Source: http://openjurist.org/440/f3d/1050
Timestamp: 2013-05-25 11:35:18
Document Index: 174036571

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1229', '§ 1229', '§ 1101', '§ 1229', '§ 1101', '§ 1003', '§ 1003']

440 F3d 1050 Solano-Chicas v. Gonzales | OpenJurist
440 F. 3d 1050 - Solano-Chicas v. Gonzales	Home440 f3d 1050 solano-chicas v. gonzales
440 F3d 1050 Solano-Chicas v. Gonzales 440 F.3d 1050
Angel Abad SOLANO-CHICAS, Petitioner,v.Alberto GONZALES, Attorney General of the United States of America,1 Respondent.
No. 04-3755.
Filed: March 17, 2006.
Counsel who presented argument on behalf of the appellant was Paul J. Duthoy of St. Paul, MN.
Based on the above circumstances, the Immigration Judge (IJ) found that Solano-Chicas was removable, as he had been convicted of a crime involving child abuse. The IJ then considered whether to grant Solano-Chicas cancellation of removal, allowing him to remain in the United States. The IJ observed the correct legal standard; that is, whether the factors in favor of allowing Solano-Chicas to stay outweighed the factors supporting removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(4)(B). According to the IJ, the factors in favor of cancellation were Solano-Chicas's familial ties and long-term residence in the United States. Forcing Solano-Chicas to leave the country would impose a significant emotional and financial hardship not only on Solano-Chicas, but also on his wife and children. Moreover, because Solano-Chicas had no strong ties in El Salvador, returning him there would be very burdensome to him. On the other hand, the IJ recognized that Solano-Chicas had a criminal history that was not insubstantial, and that he did not perform well on supervised release. The IJ also was concerned that Solano-Chicas had unpaid child support and tax arrears. Troubled, the IJ stated that "[u]ltimately, the Court's not really thrilled with either outcome in this case," but considering all the factors, the IJ "tip[ped] the scales in [Solano-Chicas's] favor," allowing him the privilege of cancellation of removal. (IJ Order at 27.)
I. BIA AUTHORITY TO ORDER AN ALIEN REMOVED
With respect, we part ways with the Ninth Circuit in this case. There can be no doubt that the IJ in the first instance possesses the power to determine whether an alien is removable, 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(a)(1), and to order an alien deported, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(47)(A). Once a finding of removability has been made, the burden is on the alien to show that he or she is eligible for relief from removal. 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(4)(a). Absent that showing, however, an order of removal is appropriately entered by an IJ, and becomes final, inter alia, upon an order from the BIA affirming the IJ's order. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(47)(A) & (B). Thus, it follows that where the BIA reverses the IJ's order granting cancellation of removal, the BIA, in essence, gives effect to the IJ's order of removability, for the BIA decision eliminates the impediments to removal. It would be an imprudent expenditure of resources to require that the case nonetheless be remanded to the IJ for an actual order of removability to be entered, a proposition that we believe neither Congress nor the Attorney General intended.
Recent amendments to the applicable regulations convince us that our approach is consistent with the intent of the Attorney General. In order to ensure that aliens are properly documented prior to the grant of immigration relief, the regulations have been amended to require an investigation into the identity of the alien. See 70 Fed.Reg. 4743, 4752-53 (Jan. 31, 2005) (amending 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1). The amendment is telling: it requires that such an investigation be completed before the BIA issues any decision "affirming or granting to an alien an immigration status, relief or protection from removal, or other immigration benefit." 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(6)(i) (Apr. 1, 2005) (emphasis added). Thus, contrary to the Ninth Circuit's view, the BIA's power is not just one of merely affirming or reversing IJ decisions; it may order relief itself. Compare Molina-Camacho, 393 F.3d at 940 (holding that "nothing in the regulations enumerating the powers of the BIA indicates that the scope of those powers goes beyond appellate review of immigration judges' decisions and other `administrative adjudications'" (quoting 8 C.F.R. 1003.1(d)(1))), with 8 C.F.R. 1003.1(d)(6)(i) (presuming the BIA maintains the power to "grant" immigration relief). We find it entirely consistent that the BIA also may deny status and order an alien removed.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act limits our jurisdiction to review discretionary decisions of the BIA. Reyes-Vasquez v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 903, 906 (8th Cir.2005). As such, we may not generally review the BIA's decision to deny an alien cancellation of removal. Id. We retain the power, though, to "consider the predicate legal question whether the [BIA] properly applied the law to the facts in determining an individual's eligibility to be considered for the relief." Id.
We are aware that the issue is currently pending before the Seventh Circuit in the case ofGuevara v. Gonzales, No. 05-2696, and before the Tenth Circuit in the case of Sosa v. Gonzales, No. 05-9582, but no decision has been issued in either case as of this writing.
DHS represented in its brief that it was seeking to haveMolina-Camacho reversed. At oral argument, however, DHS admitted that Molina-Camacho was final, and "clarified" that it may ask for reconsideration of the principles announced in Molina-Camacho in future cases. Our research indicates DHS has not done so, and the decisions of the Ninth Circuit, as well as BIA decisions within the circuit, have consistently followed Molina-Camacho. See, e.g., Diaz-Toscano v. Gonzales, 127 Fed.Appx. 376 (9th Cir.2005) (unpublished). While the DHS's apparent lack of candor troubles this court, it does not affect our decision.
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