# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 20 04

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Artu ro And rad e-Zam or a

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Peti ti on er

v.

Lore tt a E. Ly

nc h, At to rn ey

Gene ral of Un it ed Sta te s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Resp on de nt

__ __ __ __ __ __

Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of a n Ord er o f th e Bo ard of I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Decem

be r 15 , 20 15
Fil ed : Fe br

ua ry 26 , 20 16

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, LOKEN , and BYE, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

BYE, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

Artu ro And rad e-Zam or a pe ti ti on s fo r rev ie w of a de ci si on by an im m ig rat io n jud ge (IJ )
– affi rm ed wit ho ut op in io n by th e Bo ard of Im m ig rat io n App eal s (BIA)

–

p ret erm it ti ng hi s ap pl ic at io n fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al

. The IJ pr et e r mi t t e d

And rad e-Zam or a's ap pl ic at io n fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al be cau se And rad e-Zam or a

co m m it te d th eft in th e f

o u r th de gr ee, a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e. And rad e-Zam or a arg ue s he is el ig ib le to ap pl y fo r can cel la ti on of rem o v a l d e sp it e th is

co nv ic ti on be cau se (1 ) a st at e co ur t va cat ed hi s co nv ic ti on fo r th eft i n th e fo ur th

de gr ee; an d (2 ) hi s co nv ic ti on fo r a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e wou ld pr ecl ud e

hi m fro m ap pl y in g fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al on ly if he was ad m it te d to th e Uni te d

St at es wit hi n fiv e y ears of co m m it ti ng th e o ffen se , whi ch he was n ot . W e de ny t he

pe ti ti on for rev ie w.

I

Artu ro And rad e-Zam or a was bo rn in Vil la ch ua to

, Me x ic o. He cam e to th e

Uni te d St at es at an un k n o w n da te an d ha s li ve d in th e Uni te d St at es si nc e wit ho ut

ev er b ei ng lawf

ul ly adm it te d.

In Feb ru ary 20 14

, th e go ve rn m en t se rv ed And rad e-Zam or a w it h a Not ic e to
App ear fo r rem ov al pr oc eed in gs , ch arg in g hi m wit h be in g a rem ov ab le al ie n be cau se

he was pr es en t in th e U ni te d St at es wit ho ut ha vi ng be en ad m it te d or pa ro le d. At a

he ari ng in May 20 14

, And rad e-Zam or a, th ro ug h co un se l, ad m it te d th e fact ua l

al le ga ti on s an d co nc ed ed he was rem ov ab le

, bu t in di cat ed he wou ld se ek can cel la ti on

of rem ov al

.

Thre e m on th s la te r, And rad e-Zam or a pl ed gu il ty in Io wa st a t e c o u r t to on e

c o u n t o f th eft in th e fo ur th de gr ee an d two co un ts of fal si fy in g a dr iv er's li cen se o r

no n- op erat or 's id en ti fic at io n ap pl ic at io n. The st at e co ur t se nt en ced hi m to on e y ear

of pr ob at io n an d or de red hi m to pa y a fin e. As a res ul t of th es e co nv ic ti on s, on

Nov em be r 7, 20 14

, th e go ve rn m en t fil ed a se co nd no ti ce ch arg in g And rad e-Zam or a

wit h be in g a rem ov ab le al ie n, th is ti m e fo r co mm it ti ng a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al

tu rp it ud e.

And rad e-Zam or a de ni ed th is al le ga ti on an d fil ed a m ot io n fo r can cel la ti on of

rem ov al

. Alo ng wit h th e m ot io n, And rad e-Zam or a fil ed an or de r fro m th e Io wa st at e

-2

-co ur t th at m ad e hi s co nv ic ti on fo r th eft in th e fo ur th de gr ee an d on e of th e two co un ts

of fal si fy in g a dr iv er's li cen se "a nu ll it y " be cau se th e pa rti es ha d di sc ov ered "m at eri al

ev id en ce" th at co ul d no t hav e be en di sc ov ered be fo re Andr ad e-Zam or a pl ed gu il ty.

