Opinion ID: 2658011
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Relevance of the Conviction

Text: The Government’s argument, in a nutshell, is that the requirements of the § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i) smuggling bar overlap with those of the criminal “brings to” offense, and therefore, because Petitioner was convicted of a “brings to” offense, his 11 conduct must also render him inadmissible under § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i). We disagree. As an initial matter, it is undisputed that an alien need not be charged with or convicted of any criminal offense in order to be deemed inadmissible under the smuggling bar. See Barradas v. Holder, 582 F.3d 754, 761 and n.4 (7th Cir. 2009). Indeed, the IJ conceded this in his February 23 order. (A.R. 267.) Accordingly, courts deciding admissibility under § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i) typically examine the underlying conduct at issue. See, e.g., Ramos v. Holder, 660 F.3d 200 (4th Cir. 2011); Urzua Covarrubias v. Gonzales, 487 F.3d 742 (9th Cir. 2007); Soriano, 484 F.3d 318; see also Fernandez v. Holder, 422 Fed. App’x 341, 343 (5th Cir. 2011) (under § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i), “the analysis focuses on the actual conduct rather than on a conviction for a criminal offense”) (citing Soriano). The Government has not pointed to any legal authority for the proposition that a court should consider the fact of Petitioner’s conviction, rather than his actual conduct, in determining admissibility under § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i), and we decline to read into the INA any such requirement here. Accordingly, because Petitioner’s conviction for the “brings to” offense is not determinative of his admissibility under § 1182(a)(6)(E)(i), we look to Petitioner’s actual conduct to determine whether he is inadmissible.7 7 Even if Petitioner’s conviction under the “brings to” statute must be considered, we disagree with the BIA that the requirements of that statute necessarily overlap with those of the smuggling bar. As originally drafted, 8 U.S.C. § 1324 barred “bringing aliens into” the United States, a phrase that certain courts interpreted as synonymous with “entering” the United States. See, e.g., United States v. Anaya, 509 F. Supp. 12