Pursuant to 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5 , the court has determined that this opinion should not * be publishe d and is not precedent except under the limited circu mstance s set forth in 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5 .4. 

### INTHE UNI TED S TATESCOU RT OFAPPEALS

FORTHEFIFTH CIRCU IT

N o. 08- 60801 Su m m ar y Cal endar

J O S E M . L E O N -M E D IN A , A ls o K n o w n a s J o s e L e o n -M e d in a , P et i t i on er,

ve r s us E R IC H . H O L D E R , J R ., U .S . A tt o r n e yG e n e r a l , R esp on d en t.

P et i t i on f

or R evi ew of

an O rder of th e B o a r do f Im m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

N o. A 91 5 98 7 75

B e fo r e D AV IS , S M IT H , a n dD E N N IS , C ir c u it J u d g e s . P E R C U R IA M: * Jose L eon - M edi n a, a na t ive an d ci t i zen of M exi co, p et i t i on s f or r evi ew of
an order of

t h e B oard of

I m m i grati on A pp eal s (“ B IA” ) di sm i ssi n g h i s ap pea lof
an order of

an i m m i grati on j u dg e ( “ IJ” ) den yi n g h i s ap pl i cat i on f or w aiver of

reUnited States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D October 29, 2009 Cha rl es R. F ulb ru g e II I ClerkN o. 08- 60801

At the time Leon -Medina p le ad ed guilty , the statutory subsectionwas codified at 1 8U .S .C

. § 1 3 2 4 (a)( 1 )(B). 2 m oval. B ecau se t h e B IAadop t ed t h e rul i n g of th e I J, w e revi ew t h e deci si on s of b o th th e IJ a n dth e B IA

. S ee Efe v . A sh cr oft , 2 9 3 F .3d 8 9 9 , 9 0 3 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 2 ). In 199 0, L eon - M edi n a w as adm i t t ed to t h e U n i t ed S t ates as a l aw f u lperm an en tres i den t(“ L P R ” )

. I n 199 5, he pl ead ed gui l t y of one coun tof

i l l egal t ran spo r t at i o n o f

a l i e ns i n vi o l at i o n of 8 U
. S. C. § 132 4( a) ( 1) (A) (i i)

. Acc o r di ng t o t he 1
a l l eg a ti on s i n the cri m i n a lcom p l a i n t, L eo n -M ed i n a , w h i l e in M ex i co, a gr ee dto t r ans po r te i ghti l l e ga la l i e ns t o D all as , Te xa s , f r o m a n und e t e r m i ne d l o c at i o n; h e w as app rehen ded w h i l e t ran sport i n g t h em w i t h i n th e U n i t ed S t ates. In 20 0 5 , L eo n -M ed i n aw a s d eta i n ed w h i l e a ttem p ti n g to r ee n ter th e U n i te d St at e s f

r o m M e xi c o . Al t ho ught he B ur e au o f I m m i gr at i o n and C us t o m s Enf orcem en t(“ IC E ” ) i n i t i al l y cha rged h i m w i t h bei n g i n ad m i ssibl e t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates, i tsubsequ en t l y cha rged h i m w i t h bei n g rem o v a b le from t h e U n i t ed St at e s b e c aus e he ha d b e e n co nvi c t e d of an agg r av at e d fe l o ny ba s e d on hi s c o nvi ct i on of

i l l egal t ran sport ati on of al i en s. Leo n- M e di na ad m i t t e d t hat he w as r e m o va bl e a s c har ge d, a nd h e s o ugh t
c a n c e lla tio n o f r e m o v a l u n d e rfo r m e r§ 2 1 2 (c ) o f th e Im m ig r a tio n a n dN a tio n a li t y Act(“ I N A” ) , w hi c h, be f o r e i t s re pe al , w as co dif i e d at8 U
. S. C. § 1 18 2(c )