On th e rem ai ni ng co un t of fal si fy in g a dr iv er ' s l i c en se , th e st at e co ur t m od ifi ed

And rad e-Zam or a's se nt en c e to a su sp en de d se nt en ce of 17 9 da y s of in carc erat io n.

The st at e co ur t va cat ed And rad e-Zam or a's co nv ic ti on s on Nov em be r 21

, 20 14
– two

week s aft er th e go ve rn m en t fil ed it s no ti ce al le gi ng And rad e-Zam or a was rem ov ab le

as a res ul t o f th es e co nv ic ti on s.

The go ve rn m en t mo ve d to pr et erm it And rad e-Zam or a's ap pl ic at io n fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al

, an d aft er a he ari ng , th e IJ gr an te d th e go ve rn m en t's m ot io n.

The IJ he ld th at al th ou gh th e st at e c o u r t v a cat ed And rad e-Zam or a's co nv ic ti on fo r

th eft in th e f

o u r t h de gr ee, th is co nv ic ti on st il l qu al ifi ed as a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al

tu rp it ud e be cau se And rad e-Zam or a ha d no t m et hi s bu rd en to pr o v e th e co nv ic ti on

was va cat ed on th e m eri ts

, rat he r th an fo r im m ig rat io n pu rp os es

. The refo re, th e IJ

fo un d th is co nv ic ti on pr oh ib it ed And rad e-Zam or a fro m ap pl y in g fo r can cel la ti on of

rem ov al , and it ord ered And rad e-Zam or a rem ov ed to Mex ic o.

The BIA affi rm ed th e IJ 's de ci si on wit ho ut op in io n on Apr il 30

, 20 15

. And rad e-Zam or a ti m el y

pe ti ti on ed for rev ie w.

II

And rad e-Zam or a arg ue s th e IJ erre d by fin di ng hi s con vi ct io n for th eft in th e

fo ur th de gr ee qu al ifi ed as a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e ev en th ou gh (1 ) a st at e

co ur t va cat ed th is co nv ic ti on ; an d (2 ) he ha d no t be en "ad m it te d" to th e Uni te d St at es

whe n he com

m it te d th e of

fen se

. W e rev ie w th e BIA's fact ua l d et erm in at io ns un de r

a su bs ta nt ia l-e vi de nc e st an da rd an d it s le ga l co nc lu si on s de no vo

. Gon zal ez Can o v. Ly nc h, 80 9 F.3d 10 56 , 10 59 (8t h C ir. 2 01 6) . W e g iv e "s ub st an ti al de fere nc e to th e

BIA's in te rp ret at io n of th e st at ut es an d reg ul at io ns it ad m in is te rs ." Sp acek v. Hol de r,

-3

-6 8 8 F

. 3d 53 6, 53 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). W he re, as he re, th e BIA ad op ts th e fin di ng s o r

reas on in g of th e IJ

, we rev ie w th e IJ 's de ci si on as pa rt of th e fin al ag en cy act io n.

Si ng h v . Ly

nc h, 8 03 F.3d 98 8, 9 91 (8t h C ir. 2 01 5)

.

A

And rad e-Zam or a arg ue s hi s co nv ic ti on fo r th eft in th e fo ur th de gr ee do es no t

qu al ify as a c r im e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e be cau se a st at e co ur t va cat ed th e

co nv ic ti on

. If a co ur t va cat es an al ie n's cri m in al co nv ic ti on fo r a reas on un rel at ed to

th e m eri ts of th e cas e – su ch as to av oi d im m ig rat io n co ns eq ue nc es or fo r

reh ab il it at iv e reas on s – rat he r th an to co rrec t a pr oc ed ur al or su bs ta nt iv e de fect

, th e

co nv ic ti on wil l st il l st an d fo r im m ig rat io n pu rp os es de sp it e it s va cat ur

. In re

Pi ck eri ng , 23 I. & N. Dec. 62 1, 62 4 (BIA 20 03 ), rev 'd on ot he r gr ou nd s, Pi ck eri ng v.

