 

Siniscalchi v. Thomas, 195 F. 701 (6th Cir. 1912);

United States ex rel. Marks v Esperdy, 203 F.Supp. 389 (D.N.Y. 1962), rev’d on other grounds, 315 F.2d 673 (2d Cir. 1963), aff’d, 377 U.S. 214, 12 L.Ed.2d 292, 84 S.Ct. 1224 (1964);

Matter of Dingena, 11 I. & N. Dec. 723 (BIA 1966) (Wisconsin conviction of sexual intercourse with a child under age 18 was the equivalent of statutory rape or carnal knowledge, and involved moral turpitude, despite lack of mens rea as an essential element of the statutory offense);

Matter of Beato, 10 I. & N. Dec. 730 (BIA 1964) (plea to attempted second-degree assault, as a reduced charge to attempted first-degree rape and second-degree assault with intent to commit carnal abuse and rape, considered CMT; BIA indicated reduced plea merely limited punishment, but conviction was considered as charged);

Matter of M, 9 I. & N. Dec. 132 (BIA 1960);

Matter of G, 7 I. & N. Dec. 171 (BIA 1956);

Matter of B, 5 I. & N. Dec. 538 (BIA 1953);

Matter of R, 3 I. & N. Dec. 562 (BIA 1949);

Matter of S, 2 I. & N. Dec. 553 (BIA 1946).

            Intercourse with mentally incompetent person has been held to be CMT.

Matter of M, 2 I. & N. Dec. 17 (BIA 1944) (conviction of sexual intercourse with a feeble-minded woman, knowing her to be such, in violation of § 191 of the Nebraska Criminal Code (R.S. 8766, 1913), is a crime involving moral turpitude, since her mental condition negates the idea of consent).

            See also Statutory rape, § 9.105, infra.

[210] 9 U.S. Dep’t of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) § 40.21(a) N.2.3-3(a)(15).