. Le o nM e di na as s e r t e d t hathe s ho ul d no t hav e b e e n a dm i t t e d t o t he U ni t e d St at e s a nd shou l d h ave been i n proceedi n gs regardi n g h i s a d m issibi l i t y t o t h e U n i t ed St at es , not pro c ee di ngs r egar di ng hi s r em oval t her ef r om . Th e I J r ej ec t ed t hat argu m en t , becau se a di f f erent I J h adal readygran t ed L eon - M edi n a bon d, w h i ch
w ou l d n otha ve been al l ow ed i f he w ere i n ad m i ssibl e, an d becau se il l egal t ran spor t at i on o f

al i ens w it hi n t he U ni t ed St at es i s nota g r ound f ori nadm i ss ibi l i t y. T h e I J rul ed that Leon

- M edi n a w as i n eli gibl e f or c an cel l ati on of

rem oval u n der f o r m e r§ 2 12 (c ) , b e c aus e he w as r e m o va bl e o n a c c o unto f a n a gg r av at e d f

e l o ny c o nvi c t i o n f

o r w hi c h t he r e w as no c o r r e s po ndi ng gr o und o f i nad m i s s ibil i t y orN o. 08- 60801

3 statu torycou n terp a rt. L eon - M edi n a ti m el y ap pea led t o t h e B IA , argu i n g t h at hi s c on vi ct i on of i l l egally t ran sport i n g al i en s i n vi ol ati on of § 132 4( a) ( 1) (A) (i i) i s an a g g ra v a t ed fe l o ny ali e n s m uggl i ng o f fe ns e und e r8 U
. S. C. § 1 10 1( a) ( 43 ) ( N ) t hatha s a n i nad

m is s ib ilitys ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t in 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 8 2 (a )(6 )(E )(i), r e n d e r in gh im
e l i gibl e f

o rr e l i e f und e rf o r m e rI N A § 2 12 (c )

. H e a ddit i o nall y as s e r t e d t hatt he I J i m pr o pe r l y re l i e d o n I CE ’ s de c i s i o n t o c har ge hi m w i t h b e i ng r e m o va bl e i nst eadof bei n g i n ad m i ssibl e an d i m properl y consi der e d the bon d ruli n g t o be a bi n di n g determ i n ati on t h at he w as adm i ssibl e. T h e B IAru l ed tha t § 11 8 2 (a)( 6 )( E )(i) i s n ot the statu to rycou n terp a rt t o § 110 1( a) ( 43)( N ) , becau se t h e tw o provi si on s use di ssi m i l ar l an gu age an d d o not describe equ ivalent cat egori es of of fen ses. Th e B IAd et erm i n ed t h at a conv i ct i on of a vi ol ati on of § 132 4( a) ( 1) (A) (i i) , st an di n g al on e, w i l l n ot sup port a cha rge of i nad m i s s ibil i t y unde r§ 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i) , be c aus e s uc h a c o nvi c t i o n c o nc e r ns t he t ran sport ati on of

al i en s w h o w ere al readyi n the U n i t ed S t ates. Th e B IAnoted th a t § 1 1 8 2 (a )(6)(E )(i) is th e sta tu to ryco u n te rp a rt to 8 U .S .C

. § 1 2 2 7 (a)(1)(E )(i),
m a k i n g itl ess l i k ely th a t § 11 8 2 (a)( 6 )( E )(i) i s th e sta tu torycou n terp a rt t o § 1 1 0 1 (a )(4 3 )(N ). T h e B IAa d o p te dth e IJ ’ s ru lin ga n dd is m is s e dth e a p p e a l. I n t hi s c our t , Leon- M edi na ar gues t hat t he B IA and I J er r ed by r ul i ng t hat t her e i s no i nadm i ss ibi l i t y s t at ut or y co unte r par ttoh i s c onvi c t i on under§ 1324- ( a) ( 1) (A) (i i) , b e c aus e § 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i) i s s uc h as t at ut o r y c o unt e r pa r t
. H e m ai nt ai n s t h at th e t w o stat u t ory su bsect i on s are coun t erparts forp u rposes of f orm er IN A§ 21 2(c) eli gibi l i t y, b ecau se both con cern t h e sam e cat egory of of fen ses, al i en sm uggl i ng. Ci t i ng S ori an o v. G on zales , 4 8 4 F .3d 3 1 8 , 3 2 0 -2 1 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 7 ), Leon- M edi na as se r t s t hatt he B IAer r ed byr ul i ng t hata c onvi c t i on f ora v i ol at i on of § 132 4( a) ( 1) (A) (i i) , stand i n g al on e, w i l ln otsu pp orta ch arge of i n ad m i ss ibil i t y unde r§ 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i)

