Transcription
FUNDAMENTALS OF IMMIGRATION LAWbyCharles A. Wiegand, IIIImmigration Judge, Oakdale, LouisianaRevised October 2011Philip Verrillo, Immigration Judge, Hartford, ConnecticutSarah Byrd, Attorney Advisor, Falls Church, VirginiaAlexa McDonnell, Attorney Advisor, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSarah Rempel, Attorney Advisor, Hartford, Connecticut
TABLE OF CONTENTSI.The “entry doctrine”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1A. History lesson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B. Applicants for admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1C. Admission or admitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2D. Parole and crewmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2E. Lawful permanent residents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2II.Inspection and credible fear review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3A. Inspection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B. Withdrawal of application for admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4C. Summary removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4D. Stowaways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4E. Credible Fear Interview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4F. Inspection of other aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5G. Removal of aliens inadmissible on security and related grounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6III.Bond and custody under IIRIRA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A. Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6B. Arriving aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7C. Detention of criminal aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7D. Detention of aliens certified as terrorists - Section 236A of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . 13E. Mass migrations and national security interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13F. Aliens subject to expedited removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14G. All other, non-criminal, non-terrorist, aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15H. Procedure in bond proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17I.Requests for additional or subsequent bond redeterminations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19J.Appeals of bond decisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20IV.Grounds of inadmissibility in removal proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20A. Health-related grounds - Section 212(a)(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21B. Crime involving moral turpitude (“CIMT”). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21C. Controlled substance offenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25D. Multiple criminal convictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26E. Trafficking in controlled substances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27F. Prostitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28G. Procurers & importers of prostitutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28H. Commercialized vice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29I.Aliens who asserted immunity from prosecution - Section 212(a)(2)(E). . . . . . . . . 29J.Espionage or sabotage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30K. Any unlawful activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30L. Overthrow of the Government of the U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31M. Terrorist activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31N. Adverse effects on foreign policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-i-
ist or totalitarian party membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Nazi persecution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Genocide or Acts of Torture or Extrajudicial Killing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Public Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37No labor certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Foreign medical graduates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Uncertified foreign health-care workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Illegal entrants and immigration violators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Not in possession of valid, unexpired documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Not in possession of valid entry documents, such as visa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Immigrants who are permanently ineligible for citizenship - Section212(a)(8)(A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Draft evaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Aliens previously removed or unlawfully present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Polygamists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Guardian required to accompany helpless alien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46International child abductors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Unlawful voters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Grounds of deportability in removal proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47A. Inadmissible at time of entry or adjustment of status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47B. Present in violation of law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47C. Violated nonimmigrant status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47D. Violators of conditions of entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47E. Termination of conditional permanent residence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47F. Alien smuggling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48G. Marriage fraud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49H. CIMT w/in 5 years of admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49I.Two CIMTs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50J.Convicted of an aggravated felony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53K. Convicted of high speed flight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54L. Failure to register as a sex offender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54M. Controlled substance conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54N. Drug abusers and addicts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58O. Firearm offenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58P. Miscellaneous crimes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Q. Crimes of domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63R. Violators of protection orders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65S. Failure to register. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65T. Document fraud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66U. Falsely claiming citizenship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66V. National security and related grounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66W. Terrorist activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67X. Adverse foreign policy consequences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Y. Assisted in Nazi persecution or engaged in genocide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68- ii -
