DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication... v Preface... vii Acknowledgments... xiii Glossary of Acronyms... xv Table of Decisions... 823 Subject-Matter Index... 847 Introduction... xlii Chapter One: An Overview of Basic Immigration Terms and the Immigration Law System... 1 Who (or What) Is Your Client? An Introduction to Statuses... 1 Citizenship and Naturalization... 3 The Lawful Permanent Resident ( Green-Card Holder)... 3 The Nonimmigrant Visa Holder... 4 Persons from the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico who do not need visas tourists and temporary workers... 5 The Visa Waiver Program (tourists without visas)... 5 Other Protective Categories... 6 Refugees and asylees... 6 Withholding of removal... 7 Protection under the Convention Against Torture... 8 Temporary protected status... 8 Parole... 9 Deferred action... 10 DACA... 11 Order of supervision... 12 No Status: Present Without Inspection or Admission, or Overstay... 12 Other Useful Terms... 13 Notice to Appear... 13 Form I-94... 13 Visa... 14 Employment Authorization Document... 14 Refugee Travel Permits and Re-entry Permits... 14 Authority over Immigration Law Enforcement: A Look at the Government Agencies... 15 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: USCIS, ICE, and CBP... 15 An arrest at the border... 17 xvii
xviii An arrest upon termination of sentence... 17 Arrest while out in the community... 17 The U.S. Department of State... 18 The Executive Office for Immigration Review... 18 The Board of Immigration Appeals... 19 Attorney General Review... 20 The Administrative Appeals Office... 21 The Agencies at Work: Removal Proceedings... 21 Notice to Appear... 21 Course of Proceedings... 23 The Burden of Proof... 24 Applications for Relief... 25 Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals... 26 Travel While a BIA Appeal Is Pending... 28 Review in Federal Court... 28 Federal Judicial Review... 28 The REAL ID Act... 31 Jurisdiction... 32 No review of discretionary determinations... 32 Petitions for Review to the Courts of Appeals... 33 Petitions for Habeas Corpus to the Federal District Courts... 34 Tips and Tools of the Trade... 36 1. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) rap sheet... 36 2. Accurint... 37 3. PACER... 37 4. FOIA requests... 38 5. Polygraph examinations... 38 6. Westlaw, LEXIS, AILALink, AILA.org, and Fastcase... 38 7. Psychological and medical evaluations... 39 8. Country-condition experts... 39 9. Country-condition sources of information (websites)... 39 10. Confirmation-of-appointment letters... 39 11. Intake sheets... 39 Sources of Legal Authority... 40 Citations to Key Legislation... 40 Appendices 1A: Contact Information for Immigration Courts... 42 1B: Structure of CBP... 43 1C: Structure of ICE... 44
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xix 1D: Structure of USCIS... 45 1E: Sample Notice to Appear... 46 1F: FBI Rap Sheet Request... 49 1G: Appointment Confirmation Letter... 51 1H: Client Checklist for Analyzing a Case with a Crime... 52 1I: Client Information Sheet... 55 Chapter Two: The Definition of Conviction According to Immigration Law... 57 The Statutory Definition of Conviction... 57 The Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Standard and Municipal Court Proceedings... 58 Marijuana prosecutions... 60 Court Martials... 61 Finality... 62 Withholds or Deferrals of Adjudication... 62 A withhold with no penalty... 64 Pretrial Intervention or Diversion... 64 Admissions to the prosecutor do not qualify... 65 Expungements and Record Sealings... 65 First offender/youthful offender provisions... 66 The Ninth Circuit s treatment of FFOA dispositions and their state counterparts... 67 The other federal circuits... 68 Does an expungement under the FFOA result in a conviction?... 70 Pardons... 71 The effect of a pardon on a ground of inadmissibility... 72 Pardon s effect on naturalization... 72 Pardon must be full and unconditional... 73 Foreign pardons... 73 Post-conviction Relief on the Merits: Matter of Pickering... 74 The burden of proof in Pickering-type cases... 77 Motions to reopen... 78 BIA decisions after Pickering... 79 The federal courts approach to Pickering... 79 Vacatur found effective in eliminating the conviction... 80 Vacatur found ineffective for immigration purposes... 80 Vacatur ineffective for naturalization purposes... 84 Vacatur granted after removal order executed... 84 Ineffective Assistance of Counsel... 85 Post-conviction Relief Modifying the Sentence Imposed... 86
