FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT JANUARY 25 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 05- 13634 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N o. A 74- 715- 061 A N D R E A S R O O S , P e titio n e r , v ersu s U .S . A T T O RN E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on f orR e vi e w of

a n O r de rof

the B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

_________________________ ( Jan u ar y 25, 2006) B efo re D U B IN A , C A RN E S an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: A ndr e a s R oos , ana t i ve a nd c i t i z e n of S w e de n, pe t i t i ons f

orr e vi e w of

the2

B oa r d of I m m i gr a t i on A ppe a l s ’ or de ra f f i rm i ng w i thoutopi ni on the i m m i gr a t i on j u d g e ’ s d e c i s i o n a n d o r d e rd e n y i n g h i m a n ap p l i c a t i o n f o raw a i v e ru n d e r8 U . S. C. § 1186a ( c ) ( 4) ( B ) and or de r i ng hi m r e m ove d. W e de ny the pe t i t i on. I. O n S e pt e m be r30, 1995, R oos e nt e r e d the U ni t e d S t a t e s on a90- da y nonim m ig r a n t v is ito rv is a . O n D e c e m b e r2 8 , 1 9 9 5 , R o o s m a rr ie d E v e ly n M c C r a ry in S outh C a r ol i na . R oos w a s 23 y e a r s ol d; M c C r a ry w a s 59. I n F e brua ry 1996, R oos f i l e d a n appl i c a t i on t o a dj us thi s s t a tus t o pe rm a ne nt re si denton the basi s of hi s m arri age t o M cC rary , a U . S . ci t i ze n. M cC rary s u b m itte d a n a f

f id a v it o f s u p p o rt a n d ap e titio n f o ra n a lie n r e la tiv e . S h o rtly the r e a f t e r , R oos a nd M c C r a ry be ga n t o e xpe r i e nc e m a r i t a l di s c or d. R oos a nd M c C r a ry w e r e s e pa r a t e d i n A ugus t1996 a nd di vor c e d i n F e brua ry 1999. R oos ’ a dj us tm e ntof

s t a tus t o pe rm a ne ntr e s i de ntw a s appr ove d by I N S on S e p te m b e r2 6 , 1 9 9 6 . T h e g r a n t o f p e rm a n e n t r e s id e n t s ta tu s to a n a lie n s p o u s e is

“ on ac ondi t i ona l ba s i s . ” 8 U . S . C . § 1186a ( a ) ( 1) . I n or de rt o r e m ove the cond i t i on al basi s, the al i en and spo use m ustfi l e aj oi ntpet i t i on re qu es t i ng re m ov al a nd s ubm i tt o a n i nt e rvi e w by i m m i gr a t i on author i t i e s . I d. § 1186a ( c ) ( 1) . T he pe t i t i on m us tbe f

i l e d “ dur i ng the 90- da y pe r i od be f or e the s e c ond a nni ve r s a ry of th e a lie n ’s o b ta in in g ” c o n d itio n a l p e rm a n e n t r e s id e n t s ta tu s . I d . § 1 1 8 6 a ( d ) ( 2 ) ( A ) . W ai ver of the j oi ntpet i t i on re qu i re m enti s perm i tt ed “ i f the al i en dem on stra t es that3

. . . the qua l i f

y i ng m a rr i a ge w a s e nt e r e d i nt o i n good f a i th by the a l i e n s pous e , but the qua l i f

y i ng m a rr i a ge ha s be e n t e rm i na t e d ( othe rtha n thr ough the de a th of the s pous e ) a nd the a l i e n w a s nota tf aul ti n f a i l i ng t o m e e tthe ” j oi ntpe t i t i on a nd i nt ervi ew re qu i re m ent s. Id. § 1 18 6a(c )( 4). R oos f i l e d ape t i t i on t o r e m ove the c ondi t i ons on hi s pe rm a ne ntr e s i de nt s t a tus i n M a r c h 1999. H e i ndi c a t e d tha the w a s unabl e t o f i l e aj oi ntpe t i t i on a nd r e que s t e d aw a i ve rf

