Opinion ID: 149588
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Authority to Determine Prima Facie Naturalization Eligibility

Text: On two occasions, the IJ held that it did not have authority to determine whether Ogunfuye was prima facie eligible for naturalization and therefore denied Ogunfuye's applications for termination of removal proceedings under 8 C.F.R. § 1239.2(f). [5] In reaching its conclusion, the IJ was bound by the BIA's holding in In re Hidalgo that only DHS can make the prima facie determination. 24 I. & N. Dec. 103, 105 (BIA 2007). Ogunfuye now argues that Hidalgo is an arbitrary interpretation of the INA. We disagree. The three circuit courts that have addressed whether an IJ has authority to determine prima facie naturalization eligibility have unanimously upheld Hidalgo 's interpretation of the INA. See Zegrean v. Att'y Gen. of United States, 602 F.3d 273, 274-75 (3d Cir.2010); Perriello v. Napolitano, 579 F.3d 135, 142 (2d Cir.2009); Hernandez de Anderson v. Gonzales, 497 F.3d 927, 933-34 (9th Cir. 2007). Although we have not directly confronted the issue, we cited Hidalgo with approval in holding that district courts do not have authority to determine prima facie naturalization eligibility. See Saba-Bakare v. Chertoff, 507 F.3d 337, 341 (5th Cir.2007). In Saba-Bakare, the court suggested the outcome we reach today by stating that only an affirmative communication from the USCIS may establish prima facie eligibility for naturalization. Id. Ogunfuye presents no compelling reason to depart from the result suggested by Saba-Bakare and reached by our fellow circuits. We therefore join those circuits that have concluded that Hidalgo is not plainly erroneous or inconsistent with § 1239.2(f). Consequently, we hold that the IJ did not err in determining that it could not adjudicate Ogunfuye's prima facie eligibility for naturalization.