xx Acts of Juvenile Delinquency... 86 Other juvenile acts... 89 Foreign Convictions... 89 Proof of Convictions... 91 Suspensions of Sentence... 92 Appendices 2A: Sample Padilla Motion to Vacate Plea, Judgment, and Sentence... 93 2B: Matter of [redacted], 2012 Newark, N.J. (AAO)... 99 2C: Memorandum in Support of Admissibility Under INA 212(a)(2)... 106 Chapter Three: Consequences of Criminal Activity: Removal from the United States... 109 Inadmissibility... 110 The Applications of INA 212(a)(2)(A)... 110 Knocking at the door... 110 Applicants for admission... 110 When an LPR seeks admission... 111 The Fleuti Doctrine... 111 Supreme Court Finds IIRAIRA Amendment to 101(a)(13)(C) Not Retroactive... 113 Adjustment of status... 114 Visa applicants at American consular posts abroad... 115 Change of status... 115 Parolees... 115 Persons physically present in violation of the law... 115 Temporary protected status... 116 Naturalization and good moral character... 116 Deportability... 116 INA 237(a)... 116 Deportability vs. Inadmissibility... 117 Expedited (Administrative) Removal of Persons Convicted of Crime... 119 Relief from Expedited Removal... 122 Detention... 123 Mandatory Detention... 123 Re-entering After Removal: Criminal Prosecution and Reinstatement of Removal... 123 Re-entry of Removed Aliens... 123 Challenging the underlying order... 124 Reinstatement of Removal... 125 Limited exception for certain nationality-based benefits... 126 U.S. Supreme Court upholds retroactive application of 241(a)(5)... 127 How the Government Locates Your Client... 128
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxi Appendices The Sure Ways... 128 Serving time in state or federal detention, both pre and post-trial... 128 Filing an immigration application... 131 Frequently, But Not Always... 132 While reporting to a probation or parole officer... 132 When re-entering the United States after a trip abroad... 132 Local Law Enforcement and the Enforcement of Immigration Laws... 133 Local police... 133 3A: Sample Motion to Terminate Arriving Alien Status (Conviction vs. Commission)... 134 3B: Sample Motion to Terminate Arriving Alien Status (False Imprisonment)... 142 3C: Respondent s Reply to DHS Response on Motion to Dismiss (Arriving Alien)... 149 Chapter Four: Consequences of Criminal Activity: Detention Inside the United States... 157 Mandatory Detention... 158 Cooperating Witnesses... 160 Demore v. Kim... 161 Prolonged Detention Litigation Post Demore v. Kim... 162 Arriving Aliens under INA 235(b)... 165 Supreme Court Review... 166 Bond Hearings Before the Immigration Court... 167 Numerical Limitations and Jurisdiction... 168 Matter of Aguilar-Aquino... 170 Matter of Joseph... 170 Jurisdiction over Custody Issues... 173 Arriving aliens... 173 Other jurisdiction-stripping classifications... 174 Deportable respondents and those who enter without inspection... 175 The Release from Custody Requirement... 175 When released litigation... 175 Circuit split... 177 Castaneda v. Souza... 177 Does a sentence of imprisonment have to be imposed?... 179 Detention for Offense Not Charged on Notice to Appear... 181 Releases on or Before October 8, 1998... 182 Other Detention Issues... 182
xxii Appendices Non Mandatory Detention Cases: The Standard... 183 The automatic stay... 183 Detention After a Removal Order... 188 Detention during judicial review of final removal order... 190 Alternatives to detention... 191 4A: Custody Rule Invoked (Terminates the Transitional Period Custody Rules)... 193 4B: Section 309 of the IIRAIRA the Transition Rule for 1996 Amendments to the INA... 195 4C: Section 303(b) of the IIRAIRA Effective Date of INA 236(c) Mandatory Detention... 198 4D: Memorandum on INA 236(c) s Custody Requirement and the Use of Alternatives to Detention to Meet the Statute s Requirements... 200 4E: Memorandum of Law in Support of Bond Motion Joseph Motion Arguing Financial Loss to a Victim Did Not Exceed $10,000 for Purposes of INA 101(a)(43)(M)... 205 4F: Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 USC 2241... 210 4G: Memorandum in Support of Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 USC 2241... 218 4H: Motion for Bond Based on Matter of Joseph; Fraud Offense Not an Aggravated Felony Under INA 101(a)(43)(M)/Analyzing Loss to a Victim... 231 Chapter Five: Methodology: Classifying Crimes Under the Immigration and Nationality Act... 235 Proper Classification of Crimes and the Methodology... 235 Analyses and Terms... 236 U.S. Supreme Court Recalibrates the Categorical Approach: Descamps v. U.S.... 236 Categorical Approach: An Elements Approach... 237 Taylor v. U.S.... 238 The Modified Categorical Approach: Divisible Statutes... 239 Missing Element Statutes... 241 Identifying the Minimal (Least Culpable) Conduct... 242 Non-elemental Facts and the Circumstance-Specific Approach... 244 Nijhawan v. Holder... 245 Matter of H. Estrada... 247 The Realistic Probability Test: Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez... 247 Re-emergence of the Categorical Approach... 249 Moncrieffe v. Holder... 249 Descamps v. U.S.... 251 Divisibility... 252