r om tha tr e qui r e m e ntbe c aus e he e nt e r e d the m a rr i a ge i n good f a i th, butthe m a rr i a ge w a s t e rm i na t e d. I N S ul t i m a t e l y de ni e d R oos ’ pe t i t i on, ci t i ng a l ac k o f e vi dence produ ce d b y R oo s t o p rove thathi s m arri age t o M cC rary w as l egi t i m at e, the di spar i ty betw ee n h i s and M cC rary ’ s a ges, and thei r never h av i n g sh ared a co m m o n ad d ress. I n D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 , I N S is s u e d R o o s aN o tic e to A p p e a rc h a r g in g h im w ith re m ov abi l i ty bas ed on 8 U . S . C . § 1 22 7(a) (1)( D )( i ). T hatprov i si on st at es that

“ [ a ] ny a l i e n w i th pe rm a ne ntr e s i de nts t a tus on ac ondi t i ona l ba s i s unde rs e c t i on 1186aof thi s t i t l e . . . w ho ha s ha d s uc h s t a tus t e rm i na t e d unde rs uc h r e s pe c t i ve s e c t i on i s de port abl e . ” I d. A tthe i ni t i a l r e m ova l he a r i ng on F e brua ry 5, 2003, R o o s , ap p e a r in g p r o s e , a d m itte d th e f a c tu a l a lle g a tio n s o f

th e N o tic e to A p p e a r . T he IJfoun d thathe w as re m ov abl e bec ause of the t erm i nat i on of hi s c on di t i on al p e rm a n e n t r e s id e n t s ta tu s . T h e I J in s tru c te d R o o s a s f o llo w s : “A t th e h e a r in g it w i l l be your re spon si bi l i ty t o p re se ntevi dence t o d em on stra t e thatyour fa i l ed4

m a rr ia g e w a s n e v e rth e le s s e n te r e d in to in g o o d f a ith a n d w a s n o t d e s ig n e d in subst ant i al partt o p rovi de you a w ayof evadi ng U . S . i m m i grat i on l aw . In other w o r d s , it w a s n ’t as h a m m a rr ia g e f o rim m ig r a tio n p u rp o s e s .” A f te ra ll o f th e te s tim o n y , th e I J f

o u n d th a t R o o s h a d f

a ile d to m e e t h is bu rden, deni ed hi s app l i ca t i on for aw ai ver, and o rder ed hi m re m ov ed. T he B IA a f f i rm e d w i thoutopi ni on. II. A s ath r e s h o ld m a tte r , w e m u s t d e te rm in e w h e th e rw e h a v e ju r is d ic tio n to c ons i de rR oos ’ appe a l . S e e F a r quha r s on v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 246 F . 3d 1317, 1319 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . W e r e v ie w th is C o u rt’s s u b je c t m a tte rju r is d ic tio n d e n o v o . B rook s v. A shcr oft , 28 3 F . 3d 12 68 , 12 72 (11th C i r. 20 02 ). In hi s openi ng bri ef

, R oo s s t at es the i ss ue on appeal as fol l ow s: “ W hether th e [ B I A ] e rr e d in s u m m a r ily a f f irm in g th e I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e ’s d e n ia l o f [ h is ] . . . P et i t i o n t o R em o v e C o n d i t i o n s o n R esi d en ce . . . an d t erm i n at i n g h i s st atu s as a l a w f ul pe rm a ne ntr e s i de ntw he r e [ he ] w a s e rr one ous l y m a de t o c a rry the bur de n of p ro o f in re v iew o f h is p etit io n b ef o re th e I m m ig ra ti o n Ju d g e . . . .” P etit io n er ’s B ri ef at1. T he A tt orney G ener al ra i se d a j uri sdi ct i on alchal l enge t o R oo s’ appeal base d o n 8 U . S . C . § 1 25 2(a) (2)( B )( i i ). S e c t i o n 1 2 5 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( i i ) d e p r i v e s th i s C o u rto f j u r i s d i c t i o n t o r e v i e w a

