Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02598/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02598-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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Case 3:11-cv-02598-LAB Document 2 Filed 12/14/11 Page 1 of 2
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enter domestic society, to participate in rehabilitative or other programs while denying that

privilege to deportable inmates. See, e.g., Santos v. United States, 940 F.Supp. 275, 281

(D. Hawaii 1996) (one's status as deportable alien, which may result in ineligibility for less

restrictive terms of confinement, cannot justify downward departure; plaintiff failed to state

an equal protection claim "because deportable aliens are not 'similarly situated' to United

States citizens"). The Supreme Court "has firmly and repeatedly endorsed the proposition

that Congress may make rules as to aliens that would be unacceptable if applied to citizens."

Demore v. Kim, 538 U.S. 510, 521-22 (2003).

This Court has previously rejected the claim that an alien’s ineligibility for various

prisoner programs or benefits violates that person’s rights. See Rendon-Inzunza v. United

States, 2010 WL 3076271 (S.D. Cal. 2010); Lizarraga-Lopez v. United States, 89 F.Supp.2d

1166 (S.D. Cal. 2000). Those holdings stand. The purpose of halfway houses is to

facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into the community, but prisoners in Jaquez-Nejeda’s

position are released first to the Attorney General and then to a foreign community.

Moreover, halfway houses are still custodial institutions wherein prisoners serve out their full

sentences, and from which deportable aliens would be a unique flight risk.

No due process or equal protection issue arises merely because a defendant's alien

status excludes him from certain programs available to citizens, within the prison system or

without. Accordingly, Jaquez-Nejeda’s argument that the Court should consider his request

for an additional downward departure on that basis is rejected. His habeas petition is

accordingly DENIED. The Court also DENIES him a certificate of appealability. See 28

U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 14, 2011

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

Case 3:11-cv-02598-LAB Document 2 Filed 12/14/11 Page 2 of 2