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxiii Means vs. Elements... 253 Divisibility after Descamps: Supreme Court Cases... 253 Divisibility After Descamps: Circuit Court Developments... 255 Alternative Statutory Provisions: Tenth Circuit on Distinct Mentes Reae as Means, not Elements... 255 Alternative Statutory Provisions: Ninth Circuit on Controlled-Substance Schedules. 255 Alternative Statutory Provisions: First Circuit on Controlled-Substance Schedules... 256 Alternative Statutory Provisions: Fifth Circuit on General Export Statute... 256 Facts-Based Approach: Third Circuit and Simple Assault... 257 Essential Elements Only: Ninth Circuit on Felony Gang Enhancement... 257 Essential Elements Only: Ninth Circuit on Disjunctive Burglary Statute... 258 Essential Elements Only: Fourth Circuit on Disjunctive Larceny Statute... 258 Essential Elements Only: Eleventh Circuit Throwing a Deadly Missile... 259 Divisibility after Descamps: Board of Immigration Appeals... 260 The Realistic Probability Test... 262 Matter of Chairez II: Alternative Statutory Phrases... 263 Matter of Chairez III... 264 Matter of Silva-Trevino... 264 The AG s Previous Methodology for Determining Moral Turpitude... 266 The Realistic Probability Test... 266 Moral Turpitude as a Non-elemental Fact... 267 The Federal Courts Response to Silva-Trevino... 267 BIA Limits Silva-Trevino... 270 The Attorney General s 2015 Vacatur... 270 Matter of Silva-Trevino (BIA 2016)... 270 Expanded Discussion: Arguments Against a Realistic Probability Test... 271 The Realistic Probability test does not apply in expressly overbroad statutes... 271 Moncrieffe v. Holder: Distribution without remuneration of a controlled substance... 272 Matter of Ferreira: Mismatched Controlled Substance Schedules... 272 Mellouli v. Lynch: Mismatched Controlled-Substance Schedules... 273 Singh v. U.S. Att y Gen.: Counterfeit versus controlled substances... 274 Swaby v. Yates: Mismatched Schedules, Realistic Probability Test Does Not Apply. 274 Matter of Chairez I: Antique Firearm Exception... 274 Matter of Silva-Trevino: Indecency with a Child... 275 Circuit Split: The Realistic Probability Test, to be or not to be... 275 Points to Make: Arguing Against the Realistic Probability Test... 276 Chapter Review: A Review of Pertinent Terms... 277 Appendices 5A: Unpublished IJ Decision (18 USC 1860 Not a CIMT)... 280
xxiv 5B: Excerpt from Board of Immigration Appeals Brief... 283 5C: Sample Memorandum in Support of INA 240A(a) Eligibility for Cancellation of Removal... 288 5D: Respondent s Reply to Government s Opposition to Motion to Reconsider... 295 Chapter Six: Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude... 303 The Concept of Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude... 303 Realistic Probability Analysis... 305 Circuit Court Deference to the Agency... 306 Felonies and Misdemeanors... 306 The elements of the criminal statute control... 306 The question of intent... 307 Divisible statutes and the record of conviction... 310 Aiding and abetting; accessories and conspiracy... 310 Specific Offenses and Whether They Involve Moral Turpitude... 311 Theft and Larceny... 311 Theft Through Fraud; Copyright Infringement... 316 Burglary... 316 Fraud... 318 False Statements... 319 Obstruction of Justice; Misprision... 320 Crimes of Violence... 322 Appendix Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude... 323 Crimes Not Involving Moral Turpitude... 324 Not Clear if Moral Turpitude Exists... 325 Gang Enhancement... 326 Failure to Register as a Sex Offender... 326 Crimes Involving Children... 327 Driving Under the Influence... 329 Controlled-Substance Offenses... 330 Firearms Offenses... 330 Immigration Law Violations... 331 6A: Motion to Dismiss and Terminate Arriving Alien Status; Conviction Under Florida Theft Statute Not a Categorical CIMT... 332 Chapter Seven: Aggravated Felonies... 341 The INA Definition of Aggravated Felony... 341 Murder... 343 Sexual Abuse of a Minor... 344
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxv Statutory Rape Type Cases... 345 Drug-Trafficking Crimes... 347 Federal controlled-substance law: federal drug trafficking crime... 348 First-time simple possession not an aggravated felony except for flunitrazepam... 348 Recidivist simple possession statutes... 348 State controlled-substance convictions... 349 Misdemeanor trafficking?... 349 Offenses involving the element of illicit trafficking... 350 Divisible statutes... 350 When trafficking isn t trafficking... 352 Distribution Without Remuneration: Moncrieffe v. Holder... 353 Mis-matched Controlled Substance Schedules... 356 Prescription Drugs... 359 Purchase of a Controlled Substance... 359 State Simple-Possession Offenses: A Mixed Approach... 360 The hypothetical felony approach... 361 The guidelines approach... 362 Dueling circuits... 363 The Supreme Court s decision in Lopez v. Gonzales... 364 The Federal Recidivist Statute... 365 The Supreme Court s decision in Carachuri-Rosendo... 367 The BIA s response to Carachuri-Rosendo... 368 Charging phase vs. sentencing phase... 369 Prosecutorial discretion... 370 Is there a conviction?... 371 Attempts and Conspiracies... 372 The Definition of Crime of Violence... 372 Mens Rea: The Levels of Intent... 372 The Supreme Court s interpretation of crime of violence... 374 Recklessness and the use of force... 376 Force versus contact... 377 Matter of Francisco-Alonzo... 382 The Board s Analysis in Matter of Chairez... 384 Particular Offenses... 385 Not crimes of violence... 385 Crimes of violence... 386 Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle... 387 Firearms Offenses... 389