“ deci si on or ac t i on of the A tt orney G ener al . . . the autho ri ty f or w hi ch i s s peci fi ed5

un der [ 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 1-13 78 ] t o b e i n the di sc re t i on of the A tt orney G ener al . . . . ” 8 U . S . C . § 1252( a ) ( 2) ( B ) ( i i ) ; s e e a l s o Z a f a rv. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 426 F . 3d 1330, 1334 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . T he de c i s i on t o w a i ve the j oi ntpe t i t i on r e qui r e m e nta nd r e m ove the c ondi t i ona l ba s i s of a n a l i e n’ s pe rm a ne ntr e s i de nts t a tus i s ve s t e d i n the A tt orney G ener al ’ s di sc re t i on . S ee 8 U . S . C . § 1 18 6a(c )( 4) (“ T he A tt orney G e ne r a l , i n the A tt orne y G e ne r a l ’ s di s c r e t i on, m a y r e m ove the c ondi t i ona l ba s i s of the pe rm a ne ntr e s i de nts t a tus f ora n a l i e n w ho f

a i l s t o m e e tthe r e qui r e m e nt s of pa r a gr aph ( 1) . . . . ” ) ( e m pha s i s a dde d) . T he r e i s ac i r c ui ts pl i ta s t o w he the rthe ju r is d ic tio n a l b a ro f

§ 1 2 5 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( ii) a ls o p r e c lu d e s r e v ie w o f th e th r e s h o ld det erm i nat i on thatthe m arri age w as “ ent er ed i nt o i n g oo d fai th b y the al i en s pous e . ” C om pa r e A s s a d v. A s hc r of t , 378 F . 3d 471, 475 ( 5th C i r . 2004) a nd U re na-T avar ez v. A shcr oft , 36 7 F . 3d 15 4, 15 7– 61 (3rd C i r. 20 04 ) w i th O ropezaW o n g v . G o n zal es, 4 0 6 F . 3 d 1 1 3 5 , 1 1 4 1

– 4 3 (9 th C i r. 2 0 0 5 ) an d C h o v . G o n zal es, 40 4 F . 3d 96 , 98 –1 02 (1stC i r. 20 05 ). W e nee d n otre ac h thati ss ue, ho w ever , because i n res po nse t o the A tt orney G ener al ’ s j uri sdi ct i on al ar gu m ent , R oo s m ade c l ear thathe “ i s notse eki ng a r evi ew o f a su b stan ti v e iss u e ( th at th e d en ial w as b as ed o n th e I m m ig ra ti o n Ju d g e’s f i ndi ng tha tM r . R oos ’ m a rr i a ge w a s notbonaf i de ) tha ti s w i thi n the di s c r e t i on of the A tt orney G ener al bu tra ther al egal i ss ue (w hether the bu rden of proo f w as i ncorrec t l y pl ac ed up on M r. R oo s) . ” R epl y B ri ef at5. S ec t i on 12 52 (a )( 2)(D ) gi vesThe chang es made by § 106 of the REAL ID Act are applicable t o al lo rd er s o f removal 1 “issued bef

ore, on, or

after the date of enactment.”Real ID Act § 106(b), 119 Stat. at 311. 6 us j uri sdi ct i on t o revi ew thatl egal i ss ue. 8 U . S . C . § 1 25 2(a) (2)( D ) ( “ N othi ng i n [§ 12 52 (a )( 2)(B ) or ( C )] . . . shal l be construed as prec l ud i ng re vi ew of const i tut i on al c l a i m s orque s t i ons of

l a w r a i s e d upon ape t i t i on f orr e vi e w . . . . ” ) ( a s a m e nde d by the R E A L I D A c tof

