Opinion ID: 3001393
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Petitioner Ibarra

Text: In 1981, Ibarra, a citizen of Mexico, “entered the United States at or near El Paso, Texas . . . without being admitted Nos. 06-3717, 06-3841, 06-3979, 07-1199 & 07-1670 5 or paroled into the United States.” IJ Decision at 2. However, he later became a lawful permanent resident on May 18, 1990. Less than one month later, Ibarra pleaded guilty in Illinois state court to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault “based on his sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13.” On May 4, 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service “INS” (now the Department of Homeland Security, “DHS”) served Ibarra with an NTA. The NTA charged Ibarra with removability from the United States as an alien convicted of criminal sexual assault, an aggravated felony. An IJ ordered Ibarra deported to Mexico, determining that he was statutorily ineligible for a § 212(c) waiver. Ibarra appealed to the Board. While his appeal was pending, the Supreme Court decided INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289 (2001). In St. Cyr, the Supreme Court held that aliens whose criminal convictions were obtained through plea agreements, and who would have been eligible for § 212(c) relief at the time of their pleas, remained eligible for § 212(c) relief notwithstanding the fact that § 212(c) had been repealed prior to the initiation of their removal proceedings. Id. at 326. Based on St. Cyr, the Board remanded Ibarra’s case to the INS to allow Ibarra to apply for § 212(c) relief. On remand, an IJ determined that Ibarra was not eligible for a § 212(c) waiver based on the offense for which he was found removable. Ibarra appealed to the Board. The Board dismissed Ibarra’s appeal, agreeing with the IJ that Ibarra was not entitled to § 212(c) relief. Ibarra appealed to this court. While his appeal was pending before this court, Ibarra filed a motion to reopen his case to present an application for adjustment of status based on his marriage to a United States citizen and his wife’s approved visa petition. The 6 Nos. 06-3717, 06-3841, 06-3979, 07-1199 & 07-1670 Board denied Ibarra’s motion to reopen and Ibarra appealed that decision to this court. He also filed a motion to reconsider both the Board’s denial of his request for § 212(c) relief and its denial of his motion to reopen. The Board denied Ibarra’s motion to reconsider and Ibarra appeals from that denial as well.