Opinion ID: 471846
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Affirmative Misconduct

Text: 11 The INS claims that Mukherjee cannot claim estoppel against the government because the government's actions do not constitute affirmative misconduct. Mukherjee claims, and the district court found, that the vice consul's assurance to Mukherjee that he was not subject to the two-year requirement and the same indication on the application approval constitute affirmative misconduct. 12 The appropriateness of estoppel turns on the facts of the individual case, Lavin v. Marsh, 644 F.2d 1378, 1382 n. 6 (9th Cir.1981); see also United States v. Wharton, 514 F.2d 406, 411 (9th Cir.1975). Under our de novo standard of review, we conclude that as a matter of law the government's actions in this case fall short of the affirmative misconduct necessary for estoppel. Nothing in the present case indicates a deliberate lie by the vice consul or a pattern of false promises. The vice consul here apparently mistakenly believed that Mukherjee was exempt from the two-year requirement, told him so, and indicated this on the application form. 3 This would undoubtedly constitute negligence, but it does not reach the level of misconduct required for estoppel under Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit law. Persons dealing with the government are charged with knowing government statutes and regulations, and they assume the risk that government agents may exceed their authority and provide misinformation. Lavin, 644 F.2d at 1383. 4 13 Mukherjee claims support for estoppel from Corniel-Rodriguez v. INS, 532 F.2d 301 (2d Cir.1976), and Tejeda v. INS, 346 F.2d 389 (9th Cir.1965). In light of later Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit authority, these cases do not support a finding of estoppel on the facts of this case. 14 In summary, we find that the INS is not estopped from enforcing the two-year requirement against Mukherjee. 5 Although he may have been disserved by the INS, a review of the INS's exercise of discretion in denying a waiver of the two-year requirement is a more appropriate approach to remedying that disservice in this case than estopping the INS from enforcing the literal terms of a federal statute.