Z.AA.BB.CC.Public Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Unlawful voters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Deportation of certain nonimmigrants prohibited without approval. . . . . . . . . . . . 68Waiver under section 237(c) for special immigrants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69VI.Procedure in removal proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69A. Notice to the alien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69B. Service of the NTA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72C. Cancellation of the NTA, motions to dismiss and remand, and termination bythe IJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74D. Hearing in removal proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76E. Failure to appear - in absentia hearings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83F. Stipulated removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90G. Methods of removal not involving an IJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90VII.Relief from Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91A. Background and Security Investigations in Proceedings Before an IJ. . . . . . . . . . . 91B. Voluntary departure - Section 240B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92C. Withdrawal of application for admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98D. Citizenship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100E. Cancellation of removal for certain permanent residents under section 240A(a)and for certain nonpermanent residents under section 240A(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100F. A waiver under former section 212(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114G. Asylum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128H. Withholding of removal - Section 241(b)(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150I.Case law common to both asylum and withholding of removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153J.The Convention Against Torture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187K. Adjustment of status - Section 245 of the Act and 8 C.F.R. § 1245.1, et seq. . . . 194L. Waivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213M. Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). . . . . . . . 233N. Advance parole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239VIII. Defenses to removability available to aliens convicted of crimes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239A. Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239B. The charge requires a conviction and the conviction does not support thecharge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239C. Judicial Recommendations Against Deportation (“JRADS”). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259D. Juvenile delinquency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260IX.Evidence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261A. In general. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261B. Burden of proof and presumptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261C. Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265D. Testimony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272E. Hearsay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274- iii -
F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.Evidence from an application to adjust an alien’s status to that of a lawfultemporary resident under section 210 of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274The exclusionary rule in immigration proceedings and motions to suppress. . . . . 275The doctrine of equitable estoppel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287The doctrine of collateral estoppel or res judicata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287Classified information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293Protective orders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293Constitutional issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296Administrative notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296Items which are not evidence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298An IJ’s duties regarding evidence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298X.Aggravated felonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299A. Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299B. Murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a minor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299C. Illicit trafficking in any controlled substance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301D. Illicit trafficking in firearms or destructive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303E. Laundering of monetary instruments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304F. Explosive materials and firearms offenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304G. A crime of violence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307H. Theft, burglary, and receipt of stolen property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316I.Demand for or receipt of ransom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319J.Child pornography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320K. Racketeering or gambling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320L. Prostitution, slavery, or involuntary servitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321M. Treason or transmitting national defense information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321N. An offense that involves fraud or deceit in which the loss to the victim orvictims exceeds 10,000 or an offense related to tax evasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321O. Alien smuggling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323P. Illegal reentry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324Q. Falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, mutilating, or altering a passport orinstrument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324R. Failure to appear for service of sentence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324S. Commercial bribery, counterfeiting, forgery, or trafficking in vehicles. . . . . . . . . 324T. Obstruction of justice, perjury, or bribery of a witness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325U. Failure to appear before a court pursuant to a court order to answer to ordispose of a charge of a felony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325V. An attempt or conspiracy to commit any such act described above. . . . . . . . . . . . 325W. Limitations by date of conviction, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326XI.Good moral character (“GMC”) - Section 101(f) of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327A. Requirement of Good Moral Character. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327B. Persons lacking good moral character as listed in section 101(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327C. Catch-all provision of section 101(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331- iv -
XII.Temporary protected status (TPS) - Section 244. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332A. A grant of TPS waives certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability . . . . . 332B. Designation by the Attorney General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332C. Effective period of designation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333D. Jurisdiction to consider applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333E. Aliens eligible for TPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335F. Withdrawal of TPS - Section 244(c)(3) of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337G. TPS and cancellation of removal under section 240A(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338H. Benefits and status during TPS - Section 244(f) of the Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338I.Countries that have been designated for TPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338XIII. Motions to reopen, reconsider, and remand under the IIRIRA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341A. Motion to reopen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341B. Motion to reconsider. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343C. Motions to reopen in general. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343D. Motion to reopen to apply for asylum or withholding of removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . 347E. Motion to reopen to rescind a removal order rendered in absentia. . . . . . . . . . . . 