xxvi Whether a state firearms offense is described in a federal statute... 391 Third Circuit on described in : Bautista v. U.S. Att y Gen.... 391 Supreme Court on described in : Torres v. Lynch... 392 Theft and Burglary Crimes... 392 Aiding and abetting... 392 Burglary... 394 Possession of stolen property... 395 Receipt of stolen property... 395 Embezzlement... 396 Alien Smuggling... 396 Offenses That Depend on the Sentence Imposed... 397 Perjury... 397 Commercial bribery; obstruction of justice... 397 Bail jumping... 398 Offenses That Depend on the Amount of Funds Involved... 399 Contesting Loss Findings; Understanding Relevant Conduct... 400 Offenses That Depend on Commercial Advantage... 404 Aggravated Felony Must It Be a Felony?... 405 Misdemeanor Crimes of Violence... 406 Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse of a Minor... 406 Attempts and Conspiracies... 408 Appendices 7A: Petition for Review of Denial of Naturalization Application... 409 7B: Memorandum in Support of Cancellation Eligibility... 426 7C: Sample Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings... 429 7D: Motion to Dismiss Aggravated Felony Firearm Charge under the Definition at INA 101(a)(43)(E)... 435 7E: Motion to Terminate Aggravated Felony Charge under INA 101(a)(43)(A) Sexual Abuse of a Minor... 440 Chapter Eight: Classifications Beyond Moral Turpitude and Aggravated Felony... 443 Controlled Substance Offenses... 443 The Definition of Controlled-Substance Offense... 444 Personal-use exception... 447 Variations on the Personal Use Exception... 447 Drugs, but Not Controlled Substances... 448 Solicitation Offenses... 450 Paraphernalia... 451 Possession must be accompanied by intent to use... 453
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxvii Paraphernalia must be tied to a federal controlled substance... 453 Simulated or imitation controlled substances... 453 Reason to Believe... 454 Drug Abusers and Addicts... 455 Firearms Offenses... 455 Firearm and Destructive Device Defined... 455 Firearm must be an element... 457 Firearms offense not a ground of inadmissibility... 458 No Reason to Believe or Admission of the Essential Elements Standards Apply... 458 Money Laundering... 458 Reason to Believe... 459 Crimes of Domestic Violence... 460 Offenses Included as Ground of Deportability... 460 Crime of Domestic Violence Defined... 460 The Domestic Violence Victim... 462 Defining the victim ; BIA adopts a circumstance-specific approach... 462 Child Abuse... 464 Violations of Protection Orders... 466 Applies to convictions after September 30, 1996... 467 Domestic Violence Offense as a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude... 467 Alien Smuggling... 467 Limited Exceptions for Smuggling an Immediate Family Member... 469 Alien Smuggling Defined... 469 The Crime of Alien Smuggling... 469 Crimes Involving Failure to Register; Visa and Passport Fraud... 471 Failure to Register... 472 Visa and Passport Fraud... 473 Visa fraud as a crime involving moral turpitude and an aggravated felony... 474 Immigration document fraud... 475 Passport fraud... 475 Export Law; National Security Violations... 475 Export Law Violations: A Matter of National Security... 475 Public Safety and National Security... 477 Failure to Register as a Sex Offender... 478 The Adam Walsh Act... 478 Unlawful Voting... 480 Appendices 8A: Sample Motion to Dismiss CIMT and RTB Charges... 481
xxviii 8B: Unpublished BIA Decision on Drug Paraphernalia and Pickering Vacatur Standard... 496 8C: Bond Motion Excerpt (Florida Firearms Statute) Not a Categorical Match to Federal Firearm Definition... 501 8D: Motion to Dismiss Charge under INA 237(a)(2)(B), New York Facilitation Conviction under NYPL 115.05 not a Categorical Controlled Substance Violation... 509 8E: Motion to Dismiss Firearm Charge under INA 237(a)(2)(C)... 514 Chapter Nine: Consequences of Specific Criminal Activity... 519 How to Use This Chapter... 519 Consequences of Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude... 520 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 520 Admission of the essential elements... 521 Petty offense and youthful offender exceptions... 522 Political offense exception... 523 Deportability/Removability... 524 Defining admission... 525 Multiple criminal convictions... 526 Mandatory Detention... 527 Voluntary Departure... 528 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 528 Voluntary departure at conclusion of removal proceedings... 528 Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and Convention Against Torture... 529 Asylum... 529 Withholding of removal... 530 Political offense exception... 530 Convention Against Torture... 531 Naturalization... 531 Revocation of naturalization (de-naturalization)... 532 Criminal prosecution for knowing illegal procurement of citizenship... 534 A defense attorney s obligations... 534 Consequences of an Aggravated Felony Conviction... 534 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 534 Deportability/Removability... 535 Mandatory Detention... 535 Voluntary Departure... 535 Summary of caveat eligibility for individual with aggravated felony conviction seeking voluntary departure:... 536 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 536