Gon zal es , 46 5 F .3d 26 3, 2 71 (6 th Ci r. 20 06 ); s ee al so Viv ei ro s v . Hol de r, 69 2 F .3d

1, 3 (1 st Ci r. 20 12 ) (n ot in g circ ui t cou rts ha ve "u ni fo rm ly" fo ll owe d th is ru le ). The

pa rti es di sp ut e (1 ) whi ch pa rty be ars th e bu rd en to pr ov e th e reas on fo r va cat ur , an d
(2 ) whe th er t ha t p art y

m et it s b ur de n.

1

Und er th e Im

m ig rat io n an d Nati on al it y Act (INA), th e al ie n be ars "t he bu rd en

of pr oo f to es ta bl is h th at [h e]

. . . sa ti sf ie s th e ap pl ic ab le el ig ib il it y req ui rem en ts " fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al

, 8 U.S.C. § 12 29 a(c) (4 )(A)(i ), in cl ud in g th at he was no t

"co nv ic te d of an of

fen se " th at wou ld di sq ua li fy hi m fro m can cel la ti on of rem ov al

, 8

U.S.C. § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C)

. An al ie n st an ds "co nv ic te d of an of fen se " th at di sq ua li fie s

hi m fro m can cel la ti on of rem ov al if th e co nv ic ti on was va cat ed to av oi d im m ig rat io n

co ns eq ue nc es . Pick eri ng , 23 I. & N. Dec. at 6 24 . Thu s, t he INA pl aces th e b ur de n

on th e al ie n to pr ov e no t on ly th at he ha s no cu rren t di sq ua li fy in g co nv ic ti on s, bu t

al so th at he ha s no pr io r di sq ua li fy in g co nv ic ti on s th at were va cat ed to av oi d

im m ig rat io n co ns eq ue nc es

. Thi s st at ut o r y bu rd en ne ces sa ril y req ui res th e al ie n to

-4

-pr ov e th e reas on hi s pr io r co nv ic ti on was va cat ed

. As su ch

, we ho ld th at in or de r to

ap pl y fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al

, th e al ie n m us t pr ov e hi s co nv ic ti on was va cat ed fo r

a su bs ta nt iv e or pr oc ed ur al reas on , no t fo r im m ig rat io n o r r eh ab il it at iv e pu rp os es

.

And rad e-Zam or a arg ue s th at whe n th e al ie n ap pl ie s fo r can cel la ti on of re m ova l

th e go ve rn m en t be ars th e bu rd en to pr ov e th e reas on th e di sq ua li fy in g co nv ic ti on was

va cat ed

, as it do es whe n it ch arg es th e al ie n wit h be in g de po rta bl e fo r co m m it ti ng an

of fen se th at is la te r va cat ed

. See Card os o- Tlas eca v. Gon zal es , 46 0 F.3 d 11 02

, 11 07
(9 th Ci r. 20 06 ). Bu t de po rta ti on cas es are in ap po si te

, be cau se th e bu rd en of pr oo f is

di ffer en t. W hi le th e go ve rn m en t be ars th e bu rd en to pr ov e th e al ie n is de po rta bl e or

rem ov ab le

, it is t h e a l ie n's bu rd en un de r th e INA to pr ov e he is el ig ib le fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al

. Thu s, th e bu rd en pr op erl y fal ls on th e go ve rn m en t to pr ov e

th e reas on fo r va cat ur whe n it al so be ars t h e bu rd en to pr ov e th e al ie n co m m it te d a

de po rta bl e of

f e n s e. Bu t th e bu rd en do es no t fal l on th e go ve rn m en t to pr ov e th e

reas on fo r va cat ur whe n it is th e al ie n's bu rd en to pr ov e he di d no t co m m it an of fen se

th at di sq ua li fie s hi m fro m can cel la ti on of rem ov al

. In th at in st an ce, th e al ie n m us t

pr ov e th e rea so n fo r va cat ur

.

