Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00007/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00007-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1361 Petition for Writ of Mandamus

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ABDUL YARO LECKY,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ALBERTO GONZALES, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-0007 SI

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

MOTION FOR REMAND

Defendants’ motion for remand is scheduled for a hearing on June 29, 2007. Pursuant to Civil

Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court determines that the matter is appropriate for resolution without oral

argument, and VACATES the hearing.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Abdul Yaro Lecky became a lawful permanent resident on July 3, 1997. See Hadary

Decl. ¶ 13. Plaintiff filed an “N-400” Application for Naturalization on April 22, 2004. Id. An FBI

name check was initiated on May 12, 2004. Id. The United States Citizenship and Immigration

Services (“USCIS”) interviewed plaintiff regarding his application on December 23, 2004. Id. 

On January 3, 2007, plaintiff filed a complaint in this Court. The complaint alleges that USCIS

has not adjudicated plaintiff’s naturalization application because USCIS has not received the results of

background checks. Complaint ¶ 20, Ex. C & D. On April 5, 2007, USCIS requested that the FBI

expedite plaintiff’s name check. See Hadary Decl. ¶ 13. According to USCIS, as soon as the required

security checks are completed, USCIS will adjudicate plaintiff’s application for naturalization. Id.

Case 3:07-cv-00007-SI Document 19 Filed 06/22/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 8 U.S.C. § 1446 addresses the process by which applicants for naturalization are investigated

and examined.

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DISCUSSION

8 U.S.C. § 1447(b) provides for judicial review of a naturalization petition in which a decision

has not been made within 120 days of examination. That section provides,

(b) Request for hearing before district court

If there is a failure to make a determination under section 1446 of this title before the end

of the 120-day period after the date on which the examination is conducted under such

section,1 the applicant may apply to the United States district court for the district in

which the applicant resides for a hearing on the matter. Such 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.

8 U.S.C. § 1447(b). Courts have determined that the “examination” referred to in this provision is the

initial interview scheduled under 8 U.S.C. § 1446. See U.S.A. v. Hovsepian, 359 F.3d 1144, 1151 (9th

Cir. 2004); El-Daour v. Chertoff, 417 F. Supp. 2d 679 (W.D. Pa. 2005). Here, plaintiff’s initial

interview took place on December 23, 2004, more than 120 days before plaintiff filed the instant action.

Defendants have moved to remand this case to the USCIS with instructions that the agency

adjudicate plaintiff’s naturalization application promptly after receiving the results of the background

checks. Plaintiff has filed a qualified opposition, requesting that the Court remand to USCIS with

instructions to adjudicate the application within 30 days, irrespective of whether any background checks

have been completed.

The Court finds it appropriate to remand this action to USCIS because that agency has

considerably more expertise than the Court in adjudicating naturalization petitions. See generally

Ibrahim v. Still, 2007 WL 841790 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2007) (discussing process of adjudicating such

petitions). Although the Court is sympathetic to plaintiff’s desire for a prompt adjudication of his

application, the USCIS lacks authority to grant an application for naturalization until the background

checks are completed. See 8 U.S.C. § 1446(a). Accordingly, the Court will remand this action to

USCIS, with instructions to adjudicate plaintiff’s application as soon as possible after receiving the

background check results.

Case 3:07-cv-00007-SI Document 19 Filed 06/22/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby GRANTS defendants’ motion for remand. (Docket

No. 16). The USCIS shall adjudicate plaintiff’s application for naturalization as soon as possible after

the agency receives the results of the background checks.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 22, 2007 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00007-SI Document 19 Filed 06/22/07 Page 3 of 3