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxix Judicial review of the particularly serious crime determination... 538 Political offense exception... 538 Convention Against Torture... 538 Naturalization... 539 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 539 Consequences of a Controlled Substance Conviction... 539 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 539 Reason to believe... 540 Deportability/Removability... 541 The personal use exception... 541 Does the personal use exception extend to paraphernalia?... 541 Compare deportability with inadmissibility... 542 Mandatory Detention... 543 Voluntary Departure... 544 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 544 Conclusion of Proceedings... 544 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 544 Naturalization... 545 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 546 Consequences of a Firearms Offense... 546 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 546 Deportability/Removability... 547 Cross-reference with the aggravated felony definition... 547 Supreme Court: Torres v. Lynch... 549 Mandatory Detention... 549 Voluntary Departure... 549 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 549 Conclusion of proceedings... 549 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 549 Naturalization... 550 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 550 Consequences for Money Laundering Offenses... 551 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 551 State money-laundering offenses... 552 Moral turpitude... 552 Deportability/Removability... 553 Mandatory Detention... 553 Voluntary Departure... 553
xxx Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 553 Conclusion of proceedings... 554 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 555 Naturalization... 555 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 556 Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction... 556 The Definition... 556 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 556 Cross-reference to crimes involving moral turpitude... 556 Deportability/Removability... 558 Mandatory Detention... 560 Voluntary Departure... 560 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 560 Conclusion of proceedings... 560 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 561 Naturalization... 562 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 562 Consequences of Alien Smuggling... 562 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 562 Deportability/Removability... 562 Cross-reference with the aggravated felony definition... 563 Mandatory Detention... 563 Voluntary Departure... 563 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 563 Conclusion of proceedings... 563 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 564 Naturalization... 564 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 565 Falsification of Documents, and Visa and Passport Fraud... 565 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 565 Visa fraud... 566 Possession vs. use... 566 Civil or criminal document fraud violations under INA 274C... 567 Deportability/Removability... 568 Registration and Visa Fraud... 568 Civil or criminal document fraud violations under INA 274C... 568 Mandatory Detention... 568 Voluntary Departure... 569
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxxi Pre-commencement or preliminary stage of removal proceedings... 569 Conclusion of proceedings... 569 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 570 Naturalization... 570 Revocation of naturalization (denaturalization)... 571 Consequences of Export Law Violations... 571 Inadmissibility, Including Adjustment of Status and Visa Eligibility... 571 Deportability/Removability... 573 Mandatory Detention... 573 Voluntary Departure... 573 Pre-commencement or early stage of removal proceedings... 573 Conclusion of proceedings... 574 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 574 Naturalization... 575 Adam Walsh Act... 575 Appendix 9A: Crimes and Possible Consequences Chart... 577 Chapter Ten: Immigration Defense: Waivers and Other Relief... 579 Burden of Proof and Persuasion... 580 Categorical approach in the relief phase... 580 Mandatory Bars and DHS s Burden of Proof... 582 Adjustment of Status... 582 Available to Permanent and Non Permanent Residents... 585 Discretionary Benefit... 586 Jurisdiction... 587 Aggravated Felony Offenses... 588 Firearms Offenses... 589 Domestic Violence Offenses... 590 Visa and Registration Offenses... 590 Export Violations... 591 Waivers Under INA 212(h)... 592 The 15-Year Waiver... 594 The Extreme Hardship Waiver... 594 The Battered Spouse and Child Waiver... 594 Special Rules for Lawful Permanent Residents... 595 LPRs with aggravated felony and other convictions... 595 Retroactivity of the amendment... 596 Important circuit case law: defining admission... 596