. H e c o nt e nds t hatt he BI A er r e d b y ana l yz i ng
w h et h er § 118 2( a) ( 6) ( E ) (i) i s t h e st atutor y coun t erpart t o § 1101 ( a) ( 43)( N ) , becau se t h e proper i ssue f or an al ysi s i s w h et h er § 118 2( a) ( 6) ( E ) (i) i s t h e st atutor yN o. 08- 60801

4 c o u n te r p a r t t o § 1 3 2 4 (a )(1 )(A)(ii). L eon - M edi n a m ai n t ai n s t h at th e ru l i n g of the B IAis n otenti t l ed to defer

e nc e , b e c aus e t he s t at ut o r y provi s i o ns a r e una m bi guo us , a nd the BI A’ s r ul i ng i s unr e as o nab l e . H e a r gue s t hatt he I J’ s r ul i ng w as e r r o ne o us , b e c aus e ( 1) t he IJ det erm i n ed that t ran sport i n g al i en s il l egally w i t h i n the U n i t ed S t ates i s not al i en sm u ggl i n g, (2) the IJ rel i ed on IC E ’ s d eci si on to ch arge h i m w i t h b ei n g rem o v a b le a s o p p o s e dto in a d m is s ib le , a n d(3 ) th e IJ im p r o p e r lya llo w e dth e im p lic at i on o f

t he bo nd det er m i nat i on t o c ont r olhi s r ul i ng. W e revi ew l egal argu m en t s de no vo . S e eB e l t r a n - Re s e n d ezv . I NS , 207 F. 3d 284, 286 ( 5t h C i r . 2000)

. W e def er t o t he B IA ’ s i nt er pre t at i on of i m m i gr atio n re g u la tio n s if

t h a t in te r p r e ta tio n is re a s o n a b le
. He r nan dez

- Cast i l lo v . Moore , 4 36 F. 3d5 16 , 5 19 ( 5t h Ci r . 200 6)

. D e fe r e nc e i s notow e d t o t he BI A’ s i nt er pre t at i on, how eve r , if C ongr es s has dir ec t l y s poken t o t he prec i sequ es t i on at is s u e a n dth e in t e n t o f C o n g r e s s is cle a r . Mart i n ez v. Mu ka sey , 519 F. 3d 532, 5 4 2 -4 3 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 8 ). B efore it s rep ea l , f

orm er IN A§ 21 2 (c) pr ov i d ed tha t ali en s l a w fully a d m i tt ed f or perm an en tres i den ce w h o te m p oraril y proceededabroad an d w h o w ere n otun der an order of rem oval coul d be adm i t t ed at t h e di scr et i on of t h e A t t orney G e n e ra l w ith o u t re g a rd to a n ysp e cifiedg ro u n do f i n a d m iss ib ilityin§ 1 1 8 2 (a ). SeeIn reSi l va , 16 I
. & N
. D e c . 26 , 27 ( BI A 1 97 6)

. Al t ho ugh t he s t at ut e w as a ddressed t o a l i en s i n ex cl u si on p roceedi n gs, itw as i n t erpret ed byt h e B IAas al so al l ow i n g t h e A t t orney G en eralt o consi der w aivers f rom L P R ’ s i n rem oval proc e e d in g s w h o w e r e s im ila r lys itu a te dto a lie n s ine x c lu s io n p r o c e e d in g s . Id

. To determ i n e w h et h er a r em ovee w as “ si m i l arl y si t u ated” t o a person i n excl u si on proceedi n gs, t h e B IAset f ort h a “ com pa rabl e groun ds” t estt h at asked w h et h er th e g r o u n do f r e m o v a l w a s a ls o a g r o u n do f in a d m is s ib ility
. Se eI n reW adud , 19 I. & N
. D e c. 1 8 2 , 1 8 4 -8 5 (B IA1 9 8 4 ). In 1 9 9 6 , C o n g r e s s re p e a le dfo r m e rIN A§ 2 1 2 (c ). A l var ez- He r nan dezv. A co sta , 4 0 1 F .3 d3 2 7 , 3 2 9 (5 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ). In 2 0 0 1 , h o w e v e r , t h e C o u r t h e ldinN o. 08- 60801