2

And rad e-Zam or a di d no t m eet hi s bu rd en to pr ov e th e Io wa st at e co ur t va cat ed

hi s co nv ic ti on fo r a su bs ta nt iv e or pr oc ed ur al reas on , an d no t fo r i mm i g r a ti on

pu rp os es

. Fi rs t, th e or de r it se lf do es no t es ta bl is h th at th e st at e c o u r t v a c a t ed

And rad e-Zam or a's co nv ic ti on fo r a su bs ta nt iv e or pr oc ed ur al reas on

. The st at e co ur t

va cat ed th e co nv ic ti on ba se d on "m at eri al ev id en ce," b ut it di d no t ex pl ai n wha t

"m at eri al ev id en ce" th e pa rti es di sc ov ered th at le d it to va cat e th e co nv ic ti on , an d th e

te rm "m at eri al ev id en ce" is no t se lf- de fin in g. Fo r in st an ce, "m at eri al ev id en ce" co ul d

m ean th e p art ie s d is co ve red And rad e-Zam or a was fact ua ll y in no cen t o f th e o ffen se (a sub st an ti ve reas on fo r va cat ur ), or it co ul d m ean th e pa rti es di sc ov ered And rad eZam or a wou ld be rem ov ed fro m th e co un try du e to th e of fen se (an im m ig rat io n

-5

-reas on fo r va cat ur ). The re is si m p l y no th in g in th e or de r to in di cat e th e reas on th e

st at e co ur t va cat ed th e th eft co nv ic ti on , an d th eref or e th e or de r al on e do es no t pr ov e

th e co nv ic ti o n w a s v a c at ed fo r a su bs ta nt iv e or pr oc ed ur al reas on

. See Ru m ie rz v.

Gon zal es , 45 6 F.3 d 31

, 41 (1 st Ci r. 20 06 ) ("On it s face

, th e o r d e r fai ls to sh ow, as

req ui red by Pi ck eri ng , t ha t th e pr io r co nv ic ti on was va cat ed b e c a u s e o f 'a de fect in

th e u nd erl y in g c riminal pro ceed in gs .'").

Seco nd

, we fin d th e ti m in g an d effe ct of th e or de r rel ev an t b e c a us e th ey

su gg es t th e st at e co ur t v a c a t e d th e co nv ic ti on fo r im m ig rat io n pu rp os es

. The st at e

co ur t va cat ed And rad e-Zam or a's co nv ic ti on on ly two week s aft er th e go ve rn m en t

m ov ed to rem ov e A n d rad e-Zam or a ba se d on th is co nv ic ti on

. And th e st at e co ur t

m od ifi ed And rad e-Zam or a's se nt en ce on th e rem ai ni ng co un t of fal si fy in g a dr iv er's

li cen se to 17 9 da ys ' i mp r i s on m en t, whi ch ap pe ars to be an at te m pt to fit th e

co nv ic ti on wi th in th e "p et ty of fen se " ex cep ti on to rem ov al fo r a cri m e in vo lv in g

m or al tu rp it ud e. The ti m in g and effe ct of th e or de r th eref or e rai se an in fere nc e th e 1

st at e co ur t di d no t va cat e th e co nv ic ti on on a su bs ta nt iv e o r pr oc ed ur al gro un d, b ut

rat he r to av oi d t he im m ig rat io n c on se qu en ces of t he co nv ic ti on

.

Mo re im po rta nt ly, And rad e-Zam or a pr ov id ed no in fo rm at io n to pr ov e why th e

st at e co ur t va cat ed hi s co nv ic ti on

. He m ai nt ai ne d th e or de r sp ok e fo r it se lf an d ne ve r

pr es en te d an y ot he r ev id en ce on th e is su e, ev en th ou gh he was in th e be st po si ti on to

do so

. See In re Ch a v e z

- M a rti ne z, 24 I. & N. Dec. 27 2, 27 4 (BIA 20 07 ) ("I n th is

reg ard

, we no te th at th e res po nd en t was a di rect p a r t y t o th e cri m in al pr oc eed in g