xxxii The analysis: understanding admission... 596 The analysis: understanding the criminal bar s language... 597 Matter of J-H-J... 598 Matter of Alyazji... 598 The analysis: what about entry without inspection?... 599 The next move: DHS argues subsequent re-entries are admissions... 599 LPRs with non-aggravated felony convictions... 600 Defining Lawful Continual Residence... 601 Tolling of Seven-Year Period: Initiation of Removal Proceedings... 601 Arriving Aliens or Those Adjusting Status... 602 BIA abandons Matter of Sanchez... 604 Crimes occurring prior to admission that were not revealed... 605 Limited Availability of INA 212(h) for Persons Convicted of Violent or Dangerous Crimes... 605 INA 209(c) Waiver for Refugees and Asylees... 609 Compare with the INA 212(h) Waiver... 610 Use of INA 209(c) by Certain Lawful Permanent Residents to Avoid Removal... 611 Asylum and Withholding of Removal... 612 Asylum... 613 Withholding of or Restriction on Removal Under the INA... 614 Defining the particularly serious crime... 615 Withholding and Deferral Under the Convention Against Torture... 617 Cancellation of Removal... 617 Continuous Residence Versus Lawful Permanent Resident Status... 618 Residence Cannot Be Imputed to Minor Children Living Abroad... 618 Defining Admission... 619 Offense need not be charged in removal proceedings to stop the time... 621 The Requirement of a Lawful Admission... 622 Individuals Who Are Ineligible for Cancellation... 623 Combining waivers... 623 Special Rule for Battered Spouses... 624 Special Rule Cancellation of Removal: NACARA 203... 625 No Reinstatement of Removal... 627 The Waiver That Keeps Giving: INA 212(c) (repealed 1996)... 627 Overview of Eligibility Criteria for 212(c) Waiver... 627 Introduction... 628 Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile... 630 Case Law Expands Eligibility to Those in Deportation Track... 631 The Immigration Act of 1990... 631
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxxiii The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996... 632 The U.S. Supreme Court Decision: INS v. St. Cyr... 632 The 2004 Regulation... 633 Eligibility cut-off dates... 633 Individuals in exclusion proceedings... 636 IIRAIRA definition of aggravated felony retroactive: the summer of 1996... 636 Persons convicted by trial... 638 Utilizing the waiver to cure post-1996 convictions (persons already in deportation proceedings)... 639 INA 212(c) Eligibility Criteria... 639 Persons wrongfully removed prior to St. Cyr, Judulang, or Abdelghany... 641 Re-entry after pretermission of 212(c) application and deportation... 642 Gabryelsky filings: adjustment of status combined with INA 212(c)... 644 Combining INA 212(c) and Cancellation of Removal... 645 Affirmative Applications for 212(c)... 645 Naturalization After a Waiver Under INA 212(c)... 646 Voluntary Departure... 646 Precommencement or Preliminary Stage of Proceedings... 648 Voluntary Departure at Conclusion of Proceedings... 649 Is Your Client an American Citizen? An Introduction to Derivative and Acquired Citizenship... 651 Watch for Effective Dates... 651 Acquired Citizenship at Birth... 652 Derivative Citizenship After Birth... 654 Individual who turned 18 before February 27, 2001... 654 Naturalization as a Defense to Deportation... 656 Termination of Removal Proceedings for Naturalization... 656 Soldiers and Veterans... 657 Relief from Alien Smuggling Charges... 660 Relief from Deportability and Inadmissibility, Absent a Conviction... 660 Waiver for smuggling immediate family members... 660 Cancellation of removal... 660 Relief from a Conviction for Alien Smuggling (An Aggravated Felony)... 661 Adjustment of status... 661 INA 212(h) waiver... 661 Cancellation of removal... 662 INA 212(c) waiver... 662 Asylum and withholding of removal... 662 Naturalization... 662
xxxiv Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Under INA 212(d)(3)... 663 Introduction: My son s been deported for an aggravated felony; can he ever come back?... 663 Jurisdiction... 664 Applications at the consulate... 664 Applications at a port of entry... 665 Separate permission to re-enter after deportation or removal (Form I-212) not required... 666 Does not waive security or terrorism grounds of inadmissibility... 667 Factors for Consideration... 667 Defending the Criminal Charge of Re-entry After Removal... 668 Appendices Collaterally attacking the underlying removal order... 669 10A: Sample Motion to Reopen Sua Sponte Based on New Case Law... 672 10B: Unpublished BIA Decision re: Sua Sponte Motion to Reopen for INA 212(c) After Removal Order, Conviction by Trial... 677 10C: Brief Excerpt: Particularly Serious Crime Analysis, Asylum Versus Withholding... 679 10D: Sample Motion to Pretermit Waiver Application Under INA 212(h)... 682 10E: Sample Memorandum in Support of INA 212(h) Eligibility... 687 10F: Unpublished BIA Decision re: Cancellation of Removal, Waiver of Inadmissibility Under INA 212(h)... 693 Chapter Eleven: Immigration Defense: Fashioning a Plea to Avoid Adverse Immigration Consequences... 697 Avoiding Adverse Immigration Consequences... 698 Avoiding a Conviction Through Pretrial Diversion... 698 Beware of admissions to the crime... 699 Federal First Offender Act Treatment; 18 USC 3607... 699 Keep the Case in Juvenile Court... 700 The Petty Offense Exception... 701 Section 237 s version of the petty offense exception... 701 Avoiding a Conviction of a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude... 702 Why It Is Important (A Quick Rundown on Consequences)... 702 Eligibility for permanent resident status... 702 Mandatory detention... 702 Naturalization... 702 What Is Moral Turpitude?... 702 Fraud crimes... 703 Theft offenses: defining deprive... 703 Embezzlement... 704