5 INSv . S t
. C

yr , 53 3 U
. S. 28 9 ( 20 01 ) , t hat r e l i e f unde r f o r m e r I N A § 212( c) rem ai n ed av ai l able f

or ali en s w h ose con vi ct i on s w ere obt ai n ed throug h pl ea agreem en t s and w h o, notw i t h st an di n g t h ei r conv i ct i on s, w ou l d h ave been el i gibl e f or fo r m e rIN A § 2 1 2 (c ) r e lie f a t t h e tim e o f th e irg u iltyp le a s . Her n a n d ez -Ca stillo , 43 6 F. 3da t5 17

- 18 (c i t i ngS t
. C yr , 5 3 3 U .S

. a t 3 2 6 ). The av ail ab i l i t y o f

af o r m e rI N A § 2 12 (c ) w aive rt hus r e vive d, i n 2 00 4, t he B IA -p r o m u lg a te d8 C .F .R . § 1 2 1 2 .3 (f)(5 ), w h ic h p r o v id e s th a t aL P R is in e lig ib le f or a f orm er I N A§ 212(c) w aiver i f t h e al i en i s r em ovab l e on a grou n d that does
n o t h a v e as ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t in § 1 1 8 2
. T h u s , u n d e r th e B IA ’ s co m p a r a b le g r o u n da n a ly s is (a ls o k n o w n a s th e s ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t r u le ), a n a lie n w h o is
r e m o v a b le o n ag r o u n dth a t d o e s n o t h a v e aco r r e s p o n d in gg r o u n do f in a d m is s ib ility is in e lig ib le fo r fo r m e r IN A § 2 1 2 (c ) r e lie f. S ee V u e v. G on zales , 496 F. 3d 8 5 8 , 8 6 0 (8 th C ir . 2 0 0 7 ). Ther e i s no g r o und o f i nad m i s s ibil i t y i n § 11 82 ( a) t hate xc l ude s a l i e ns w ho h a v e b e e n c o n v ic te do f a g g r a v a te dfe lo n ie s . S ee In reMeza , 20 I
. & N
. D ec . 257, 259 ( B IA199 1)

. Th i s, how ever, does n otp reclu de an a l i en w h o i s r em ovab l e on accoun to f

a n a gg r av at e d f

e l o ny c o nvi c t i o n f

r o m b e i ng e l i gibl e f

o rr e l i e f under fo r m e rI N A§ 2 1 2 (c ). I d. Inst ead , el i gibi l i t y f or rel i ef u n der f

orm er I N A§ 212(c) f o ra n a l i e n who i s re m o va bl e be c aus e he w as co nvi c t e d of an a gg r av at e d f

e l o ny d ep en d s on w h eth er th e ca teg oryo f ag gr a va tedfelon y for w h i ch h e w a s con victe dh a s a n in a d m is s ib ilitys ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t. I d. Foll o w i ng t he r e viva l o f f o r m e rI N A § 2 12 (c ) r e l i e f i n S t
. C

yr , the B IAreaf f i r m e d t hatt he pr o c e dur e s e tf o r t h i n Mezai s t he pr o pe rm e t ho d f o rde t e r m i ni n g w h et h er an ali en w h o i s r em ovab l e becau se of an agg ravated fel on y convic

tio n is e lig ib le to s e e kre lie f u n d e rfo r m e rIN A§ 2 1 2 ( c )

. S ee I n reB lake , 23 I. & N . D e c . 7 2 2 , 7 2 4 -2 9 (B IA2 0 0 5 ), pet i t i on f or revi ew gran t ed an dre m an d ed , Blak ev . Car bo ne , 489 F
. 3d88 ( 2dC i r. 2 007 )