Und er th e INA's pe tt y of fen se ex cep ti on , an al i en co nv ic te d of a cri m e 1

in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e m ay st il l be ad m it te d to th e Uni te d St at es if th e m ax im um

te rm of im

pr is on m en t for th e cri m e do es no t ex ceed on e y ear, an d t he al ie n was no t

se nt en ced to a te rm o f i mp r i so nm en t in ex ces s of si x m on th s. 8 U.S.C. §

11 82 (a)( 2) (A)(i i)( II). Thu s, And rad e-Zam or a's m od ifi ed se nt en ce of 17 9 da y s'
im pr is on m en t fo r fal si fy in g a dr iv er's li cen se fit wit hi n th e 18 0- da y li m it fo r th e pe tt y of fen se ex cep ti on

.

-6

-le ad in g to th e va cat io n of hi s co nv ic ti on an d is th eref or e in th e be st po si ti on to kn ow why th e co nv ic ti on w a s va cat ed an d to of fer ev id en ce rel at ed to th e reco rd of

co nv ic ti on ."). W it ho ut pr es en ti ng an y ev id en ce, he fai le d to m eet hi s bu rd en , an d th e

IJ pr op erl y fo un d hi s co nv ic ti on fo r th eft in th e fo ur th de g r e e q ua li fie d as a cri m e

in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e d es pi te it s v acat ur

.

B

And rad e-Zam or a ne xt arg ue s th at ev en if hi s va cat ed co nv ic ti on fo r th eft in th e

fo ur th de gr ee qu al ifi es as a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e, th is co nv ic ti on do es no t

pr ecl ud e hi m fro m ap pl y in g fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al b e c a u s e he ha d no t be en

"ad m it te d" to th e Uni te d S ta te s wh en he co m m it te d t he off

en se

.

The A t t o r n e y G e ne ral ha s di sc ret io n to can cel rem ov al of an al ie n who is

in ad m is si bl e or de po rta bl e. 8 U.S.C. § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) . Befo re t he ali en can ap pl y

fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al

, he m us t pr ov e he "h as no t be en co nv ic te d of an of fen se

un de r se ct io n 11 82 (a)( 2)

, 12 27 (a)( 2)

, or 12 27 ( a)(3 )," 8 U.S.C. § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C)

, whi ch i n c l ud es "cr im es in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e" un de r § 12 27 (a)( 2) (A). Tha t

se ct io n pr ov id es , "An y al ie n who –( I) is co nv ic te d of a c r i me in vo lv in g m or al

tu rp it ud e co m

m it te d wit h i n f

i v e ye a r s

. . . af

te r th e da te of ad

mis si on , an d (II) is

co nv ic te d o f a cri m e fo r whi ch a se nt en ce o f on e y ear o r lo ng er m ay be im po se d, i s

de po rta bl e." 8 U.S.C. § 1 22 7( a)(2 )(A) (e m ph as is ad de d)

.

And rad e-Zam or a arg ue s th e cro ss -ref eren ce in § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) to an "o ffen se

un de r se ct io n

. . . 12 27 (a)( 2) " in co rp or at es al l of th e req u i r e men ts in § 12 27 (a)( 2)

, in cl ud in g th at th e al ie n m us t co m m it th e cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e wit hi n fiv e

y ears "af te r th e da te of ad m is si on ." And rad e-Zam or a, ho wev er, was ne ve r la wfu ll y

ad m it te d to th e Uni te d St at es , an d th eref or e he arg ue s hi s co nv ic ti on fo r a cri m e

in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it u d e do es no t pr ecl ud e hi m fro m ap pl y in g fo r can cel la ti on of

rem ov al be cau se he di d no t co mm i t th e of fen se wit hi n fiv e y ears of th e da te of

-7

-ad m is si on

. In ot he r wor ds

, th e IJ erre d whe n it fo un d he was "co nv ic te d of an of fen se

un de r se ct io n

. . . 12 27 (a)( 2) ," be cau se § 12 27 (a)( 2) on ly ap pl ie s to al ie ns who ha ve

be en lawf ul ly adm it te d t o t he Uni te d S ta te s, n ot un la wfu l en tra nt s l ik e h im

.