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxxv Burglary... 704 Working with a divisible statute: control the conviction record... 705 Alternative pleas... 705 Crimes of violence... 705 DUIs (operating under the influence)... 706 Avoid Multiple Counts... 706 Summary Examples of Successful Plea Bargaining to Avoid a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude... 707 Avoiding the Aggravated Felony Conviction... 708 Why It Is Important (A Quick Rundown on Consequences)... 708 Limited eligibility for relief from removal and mandatory detention... 708 Barred from asylum... 709 No naturalization for convictions entered after November 29, 1990... 709 Avoiding an Aggravated Felony Keep the Sentence Under One Year... 709 Avoiding Loss to a Victim, or Funds, Exceeding $10,000... 710 Avoiding Crime of Violence by Pleading to a Non Specific Intent Crime... 711 Avoiding Alien Smuggling/Aggravated Felony Conviction... 711 Summary Examples of Effective Plea Bargaining to Avoid Aggravated Felony... 712 Avoiding Deportability for Domestic Violence Offenses... 718 Creating Eligibility for Relief... 718 Appendix INA 212(h)... 719 Less than 30 grams of marijuana... 719 Cancellation of Removal... 719 Avoid offenses that toll the seven years of legal residence... 719 Avoid the aggravated felony conviction... 720 Withholding of Removal and Asylum... 720 Naturalization eligibility... 720 Creating a Good Record Through the Plea Agreement and Plea Colloquy... 720 Defense and immigration counsel must work as a team... 722 Plea Agreements to Avoid (Bad Plea Deals)... 722 False statements and currency transactions... 722 Aggravated assault and probation only... 723 Multiple counts... 723 365 days in jail... 723 Five-year prison sentence... 724 11A: Sample Memorandum for Fashioning a Plea... 725
xxxvi Chapter Twelve: Visas for Cooperating Witnesses... 735 S Status... 736 The Statute... 737 The Regulations... 738 Conditions of Status... 739 Adjustment to Permanent Resident Status Under S... 740 The statute... 741 The regulations... 742 Special requirements for family members... 742 Miscellaneous Tips and Advice About S Status... 743 Asylum, Withholding and CAT as alternatives... 745 Convention Against Torture for the principal family member/witness... 746 T Status... 748 The Statute... 748 New 2017 Regulations... 749 Severe form of trafficking is force, fraud, or coercion... 749 Extreme hardship defined... 750 Physical presence requirement... 750 Application Procedure... 751 Effect of pending immigration proceedings... 752 Applicants with final orders of removal... 752 Annual cap on number of admissions... 753 Revocation of status... 753 Family Members... 753 Duration of nonimmigrant status and application for permanent residency... 754 U Status... 755 The Statute... 756 Criminal activity defined... 757 The Regulation... 757 Filing... 759 Cap and Backlogs... 760 Qualifying family members... 760 Persons in removal proceedings... 761 Age-out protection... 763 Permanent Resident Status: A Change in Focus... 764 Family Members Not Already in U Status... 766 Jurisdiction... 767
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxxvii Appendix 12A: Form I-854, Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Informant Record... 768 Chapter Thirteen: Preparing and Presenting Applications That Waive a Criminal Conviction... 781 Venues: an Overview of Jurisdiction... 782 Consulate Cases: USCIS Jurisdiction over Waivers... 782 Adjustment of Status: USCIS Jurisdiction, Possible Interview... 783 Immigration Court... 784 Nonimmigrant Visas at Consulate: Admissibility Review Office... 784 Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Stays of Removal... 785 Filing Fees... 785 Rules Regarding Biometrics... 785 The Universal List: Evidence in Support of a Waiver... 787 Evidence Relating to the Applicant... 788 Evidence Relating to Family Members... 790 Adjustment of Status... 792 Forms, Fees, and Attachments... 792 When Filing with the Immigration Court... 794 Adjustment Is Discretionary... 794 INA 212(h) Waivers 15-Year, Hardship, and Battered Spouse or Child... 794 Form and Fee... 794 When Filing with the Immigration Court... 795 Emphasis on Hardship to Family Members... 795 Discretion Must Be Warranted, Notwithstanding Hardship... 796 Refugee Waiver Under INA 209(c)... 796 Waiver Under the Pre-AEDPA INA 212(c) (repealed in 1996)... 798 Form and Fee... 798 Emphasis on Unrelinquished Domicile; All Equities Are Relevant... 798 Cannot have served five years in prison for an aggravated felony or felonies... 798 A balancing of the equities... 799 Cancellation of Removal INA 240A(a)... 799 Form and Fee... 799 Filing with the Immigration Court... 799 Emphasis on Residency Requirements; All Equities Apply... 800 A balancing of the equities... 800 Special Rule Cancellation of Removal... 800 Form and Fee... 800 Supporting Documents... 800
