Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00553/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00553-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MANSOUR AHMED SOUSSI, CASE NO. CV-F-06-553-LJO-SMS

Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO

REMAND and MOTION TO STAY (Docs. 27, 30)

AND VACATING THE APRIL 12, 2007 HEARING

 

vs.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, Secretary of 

Homeland Security, EDUARDO 

AGUIRRE, Director of the United States

Citizenship and Immigration Services, 

DAVID STILL, District Director of the 

United States Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, DON RIDING,

Officer in Charge of the Fresno Office 

of the United States Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, McGREGOR

SCOTT,

Defendants.

 /

On May 9, 2006, Plaintiff Mansour Ahmed Soussi filed his complaint in the above-titled action.

Soussi alleges that the defendants violated theirstatutory duty under 8 U.S.C. §1447(b) to adjudicate his

Application for Naturalization within 120 days of the initial examination. After discovery, Defendants

filed a Motion to Remand and a Motion to Stay on February 13, 2007. Defendants seek a remand,

because they are now in a position to adjudicate Soussi’s application for Naturalization within 120 days.

Soussi opposes the Motion to Remand and Motion to Stay, requesting the Court continue to assert

jurisdiction in the matter and determine his eligibility for naturalization.

8 U.S.C. §1447(b), holds: 

If there is a failure to make a determination under section 335 before the end of the 120-

day period after the date on which the examination is conducted under such section, the

applicant may apply to the United States district court for the district in which the

Case 1:06-cv-00553-LJO -SMS Document 40 Filed 04/10/07 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

applicant resides for a hearing on the matter. Such a court has jurisdiction over the

matter and may either determine the matter or remand the matter, with appropriate

instructions, to the Service to determine the matter. 

Accordingly, this Court may either determine the matter, as Soussirequests, or remand with appropriate

instructions, as the Defendantsrequest. After a hearing on March 5, 2007, the Court ordered defendants

to submit a declaration as to why this Court should not retain jurisdiction in the matter. Having received

and reviewed declarations filed on April 4, 2007 (Docs. 36) and April 5, 2007 (Docs. 37 and 38),

including an ex parte and confidential filing by the Government, the Court finds good cause for the

confidential filing, the ex parte nature of the filing, and a remand.

The Court also recognizes that Soussi has a right to have his Application for Naturalization

adjudicated in a timely manner. Therefore, the Court will include instructions that upon remand, the

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall adjudicate his application within 120 days.

In the event USCIS fails to meet this deadline, Soussi may request a status conference at that time to

evaluate whether the case should be rescheduled for a bench trial.

 For these reasons, the Court ORDERS:

1. This Case shall be REMANDED to United States Citizenship and Immigration Service

for further proceedings;

2. USCIS shall have 120 days in which to adjudicate Soussi’s application for adjudication;

3. In the event USCIS fails to meet this deadline, Soussi may request a status conference.

At that time, the Court will evaluate whether the case should be rescheduled for a bench

trial or whether additional time for adjudication is warranted; and

4. The hearing scheduled on April 12, 2007 is VACATED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 9, 2007 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00553-LJO -SMS Document 40 Filed 04/10/07 Page 2 of 2