. T h i s cou rth as u ph el d the procedur e s e tf

o r t h i n B lake
. V

o v. G on zales , 4 8 2 F .3d 3 6 3 , 3 6 8 -7 2 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 7 ). T h eref ore, t h e pert i n en ti ssue i s w h et h er t h ere i s a com pa rabl e groun d ofN o. 08- 60801

6 i n ad m i ssibi l i t y, i
. e. , an i n ad m i ssibi l i t y st atutor y coun t erpart, t o the cat egory of agg ravated fel on y convic t i on f or w h i ch L eon - M edi n a w as adjudg ed rem ovab l e. Se ei d. a t 3 6 8
. L e o n -M e d in a ’ s a r g u m e n t t h a t t h e p e r tin e n t is s u e is w h e th e rh is
ac t ualcr i m e , nott he c at e go r y o f hi s a gg r av at e d f

e l o ny c o nvi c t i o n, ha s a n i nad

m is s ib ilitys ta tu to r yc o u n te r p a r t is w ith o u t m e r it. S ee Meza , 20 I
. & N
. D ec . at 2 5 9 ; B lake , 23 I
. & N
. D ec . at726- 28. Fort he s am e r eason , L e o n- M e di na’ s r e l i anc e o n S ori an o i s m i s pl ac e d. T h e r e , w e h e ldth a t a n a lie n w h o h a db e e n c o n v ic te do f tr a n s p o r tin gille g a l a lien s w i t h i n t h e U n i t ed S t ates w as i n ad m i ssibl e un der § 1182 ( a) ( 6) ( E ) (i) becau se hi s c onducti ncl uded par t i c i pat i on “i n a s c hem e t o a i d ot her al i ens i n an i l l egal
en try.” Sor i ano , 4 84 F. 3da t3 20

- 31
. Bec aus e t he c o ur ti n Sor i ano m erely rul ed t hatt he al i e n’ s co nduc tfe l lw i t hi n t he a m bito f § 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i) a nd d i d no ta dd re ss w h e th e r § 1 1 8 2 (a )(6)(E )(i) i s th e sta tu to ryco u n te rp a rt o f § 1 1 0 1 (a)(43 )(N ), it is n o t c o n tr o llin gin th is ca s e . Se ei d. W h e th e rag r o u n dfo r“ r e m o v a l h a s a s ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t in th e p r o v isi on s f or excl u si on or i n ad m i ssibi l i t y t u rns on w h et h er C on gress h as em pl oyed
s im ila rla n g u a g e to d e s c r ib e s u b s ta n tia llye q u iv a le n t c a t e g o r ie s o f o ffe n s e s .” B lake , 2 3 I
. & N
. D e c . at 72 8. Ther e m us t be “ a c l o s e t e xt ual l i nk” be t w e e n t he gr o und o f

r e m o va la nd the g r o und o f i nad m i s s ibil i t y t o e s t ab l i s h t hat t he g r o und
o f in a d m is s ib ilityis a s ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t. Vo , 4 8 2 F .3 da t 3 6 8
. T h a t t h e r e is
s o m e o ve r l ap b e t w e e n t he c r i m e s c o m pr i s i ng t he c at e go r y o f a gg r av at e d f

e l o ny andt he g r o und o f

i nad m i s s ibil i t y i s i ns uf f i c i e ntt o s ho w t hat t he gr o und o f i nad

m is s ib ilityis as ta tu to r yco u n te r p a r t. B lake , 23 I
. & N
. D ec . at728 T h e ca te g o ryof L e o n -M e d in a ’ s a g g ra v a te dfelo n yco n v iction is § 1 1 0 1 (a )- ( 43) ( N ) , w hi c h pro vi des thatconvi c t i ons forvi ol at i ons of “par agr aph ( 1) (A) or( 2) of sec t i on 132 4( a) of

t h i s t i t l e (rel ati n g t o a l i en sm u ggl i n g) ” a re ag grava t ed fel on yco n v ic tio n s e x c e p t w h e n th e a lie n ’ s o ffe n s e co n s is ts s o le lyo f a s s is tin gh is
s p o u s e , ch ild , o rp a r e n t. T h e s ta tu to r ys u b s e c tio n th a t L e o n -M e d in aa s s e r ts is th e in a d m is s ib ilityc o u n te r p a r t, § 1 1 8 2 (a )(6 )(E )(i), is tit le d“S m u g g le r s ,” a n ditN o. 08- 60801