348F. Motions to reopen orders that were entered in absentia in deportationproceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350G. Motions to reopen orders that were entered in absentia in exclusionproceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350H. A motion to reopen or reconsider based upon a claim of ineffective assistanceof counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351I.Motion to reopen in order to apply for adjustment of status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355J.Motion to reopen to apply for cancellation of removal under section 240A ofthe Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357K. Where to file the motion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358L. Sua sponte reopening or reconsideration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358XIV. Appeals to the Board from decisions made by an IJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359A. Notice of right to appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359B. Filing the appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359C. Time limits for appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359D. The appealing parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360E. Fee for appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360F. Representation by counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361G. Proof of service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361H. Waiving Appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361I.Standard of review on appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362J.Interlocutory appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363K. Appeals from in absentia orders of removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363L. Withdrawal of appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364M. Certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364N. Remand from Board for background and security checks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365-v-
I.The “entry doctrine”A.B.History lesson1.Before the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and ImmigrantResponsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRIRA”), the decision as to whether an alienwas subject to deportation proceedings or exclusion proceedings was based onwhether or not the alien had made an “entry” into the U.S. An alien who hadmade an entry was entitled to a deportation hearing and the greater proceduralsafeguards it provided. An alien who had not made an entry was placed inexclusion proceedings. Former section 101(a)(13) of the Act defined entry as“any coming of an alien into the U.S. from a foreign port or place.” TheBoard of Immigration Appeals (“Board”) formulated a more precise definitionof entry so as to better distinguish between exclusion and deportation inMatter of Pierre, 14 I&N Dec. 467 (BIA 1973), Matter of Phelisna, 18 I&NDec. 272 (BIA 1982), and Matter of G-, 20 I&N Dec. 764 (BIA 1993). All ofthis came to be known as “the entry doctrine.”2.An exception also arose for lawful permanent residents (“LPR”s) returning tothe U.S. after a brief, casual, and innocent departure. The Supreme Court heldthat such a departure would not constitute an “entry” within the meaning offormer section 101(a)(13). Rosenberg v. Fleuti, 374 U.S. 449 (1963). Thisbecame known as the “Fleuti Doctrine.”3.These two doctrines caused a great deal of litigation over the issue of whethercertain aliens were properly placed in exclusion proceedings. They wererather time consuming and, since they dealt with the issue of whether or notthe alien was in the proper proceeding, delayed the addressing of the ultimateissues in the cases, i.e. the issues of excludability and eligibility for relief.4.In the IIRIRA, Congress sought to simplify things by creating removalproceedings which are applicable to aliens admitted to the United States,aliens applying for admission, and aliens present in the United States withoutbeing inspected and admitted. It also made the difference dependent simplyon whether the alien had been admitted or not.Applicants for admission1.Section 235(a)(1) of the Act provides that “An alien present in the UnitedStates who has not been admitted or who arrives in the United States (whetheror not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought tothe United States after having been interdicted in international or UnitedStates waters) shall be deemed for purposes of this Act an applicant foradmission.”page 1 of 365
C.D.2.The term “arriving alien” means an alien who seeks admission to or transitthrough the United States, as provided in 8 C.F.R. § 1235.1, at a port of entry,or an alien who is interdicted in international or United States waters andbrought into the United States by any means, whether or not to a designatedport-of-entry, and regardless of the means of transport. 8 C.F.R. § 1001.1(q).3.An arriving alien remains such even if paroled pursuant to section 212(d)(5) ofthe Act. 8 C.F.R. § 1001.1(q).4.An alien who leaves the U.S. to seek refugee status in Canada, and thenreturns to the U.S. after the application was denied in Canada, is deemed to beseeking admission to the U.S. Therefore, such an alien is deemed to be anarriving alien. Matter of R-D-, 24 I&N Dec. 221 (BIA 2007).Admission or admitted1.Section 101(a)(13)(A) of the Act, as amended by section 301 of the IIRIRA,provides that the terms “admission” and “admitted” mean the lawful entry ofan alien into the U.S. after inspection and authorization by an immigrationofficer.2.An alien who has not been admitted to the United States is subject to theinadmissibility grounds under section 212(a) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a).Pursuant to 237(a) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a), an alien (including an aliencrew member) in and admitted to the United States is subject to thedeportation grounds under that section. Under section 237(a)(1)(A) of theAct, deportable aliens includes any alien who was inadmissible at the time ofentry or adjustment of status.3.The Board held that an alien who initially entered the U.S. without inspection,but whose conviction for an aggravated felony was subsequent to heradjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident under section 245Aof the Act, is deportable under section 237(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the Act as an alienwho was convicted of an aggravated felony “after admission.” Matter ofRosas, 22 I&N Dec. 616 (BIA 1999).Parole and crewmen1.E.An alien who is paroled under section 212(d)(5) of the Act or permitted toland temporarily as a crewman shall not be considered to have been admitted.INA § 101(a)(13)(B).Lawful permanent residentspage 2 of 365
1.Section 101(a)(13)(C) of the Act provides that an alien lawfully admitted forpermanent residence shall not be regarded as seeking an admission into theU.S. unless the alien:a.has abandoned or relinquished LPR status [INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(i)];b.has been absent from the U.S. for a continuous period in excess of 180days [INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(ii)];c.has engaged in illegal activity after departing the U.S. [INA §101(a)(13)(C)(iii)];d.has departed from the U.S. while under legal process seeking removal ofthe alien from the U.S., including removal proceedings and extraditionproceedings [INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(iv)];e.has committed an offense identified in section 212(a)(2) of the Act,unless since such offense the alien has been granted relief under section212(h) or 240A(a) [INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(v)];f.is attempting to enter at a time or place other than as designated byimmigration officers or has not been admitted to the U.S. afterinspection and authorization by an immigration officer [INA §101(a)(13)(C)(vi)].(1)2.II.The Board has held that the Fleuti doctrine, which required theadmission of a LPR returning from a brief, casual, and innocentdeparture, did not survive the amendment of section 101(a)(13) ofthe Act by IIRIRA. Matter of Collado, 21 I&N Dec. 1061 (BIA1998). In that same decision, the Board held that an LPR describedin secti
Aug 15, 2014 · FUNDAMENTALS OF IMMIGRATION LAW by Charles A. Wiegand, III Immigration Judge, Oakdale, Louisiana Revised October 2011 Philip Verrillo, Immigration Judge, Hartford, Connecticut Sarah Byrd, Attorney Advisor, Falls Church, Virginia Alexa McDonnell, Attorney Advisor, Philadelphia,
