Opinion ID: 2974973
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Grounds for relief

Text: Petitioner and Ingrid Zundel filed this appeal from the decision of the district court. They 5 It was actually the “pilot program period” that expired on April 30, 2000, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1187(f). The statute authorizing the pilot program remained in effect until October 29, 2000, when the VWPP was enacted as a permanent program known as the Visa Waiver Program. See Pub. L. No. 106-396, 114 Stat. 1637. describe the acts that they believe warrant habeas relief as “the apprehension of Ernst Zundel based on an erroneous decision by the INS that he could be treated as a VWPP entrant, including his unlawful apprehension without any arrest warrant, and (mainly) his subsequent removal based on the same error . . . also . . . the acts of the AG were motivated by hostility directed at his beliefs.” They argue that the district court applied the wrong standard of review in considering respondents’ motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and that the district court should have allowed them to present evidence. They seek an order directing the district court to issue a writ of habeas corpus or to allow them to conduct discovery on their claims. Petitioner argues that § 1252(g) does not bar judicial review of his claims. He alleges that there is no final order of removal to be reviewed by the court because the INS issued only a “notice” and a “decision.” Petitioner further contends that the decision to remove him was not a discretionary decision to “commence proceedings’ that is shielded from judicial review pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(g) because there were no “proceedings” before an IJ as contemplated by the statute, only a removal process initiated by the Attorney General. Petitioner also argues that “[a]cts of discriminatory hostility” such as those purportedly underlying the decision to remove him are unconstitutional and cannot be discretionary so as to exempt the removal decision from judicial review. Petitioner further contends that 8 U.S.C. § 1187(b)(2) does not deprive the courts of jurisdiction over this appeal. He claims that this court retains the authority to determine whether the VWPP has any applicability to this case.