Thi s Co ur t ha s no t ad dr es se d whe th er an al ie n is pr ecl ud ed fro m ap pl y in g fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al fo r be in g "co nv ic te d of an of fen se u n d e r s e c t i on

. . . 12 27 (a)( 2) " if he was ne ve r ad m it te d to th e Uni te d St at es

. 8 U.S.C. § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C)

. The BIA ta ke s th e po si ti on th at th e cro ss -ref eren ce in § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) to an of fen se

un de r § 12 27 (a)( 2) sh ou ld be read on ly as a cro ss -ref eren ce to th e li st of of

fen se s in

th e st at ut e, no t as a cro ss -ref eren ce to th e st at ut e as a who le

. Mat te r of Co rte z, 25 I.

& N. Dec. 30 1, 30 7- 08 (BIA 20 10 ) (ci ti ng Gon azl ez-Go nz al ez v. Ash cro ft, 39 0 F.3 d

64 9 (9 th Ci r. 20 04 )). The refo re, th is st at ut e ap pl ie s reg ard le ss of th e a l i e n 's

ad m is si on st at us . Id.

W e m us t de ci de whe th er th e BIA's in te r p r e t a ti on of th is st at ut e is en ti tl ed to

Ch ev ro n def

eren ce. Ch ev ro n, U.S.A.

, In c. v. Nat'l Res

. Def. Co un ci l, 46 7 U.S. 83 7
(1 98 4)

. Ch ev ro n is a fam il ia r two -s te p fram ewo rk

. Fi rs t, we us e tra di ti on al to ol s of

st at ut or y co ns tru ct io n to de te r mi n e if Co ng res s ha s un am bi gu ou sl y sp ok en to th e

qu es ti on at is su e. Hawki ns v. Cm ty. Ban k of Raym or e, 76 1 F.3d 93 7, 94 0 (8t h Cir.

20 14 ). If th e st at ut e is un am bi gu ou s, we si m

pl y ap pl y th e st at ut e. Id

. If the st at ut e

is am bi gu ou s, we pr oc eed to th e s e c o n d s te p of Ch ev ro n an d ap pl y th e ag en cy 's

i n t e r p r et at io n if it "i s ba se d on a pe rm is si bl e co ns tru ct io n of th e st at ut e." Ci ty o f

Arli ng to n v . FCC, 1 33 S. Ct. 1 86 3, 1 86 8 (2 01 3)

.

Fi rs t, we fi nd th e st at ut e am bi gu ou s. It do es no t exp res sl y sp eci fy whe th er it

in co rp or at es § 1 22 7( a)(2 ) in it s en ti ret y – in cl ud in g th e im m ig rat io n c ha ract eri st ic s

– or m erel y th e li st of of

fen se s. Co ng res s ha s no t un am bi gu ou sl y sp ok en to th e is su e,

a n d w e m

us t de fer to th e BIA's in te rp ret at io n if it is ba se d on a pe rm is si b l e

co ns tru ct io n o f th e st at ut e.

-8

-W e ho ld it is

. Sect io n 12 29 b( b) (1 ) ( C ) p r o h i b it s an al ie n fro m ap pl y in g fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al if he ha s be en "co nv ic te d of an of fen se un de r" § 12 27 (a)( 2)

. Tha t § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) refe rs on ly to "an of fen se un d e r " § 12 27 (a)( 2) su gg es ts it

in co rp or at es on ly th e li st of of fen se s an d no t th e en ti re se ct io n – ot he rwis e, it wou ld

pr oh ib it an al ie n f

r o m a p p lying fo r can cel la ti on of rem ov al if he vi ol at es §

12 27 (a)( 2)

.

