Opinion ID: 658351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Nature of 212(c) Relief

Text: 3 Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act allows the Attorney General to grant discretionary relief from deportation or exclusion to lawful permanent residents who, like Yepes-Prado, meet the provision's seven-year residency requirement. 2 The INS' regulations first delegate the authority to make section 212(c) decisions to the Executive Office of Immigration Review and the BIA. 8 C.F.R. Secs. 3.0, 3.1(a)(1) & (d)(1) (1993). They then refer responsibility over 212(c) determinations to IJs and give appellate jurisdiction over those decisions to the BIA. Sec. 3.1(b)(3). 3 In exercising his responsibility, an IJ must determine whether to grant section 212(c) relief based on all the facts and circumstances of a particular case, taking into account the social and humane considerations presented in an applicant's favor and balancing them against the adverse factors that evidence the applicant's undesirability as a permanent resident. In re Edwards, Interim Decision No. 3134, 1990 WL 385757, 1990 BIA Lexis 8,  9. 4 The BIA has enumerated several factors to be considered in determining whether or not to grant a section 212(c) petition. Favorable considerations include: 1) family ties within the United States; 2) residence of long duration in this country (particularly when residence began at a young age); 3) hardship to the petitioner or petitioner's family if relief is not granted; 4) service in the United States armed forces; 5) a history of employment; 6) the existence of business or property ties; 7) evidence of value and service to the community; 8) proof of rehabilitation if a criminal record exists; 9) other evidence attesting to good character. Id. 1990 wl 38575, 1990 BIA LEXIS 8, at 10 -11. To be weighed against these factors are 1) the nature and underlying circumstances of the exclusion or deportation ground at issue; 2) additional violations of the immigration laws; 3) the existence, seriousness, and recency of any criminal record; 4) other evidence of bad character or the undesirability of the applicant as a permanent resident. Id. 1990 wl 38575, 1990 BIA LEXIS 8, at 11. Where a 212(c) petitioner has committed a particularly grave criminal offense, he must make a heightened showing that his case presents unusual or outstanding equities to warrant discretionary relief. Id. 1990 wl 38575, 1990 BIA LEXIS 8, at 11 -12. However, there are cases in which the adverse considerations are so serious that a favorable exercise is not warranted even in the face of unusual or outstanding equities. Id. 1990 wl 38575, 1990 BIA LEXIS 8, at 12.