Opinion ID: 681058
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was Gomez found on May 3, 1988?

Text: 16 Although Gomez styles his May 3 visit to the INS Legalization Office as an entry, the district court considered the visit in connection with the found in provision. The central issue is whether Gomez was found in the United States when he visited the INS Legalization Office on May 3. If Gomez was found in the United States on May 3, the prosecution is time barred. If Gomez was not found in the United States until after May 7, 1988, 8 the prosecution is not time barred. We review the district court's application of the statutory language to the historical facts de novo. United States v. Brummels, 15 F.3d 769, 771 (8th Cir.1994). 17 This appeal requires us to decide exactly what must be known to the government before a defendant alien is found in the United States. Although this appears to be an issue of first impression, several other circuits have addressed analogous situations, and their reasoning provides guidance. The prevailing view is that an alien is found in the United States when that alien is discovered in the United States. United States v. Canals-Jimenez, 943 F.2d 1284, 1287 (11th Cir.1991) (The phrase 'found in' is synonymous with 'discovered in.' ); Whittaker, 999 F.2d at 41 (alien's being found in United States means his presence is discovered); DiSantillo, 615 F.2d at 137 (alien is found when his presence is first noted by the immigration authorities); United States v. Meraz-Valeta, 26 F.3d 992, 997 (10th Cir.1994). 18 Implicit in the analysis of our sister circuits is the idea that discovery consists of two elements. 9 First, the physical presence of the deported alien in the United States must be discovered. Whittaker, 999 F.2d at 41 (previously deported alien's being found in United States means his presence is discovered) (emphasis added); DiSantillo, 615 F.2d at 137 (previously deported alien is found when his presence is first noted by the immigration authorities) (emphasis added). The INS was certainly aware of Gomez's presence when he visited the office on May 3. 19 The second necessary element of the discovery is to ascertain the identity and status of the previously deported alien. Whittaker, 999 F.2d at 41 (previously deported alien's being found in United States means his presence is discovered) (emphasis added); DiSantillo, 615 F.2d at 137 (previously deported alien is found when his presence is first noted by the immigration authorities) (emphasis added). The physical presence of any and every alien does not violate Sec. 1326. Only the physical presence of a particular type of alien, that is, an alien who was previously deported, violates the statute. This aspect of discovery requires linking the presently perceived alien (Javier Dario Gomez) to a historical event (the deportation of Rodrigo Rojas Gomez), which occurs only when Javier Dario Gomez and Rodrigo Rojas Gomez are discovered to be the same person. This second aspect of discovery was not present during Gomez's May 3 visit to the INS Legalization Office. Although Gomez was obviously physically present in the INS Legalization Office, the information he provided the INS was designed to conceal his identity. Gomez filled out an I-687 application for temporary resident status using a different name than that under which he was previously convicted. He falsely stated that he had no other records with the INS. He concealed his previous arrest and deportation, and he changed his birth date. Thus, the INS did not find Gomez on May 3, 1988. 20