7 pr o vi de s t hat“ [ a] ny ali e n w ho ata ny t i m e kno w i ngly has e nc o ur ag e d, i nduc e d, assi st ed, abett ed, or ai ded an y ot h er al i en t o enter or t o t ry t o enter t h e U n i t ed S ta te s in v io la tio n o f la w is in a d m is s ib le .” T h e B IArul ed that § 1182(a) ( 6) ( E ) (i) i s not t h e st atutor y cou n te rp a rtof § 110 1( a) ( 43)( N ) , becau se ( 1) the st atutor y sub sect i on s u se d i ssi m i l ar l an gu age, ( 2) § 1 10 1( a) ( 43 ) ( N ) i nc l ude s of fe ns e s c o nc e r ni ng ali e ns w ho w e r e a l r e ad y i n t he U n i t ed S t at e s b ut§ 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i) do e s no t , a nd ( 3) § 1 18 2( a) ( 6) ( E) (i) i s t he st at ut or y c ount er par tof § 1227( a) ( 1) ( E ) (i) , w hi c h pro vi des t hat [ a] ny al i en w ho (pri ort o the dat e of entry, at t he ti m e of any e nt r y, or w i t h i n 5 years o f th e d ate of an y en t ry) kn ow i n gl y h as encou raged , i n du ced, assi st ed, abett ed, or ai ded an y ot h er ali en to en t er or t o t ry t o enter t h e U n i t ed S t ates i n vi ol ati on of l aw i s deportabl e. The BI A pr o pe r l y ap pl i e d it s c o m pa r ab i l i t y ana l ys i s i n t hi s c as e . The l ang u a g e u se din§§ 1 1 0 1 (a )(43 )(N ) a n d 1 1 8 2 (a)(6)(E )(i) is d istin ct. S e ctio n 1 1 8 2 (a )- ( 6) ( E ) (i) does not i n cl u de of fen ses regardi n g al i en s al readyw i t h i n t h e U n i t ed S ta te s , b u t § 1 1 0 1 (a )(4 3 )(N ) d o e s . S ee§ 1324( a) ( 1) (A)

. The B IAa p p ear s t o b e c or r ec tt hat§ 1182( a) ( 6) ( E ) (i) m or e c l os ely c or r es ponds t o § 1227( a) ( 1) ( E ) (i) t han t o § 1101 ( a) ( 43)( N )

. I den t i call an gu age i nt h e t w o provisio n s r en ders bot h depo r t a b l e a n d i n a d m i s s ib l e “ [ a ] n y a l i e n wh o . . . k n o wi n g l y h a s e n c o u r ag e d, i nduc e d, a s s i s t e d, a be t t e d, o ra i de d a ny o t he ra l i en to en t e ro rt r y t o e nt e rt he U n i tedS tates i n v i olati on o f l a w . ” §§ 11 8 2 (a)( 6 )( E )(i), 12 2 7 (a)( 1 )( E )(i). T h e B IA t hus c or r ec t l y c onc l uded t hatC ongr es s i nt ended t he agg r avat ed f el ony de por t abi l i t y groun d at § 1101(a) ( 43)( N ) t o “ serve di f ference pu rposes an d en com pa ss a d iff e re n t cla ss of co n d u ct” fro m §§ 1 1 8 2 (a)(6)(E )(i) an d1 2 2 7 (a)(1)(E )(i). L e o n -M e d in ah a s n o t s h o w n t h a t th e B IAe r r e db yh o ld in gth a t h e is in e ligibl e f or c an cel l ati on of

rem oval u n der f

orm er IN A§ 212(c)

. B ecau se t h i s precl u des h i m f

rom rec eivi n g rel i ef, w e do n otreach his rem ai n i n g argu m en t s. T h e p e t i t i o n f

o rr e v i e w i s DE NI ED
.