Opinion ID: 788980
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Child Citizenship Act of 2000

Text: 6 Ali claims that he cannot be removed from the United States because he is a U.S. citizen under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, Pub.L. No. 106-395, § 101(a), 114 Stat. 1631 (2000), codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1431(a). We must decide the nationality claim when no genuine issue of material fact about the petitioner's nationality is presented. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(5)(A); Gomez-Diaz v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 913, 915 (7th Cir.2003). We review legal issues presented in such claims de novo but defer to the BIA's factual findings, reversing them only if they lack the support of substantial evidence in the record. Gomez-Diaz, 324 F.3d at 915. Because the BIA affirmed the IJ's citizenship determination without opinion, the IJ's opinion becomes the basis of our review. Vladimirova v. Ashcroft, 377 F.3d 690, 695 (7th Cir.2004); Ememe v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 446, 450 (7th Cir.2004). 7 The CCA changed the way in which children of non-American citizens born outside the United States become eligible for citizenship. It amended § 320 of the INA and grants automatic American citizenship to children who are born outside of the United States when the following three conditions have been met: (1) at least one parent of the child is a citizen of the United States, whether by birth or naturalization; (2) the child is under the age of eighteen years; and (3) the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence. 8 U.S.C. § 1431(a). 8 Section 104 of the new law provides that this amendment shall take effect 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to individuals who satisfy the requirements of section 320 ... of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as in effect on such effective date. Pub.L. No. 106-395, Title I, § 104, 114 Stat. 1633 (2000). As the CCA was signed by the President on October 30, 2000, the amendments became effective on February 27, 2001. We have construed the CCA not to apply retrospectively, see Dave v. Ashcroft, 363 F.3d 649, 654 (7th Cir.2004); Gomez-Diaz, 324 F.3d at 916. The BIA and other circuits have also construed the CCA in this fashion. See, e.g., In Re Rodriguez-Tejedor, 23 I. & N. Dec. 153, 2001 WL 865412 (BIA 2001); Drakes v. Ashcroft, 323 F.3d 189, 191 (2d Cir.2003). Therefore, even though Ali's mother is a U.S. citizen, Ali does not qualify for automatic citizenship under the CCA because he was over the age of eighteen on February 27, 2001, the CCA's effective date. Dave, 363 F.3d at 654; Gomez-Diaz, 324 F.3d at 916. The CCA thus does not protect Ali against removal.