Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-01550/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-01550-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Carlos Humberto Diaz, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Alberto Gonzales, et al., 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-06-1550-PHX-DGC

ORDER

Pending before the Court are Petitioner Carlos Humberto Diaz's petition for writ of

habeas corpus and United States Magistrate Judge Glenda E. Edmonds' Report and

Recommendation (“R&R”). Dkt. ##1, 17. The R&R recommends that the Court grant the

petition because under Tijani v. Willis, 430 F.3d 1241 (9th Cir. 2005), Petitioner has been

detained beyond the expedited removal period authorized by 8 U.S.C. § 1226. Dkt. #17 at

3. For reasons stated below, the Court will reject the R&R and deny the petition.

I. Background.

Petitioner, a native of Guatemala and a United States resident since 1965, was placed

in custody on May 4, 2004 upon being charged with removability under 8 U.S.C. § 1227

(a)(2)(B)(i) for conviction of a controlled substance offense. Dkt. #17 at 1-2. On July 26,

2004, the Immigration Judge ordered Petitioner removed to Guatemala, a decision that was

affirmed by the Board of Immigration Appeals on January 26, 2005. Dkt. #11 at 3. The

Ninth Circuit granted a stay of removal on September 22, 2005, and, after considering

Petitioner's petition for review, denied review on December 13, 2006. Diaz v. Gonzales 05-

Case 2:06-cv-01550-DGC-GEE Document 19 Filed 04/20/07 Page 1 of 3
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70950 (9th Cir. stay order filed Sept. 22, 2005); 204 Fed.Appx. 708, 709 (9th Cir. Dec. 13,

2006) (unpublished memorandum). On April 2, 2007, the Ninth Circuit issued a mandate

denying Petitioner's petition for rehearing. Id. (9th Cir. mandate Apr. 2, 2007).

II. Discussion.

The apprehension, detention, and release of aliens in pending administrative removal

proceedings is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226. After administrative removal proceedings have

been completed, however, the detention and release of the alien are governed by 8 U.S.C.

§ 1231. Section § 1231(a)(1) provides in relevant part:

(A) In general

Except as otherwise provided in this section, when an alien is

ordered removed, the Attorney General shall remove the alien

from the United States within a period of 90 days (in this section

referred to as the “removal period”).

(B) Beginning of period

The removal period begins on the latest of the following:

(i) The date the order of removal becomes administratively

final.

(ii) If the removal order is judicially reviewed and if a court

orders a stay of the removal of the alien, the date of the court's

final order.

8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1). Petitioner's removal period under this statute began on April 2, 2007,

when the Ninth Circuit entered its final order in Petitioner's appeal. 

Once the 90-day removal period begins, an alien is subject to mandatory detention

until deported. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(2). Petitioner no longer has a habeas remedy available

to him for unlawful detention during his removability proceedings. Petitioner's habeas

petition is therefore denied. 

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Magistrate Judge Edmonds' R&R (Dkt. #17) is rejected.

2. Petitioner Diaz's petition for writ of habeas corpus (Dkt. #1) is denied.

Case 2:06-cv-01550-DGC-GEE Document 19 Filed 04/20/07 Page 2 of 3
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DATED this 17th day of April, 2007.

Case 2:06-cv-01550-DGC-GEE Document 19 Filed 04/20/07 Page 3 of 3