Opinion ID: 657907
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 3 Petitioner Fitzgerald Alfonso Sanchez (Sanchez) is a citizen of Jamaica. He entered the United States as a permanent legal alien in 1980. (AR 63) He was convicted of transporting cocaine base in 1988 and sentenced to six months imprisonment. In 1989, he was again convicted of transporting or selling cocaine base and served about two years in prison. Sanchez was served with an order to show cause shortly after his release from jail in 1991. At the initial deportation hearing, he was found deportable based on the drug convictions, chose Jamaica as a destination country, and stated his intention to apply for waiver under section 212(c). 8 U.S.C. 1182(c). His hearing before an immigration judge was held on July 12, 1991. The judge denied the waiver application. The Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) affirmed the denial on March 26, 1992. This appeal was filed on the last possible jurisdictional date, April 27, 1992. 8 U.S.C. 1105a(a)(1); Fed.R.App.Pro. 26. 4 The immigration judge's decision discusses Sanchez's family relationships, work history, service in and less than honorable discharge from the National Guard (AR 64), possibility of hardship, attempts at rehabilitation, and the seriousness of his crimes. The Board's two-page opinion balances the seriousness of his crimes against his residency, young age at entry, family relationships in the United States, and attempts at rehabilitation. 1 The Board concluded that Sanchez had not established outstanding equities to counter his serious crimes.