xxxviii Waiver Under INA 212(d)(3)(A)... 801 Form and Fee... 801 Information Required... 801 Contacting LegalNet for Assistance When Consul Declines to Accept Waiver... 802 Memoranda of Law and Witness Lists... 803 Before USCIS... 803 Pretrial Statements to the Immigration Court... 804 Witnesses... 806 Witness list... 806 Choosing witnesses... 806 Working with witnesses... 806 The REAL ID Act and Credibility... 807 Details: The time and place of hearing, the need for an interpreter... 807 Conclusion... 807 Applications Filed After an Order of Removal... 808 Stay of Deportation: Form I-246... 808 Criteria... 808 Permission to Reapply for Admission After a Removal Order... 809 Criteria... 811 Appendices 13A: Sample Respondent s Pretrial Statement... 813 13B: Statement in Support of Naturalization Eligibility... 818 APPENDICES 1A: Contact Information for Immigration Courts... 42 1B: Structure of CBP... 43 1C: Structure of ICE... 44 1D: Structure of USCIS... 45 1E: Sample Notice to Appear... 45 1F: FBI Rap Sheet Request... 49 1G: Appointment Confirmation Letter... 51 1H: Client Checklist for Analyzing a Case with a Crime... 52 1I: Client Information Sheet... 55 2A: Sample Padilla Motion to Vacate Plea, Judgment, and Sentence... 93 2B: Matter of [redacted], 2012 Newark N..J. (AAO)... 99 2C: Memorandum in Support of Admissibility Under INA 212(a)(2)... 106 3A: Sample Motion to Terminate Arriving Alien Status (Conviction vs. Commission)... 134
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xxxix 3B: Sample Motion to Terminate Arriving Alien Status (False Imprisonment)... 142 3C: Respondent s Reply to DHS Response on Motion to Dismiss (Arriving Alien)... 149 4A: Custody Rule Invoked (Terminates the Transitional Period Custody Rules)... 193 4B: Section 309 of the IIRAIRA the Transition Rule for 1996 Amendments to the INA... 195 4C: Section 303(b) of the IIRAIRA Effective Date of INA 236(c) Mandatory Detention... 198 4D: Memorandum on INA 236(c) s Custody Requirement and the Use of Alternatives to Detention to Meet the Statute s Requirements... 200 4E: Memorandum of Law in Support of Bond Motion Joseph Motion Arguing Financial Loss to a Victim Did Not Exceed $10,000 for Purposes of INA 101(a)(43)(M)... 205 4F: Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 USC 2241... 210 4G: Memorandum in Support of Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 USC 2241... 218 4H: Motion for Bond Based on Matter of Joseph; Fraud Offense Not an Aggravated Felony Under INA 101(a)(43)(M)/Analyzing Loss to a Victim... 231 5A: Unpublished IJ Decision (18 USC 1860 Not a CIMT)... 280 5B: Excerpt from Board of Immigration Appeals Brief... 283 5C: Sample Memorandum in Support of INA 240A(a) Eligibility for Cancellation of Removal... 288 5D: Respondent s Reply to Government s Opposition to Motion to Reconsider... 295 6A: Motion to Dismiss and Terminate Arriving Alien Status; Conviction Under Florida Theft Statute Not a Categorical CIMT... 332 7A: Petition for Review of Denial of Naturalization Application... 409 7B: Memorandum in Support of Cancellation Eligibility... 426 7C: Sample Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings... 429 7D: Motion to Dismiss Aggravated Felony Firearm Charge under the Definition at INA 101(a)(43)(E)... 435 7E: Motion to Terminate Aggravated Felony Charge under INA 101(a)(43)(A) Sexual Abuse of a Minor... 440 8A: Sample Motion to Dismiss CIMT and RTB Charges... 481 8B: Unpublished BIA Decision on Drug Paraphernalia and Pickering Vacatur Standard... 496 8C: Bond Motion Excerpt (Florida Firearms Statute) Not a Categorical Match to Federal Firearm Definition... 501 8D: Motion to Dismiss Charge under INA 237(a)(2)(B), New York Facilitation Conviction under NYPL 115.05 not a Categorical Controlled Substance Violation... 509 8E: Motion to Dismiss Firearm Charge under INA 237(a)(2)(C)... 514
xl 9A: Crimes and Possible Consequences Chart... 577 10A: Sample Motion to Reopen Sua Sponte Based on New Case Law... 672 10B: Unpublished BIA Decision re: Sua Sponte Motion to Reopen for INA 212(c) After Removal Order, Conviction by Trial... 677 10C: Brief Excerpt: Particularly Serious Crime Analysis, Asylum Versus Withholding... 679 10D: Sample Motion to Pretermit Waiver Application Under INA 212(h)... 682 10E: Sample Memorandum in Support of INA 212(h) Eligibility... 687 10F: Unpublished BIA Decision re: Cancellation of Removal, Waiver of Inadmissibility Under INA 212(h)... 693 11A: Sample Memorandum for Fashioning a Plea... 725 12A: Form I-854, Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Informant Record... 768 13A: Sample Respondent s Pretrial Statement... 813 13B: Statement in Support of Naturalization Eligibility... 818