2005, P ub. L . N o. 109- 13, § 106( a ) ( 1) ( A ) ( i i i ) , 119 S t a t . 302, 3 1 0 ( 2 0 0 5 ) ) ; s e e a ls o B a lo g u n v . U .S . A tt’y G e n ., 4 2 5 F .3 d 1 3 5 6 , 1 3 5 9

– 6 0 ( 1 1 th

1 C i r. 20 05 ). III. B ec ause the B IA af

fi rm ed w i tho utop i ni on and ado pt ed the IJ ’ s dec i si on as th e f in a l a g e n c y d e te rm in a tio n , w e r e v ie w th e I J ’s d e c is io n . A l N a jja rv . A s h c r o f

t, 257 F . 3d 1262, 1284 ( 11th C i r . 2001) . W e r e vi e w the I J ’ s l e ga l de t e rm i na t i ons de no vo . D -M uh um ed v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 7 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). R oos a r gue s tha tthe A tt orne y G e ne r a l s houl d ha ve be e n r e qui r e d t o pr ove thathi s m arri age t o M cC raryw as a s ham . S ee 8 U . S . C . § 1 18 6a(b)( 2) (“ the bu rden of pr oof s ha l l be on the A tt orne y G e ne r a l t o e s t abl i s h, by apr e ponde r a nc e of the e vi de nc e . . . ” ) ( e m pha s i s a dde d) . T ha ta r gum e nti s una va i l i ng be c aus e the pr ovi s i ons of

§ 1186a ( b) appl y onl y w he r e the A tt orne y G e ne r a l t a ke s i nde pe nde nt a c t i on t o t e rm i na t e an a l i e n’ s s t a tus . I d. § 1186a ( b) ( 1) ; s e e , e . g. , S m ol ni a kovav. G on za l es , 42 2 F . 3d 10 37 , 10 43 (9th C i r. 20 05 ) ( no t i ng that“ IN S re vo ked7

S m ol ni akov a’ s c on di t i on al re si dentst atus pu rs uantt o . . . 8 U . S . C . § 1 18 6a(b), base d o n a fi nd i ng — the cul m i nat i on of an i nv es t i gat i on prec i pi t at ed by an anon ym ou s t i p— thather m arri age . . . w as a s ham ” and re vers i ng because the IJ pl ac ed the bu rden of proo f on the al i en). T hatdi d n othapp en i n thi s c as e. R oos f i l e d ape t i t i on t o r e m ove the c ondi t i ona l ba s i s of hi s pe rm a ne nt r e s i d e n ts t a tu s a n d th e r e b y s o u g h tawa i v e ro f th e j o i n tp e t i t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t . He agai n sou gh ta w ai ver i n the re m ov al proceedi ng s. T he prov i si on s of § 11 86 a( c) ap p ly to th a t s itu a tio n . S e c tio n 1 1 8 6 a ( c ) ( 4 ) c le a r ly p la c e s th e b u r d e n o n th e a lie n :

“ T he A tt orne y G e ne r a l , i n the A tt orne y G e ne r a l ’ s di s c r e t i on, m a y r e m ove the c ondi t i ona l ba s i s of

the pe rm a ne ntr e s i de nts t a tus f ora n a l i e n w ho f

a i l s t o m e e tthe r e qui r e m e nt s of

pa r a gr aph ( 1) i f

the a l i e n de m ons tr a t e s . . . the qua l i f y i ng m a rr i a ge w a s e n t e r e d i n t o i n g o o d f a i th b y th e a l i e n s p o u s e . . . . ” 8 U . S. C. § 1 1 8 6 a ( c ) ( 4 ) ( B) (e m ph as i s a dd ed). A s i nd i ca t ed by the IJ ’ s i nstruct i on t o R oo s atthe re m ov al h e a r in g , q u o te d in f

u ll ab o v e , th e I J p r o p e r ly a llo c a te d th e b u r d e n s o f p r o o f in ac cordance w i th § 11 86 a( c) (4). P E T I T I ON DE NI E D.