Case ID: f-appx_199/html/0138-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WEIS, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America v. Roderick Randall OUTRAM, a/k/a Sean M. Brewster, Appellant.
    No. 05-3790.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) Sept. 14, 2006.
    Filed Sept. 19, 2006.
    James T. Clancy, Office of United States Attorney, Harrisburg, PA, for United States of America.
    Anser Ahmad, Harrisburg, PA, for Appellant.
    Before SLOVITER, WEIS, and GARTH, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

WEIS, Circuit Judge.

Defendant pleaded guilty to an unlawful re-entry into this country in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2). He was sentenced to fifty-seven months incarceration under the Guidelines, consecutive to a state sentence he was then serving.

Defendant appealed and this Court affirmed the conviction and the District Court’s decision to impose a consecutive sentence. We remanded, however, for re-sentencing in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). United States v. Outram, 132 Fed.Appx. 412 (3d Cir.2005).

On remand, the District Court held a sentencing hearing and, after arguments by counsel, reinstated the original sentence. Having reviewed the record in this case, we find no error and do not find the sentence unreasonable.

Outram also attempts now to collaterally attack his 1993 removal order, which was issued in absentia, arguing that it was fundamentally unfair. Initially, we note that Outram failed to raise this claim in his original appeal of his sentence and is foreclosed from doing so now. See United States v. Pultrone, 241 F.3d 306, 307-08 (3d Cir.2001).

The challenge also fails on the merits. To prevail on a collateral attack on a deportation order under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(d), (1) an alien must exhaust any administrative remedies that may have been available; (2) the deportation proceedings must have deprived the alien of the opportunity for judicial review; and (3) entry of the order must have been fundamentally unfair. “[A]ll three [requirements] must be met before an alien will be permitted to mount a collateral challenge to the underlying removal order.” United States v. Torres, 383 F.3d 92, 99 (3d Cir. 2004).

Outram has not demonstrated that the entry of the order was fundamentally unfair. “ ‘[Fundamental fairness is a question of procedure.’ ” Id. at 103 (quoting United States v. Lopez-Ortiz, 313 F.3d 225, 230 (5th Cir.2002)). With respect to removal proceedings, “ ‘due process requires that an alien who faces [removal] be provided (1) notice of the charges against him, (2) a hearing before an executive or administrative tribunal, and (3) a fair opportunity to be heard.’ ” Id. at 104 (quoting Lopez-Ortiz, 313 F.3d at 230).

In the present case, Outram received notice of the removal proceedings and an opportunity to be heard before an Immigration Judge. He failed, however, to appear at this hearing. This is not a denial of due process. Further, we note that Outram does not appear to contest the facts underlying the removal order.

Accordingly, we will affirm the Judgment of the District Court.