Case ID: f-appx_186/html/0300-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SCIRICA, Chief Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Reinaldo Cruz ESCOBAR, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL of the United States; Andrea Quarantillo, District Director, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Respondents.
    No. 05-2171.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Argued Feb. 13, 2006.
    Filed June 28, 2006.
    
      Edmundo D. Lijo, Esquire, (Argued), Blackwell, Igbanugo, Engen & Saffold, Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner.
    Susan K. Houser, Esquire, (Argued), Carl H. McIntyre, Jr., Esquire, Marion E. Guyton, Esquire, Richard M. Evans, Esquire, Washington, D.C., for Respondents.
    Before SCIRICA, Chief Judge, BARRY and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

SCIRICA, Chief Judge.

Petitioner Reinaldo Cruz Escobar petitions for review of the BIA’s March 15, 2005 order denying his motion to reconsider the BIA’s January 13, 2004 decision. In that order, the BIA affirmed the IJ’s denial of Escobar’s motion to reopen his deportation proceedings. We have jurisdiction to review the BIA’s decision under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reconsider for abuse of discretion. Borges v. Gonzales, 402 F.3d 398, 404 (3d Cir.2005). For the reasons set forth, we will grant the petition.

Because we write for the parties, we will set forth only those facts necessary for our analysis. If an applicant for suspension of deportation or for special rule cancellation of removal under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (“NACARA”) has an asylum application pending before the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services has initial jurisdiction over the NACARA application, unless the applicant (1) has a final order of deportation, 8 C.F.R. § 1003.43, or (2) is currently in immigration proceedings, 8 C.F.R. § 240.62(b). 8 C.F.R. § 240.62(a); see Suspension of Deportation and Special Rule Cancellation of Removal for Certain Nationals of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Former Soviet Bloc Countries, 64 Fed.Reg. 27856 (May 21, 1999). The record demonstrates Escobar filed an asylum application with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services on November 14, 2004. Nevertheless, the BIA held the Immigration Court had jurisdiction over Escobar’s NA-CARA application. Because it also held Escobar’s motion to reopen was untimely, the BIA did not reach the merits of Escobar’s NACARA application.

Respondent contends the Immigration Court had jurisdiction over Escobar’s NA-CARA application because he was subject to a final order of deportation. In December 1990, an IJ issued an order of deportation against Escobar and granted him alternative voluntary departure until March 18, 1991. Because Escobar did not voluntarily depart, his deportation order became final on March 18, 1991. However, in December 1997, Escobar left the United States under a grant of advance parole, and was paroled back into the United States on January 27,1998.

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(g), a person who “has left the United States” while under a final order of deportation or removal “is considered to have been deported or removed in pursuance of law.” See also 8 C.F.R § 1241.7 (“Any alien who has departed from the United States while an order of deportation or removal is outstanding shall be considered to have been deported, excluded and deported, or removed .... ”). Accordingly, when Escobar left the United States in 1997, he “executed” his deportation order, his immigration proceedings terminated, and he was no longer subject to an order of deportation. See Stone v. INS, 514 U.S. 386, 398, 115 S.Ct. 1537, 131 L.Ed.2d 465 (1995) (“Deportation orders are self-executing orders, not dependent upon judicial enforcement.”); Navarro-Miranda v. Ashcroft, 330 F.3d 672, 675 (5th Cir.2003) (“Once Navarro was deported, therefore, his removal proceedings were completed and final.”).

Respondent contends Escobar’s deportation order could not have been executed because Escobar enjoyed Temporary Protected Status at the time of his departure. But Escobar’s Temporary Protected Status ended on July 1, 1992. Immigration Act of 1990, Pub.L. No. 101-649, § 303(a)(2), 104 Stat 4978, 5036, reprinted in 8 U.S.C. §• 1254a (notes). At that time, the Attorney General began placing Salvadoreans in Deferred Enforced Departure. See Deferral of Enforced Departure for Salvadorans, 57 Fed.Reg. 28700, 28701 (June 26, 1992). Escobar did not regain Temporary Protected Status until March 9, 2001. See Designation of El Salvador Under Temporary Protected Status Program, 66 Fed.Reg. 14214, 14215 (March 9, 2001).

Because Escobar did not have a final order of deportation pending against him, he was not required to file a motion to reopen with the Immigration Court, and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services — not the Immigration Court — had jurisdiction over his NACARA application. We will grant the petition for review and remand to the BIA with directions to refer Escobar’s NACARA application to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjudication. 
      
      . As of March 1, 2003, the functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service were assumed by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Soltane v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 381 F.3d 143, 145 n. 1 (3d Cir. 2004).
     
      
      . Respondent does not contend this rule is inapplicable to persons who leave the United States under a grant of advance parole.
     
      
      . Pursuant to Respondent's request, we held the case in abeyance for 90 days. On May 27, 2006, Escobar and Respondent informed the Court that the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services has received a NACARA application from Escobar and, after an FBI name check, "should be able to issue a final decision” on that application. (Pilotti Deck 1112.) The parties have requested that this case be held in abeyance for another 90 days. The request is denied. At this time, we grant the relief Escobar requests — a full review of his NACARA application by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.