The st ru ct ur e of § 12 27 (a)( 2) su pp or ts th is co ns tru ct io n as well

. S ect io n

12 27 (a)( 2) li st s v a r io us of fen se s an d pu ni sh es th e al ie n wit h an im m ig rat io n

co ns eq ue nc e if he co m

m it s th e of

fen se

. S o if an al ie n is co nv ic te d of a cri m e

in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e (th e of fen se ), he is de po rta bl e if he co m m it te d th e of

fen se

w i th in fiv e y ears of hi s da te of ad m is si on (th e im m ig rat io n co ns eq ue nc e). S e c t i o n

12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) on ly pr oh ib it s an al ie n fr om ap pl y in g for can cel la ti on of rem ov al if

he is "co nv ic t e d o f a n of fen se " un de r § 12 27 (a)( 2)

, an d gi ve n th e st ru ct ur e of §

12 27 (a)( 2)

, th e na tu ral read in g of th is cro ss -ref eren ce is th at it refe rs on ly to th e li st

of of fen se s in 12 27 (a )(2 ), no t th e im m ig rat io n co ns eq ue nc es

. Afte r al l, it is no t

po ss ib le to be "co nv ic te d" of be in g de po rta bl e (th e im m ig rat io n co ns eq ue nc e)
– on ly

to be "co nv ic te d" of a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e (th e of fen se ). The st ru ct ur e

of § 12 27 (a)( 2) th eref

or e su pp or ts th e BIA's co ns tru ct io n th at § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C)

i n c o r po rat es on ly th e li st of of fen se s wit ho ut in co rp or at in g al l th e im m ig rat io n

ch arac te ris ti cs in § 1 22 7( a)(2 ).

Fi na ll y , it is reas on ab le to ap pl y § 12 27 (a) ( 2 ) t o al l al ie ns ap pl y in g fo r

can cel la ti on of rem ov al reg ard le ss of th ei r ad m is si on st at us

. Oth erwi se , i f an al ie n

co m m it te d a cri m e in vo lv in g m or al tu rp it ud e, he co ul d on ly ap pl y fo r can cel la ti on of

rem ov al if he en te red th e co un try un la w f u ll y , no t if he wen t th ro ug h pr op er

im m ig rat io n pr oc eed in gs an d was la wfu ll y ad m it te d to th e Uni t e d St at es

. The

un l a w f u l en tra nt wou ld be ne fit si m pl y be cau se he di d no t fo ll ow pr op er en try

pr oc ed ur es

. The BIA's co ns tru ct io n of § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) av oi ds th is il lo gi cal res ul t.

-9

-Eve ry ci rcu it th at h a s i n t e rp ret ed § 12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) ha s ag reed wit h th e BIA,

ei th er o n t he gro un ds th at th e st at ut e is un am bi gu ou s o r th at th e BIA's co ns tru ct io n

is pe rm is si bl e an d en ti tl ed to Ch ev ro n de fere nc e. See Hern an de z v. Hol de r, 78 3 F.3 d

18 9, 1 9 5 ( 4 t h Ci r. 20 15 ) (Ch ev ro n de fere nc e); Man ci ll a-Del afu en te v. Ly nc h, 80 4

F.3 d 12 62

, 12 65 (9 t h Ci r. 20 15 ) (s am e); Co y om an i-C ie lo v. Hol de r, 75 8 F.3 d 90 8,

91 5 (7 th C i r

. 20 14 ) (s am e); Nin o v. Hol de r, 69 0 F.3 d 69 1, 69 7 (5 th Ci r. 20 12 )
(u na m bi gu ou s)

. We jo in ou r si st er ci rcu it s an d fin d th e BIA's co ns tru ct io n of §

12 29 b( b) (1 )(C) is pe rm is si bl e an d t he refo re en ti tl ed to Ch ev ro n d efer en ce.

The IJ di d no t err whe n it pr et erm it te d A n d r a de -Zam or a's ap pl ic at io n fo r

can cel la ti on of rem o va l on th e gr ou nd s th at he co m m it te d an of

fen se un de r §

12 27 (a)( 2) , eve n t ho ug h h e was ne ve r ad m it te d t o t he Uni te d S ta te s.

III

Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we d en y th e p et it io n fo r rev ie w.

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