Opinion ID: 77052
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Moral Turpitude Provision

Text: 19 INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(i) provides that a defendant who is convicted of a crime of moral turpitude is removable, as follows: 20 Any alien who . . . is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within five years (or 10 years in the case of an alien provided lawful permanent resident status under section 1255(j) of this title) after the date of admission, and . . . is convicted of a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed, is deportable. 21 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(i). 22 Although the term moral turpitude is not defined by statute, courts have stated that it involves an `act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellow men, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.' United States v. Smith, 420 F.2d 428, 431 (5th Cir.1970) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1160 (Rev. 4th ed.1957)). 3 Whether a crime involves the depravity or fraud necessary to be one of moral turpitude depends upon the inherent nature of the offense, as defined in the relevant statute, rather than the circumstances surrounding a defendant's particular conduct. Itani v. Ashcroft, 298 F.3d 1213, 1215-16 (11th Cir.2002); see also Garcia v. Att'y Gen., 329 F.3d 1217, 1222 (11th Cir.2003); Rodriguez-Herrera v. INS, 52 F.3d 238, 239 (9th Cir.1995). This court has concluded that crimes involving moral turpitude include misprision of a felony, Itani, 298 F.3d at 1216, and aggravated child abuse, Garcia, 329 F.3d at 1222. Accordingly, we must determine whether an aggravated battery offense in Florida is a crime involving moral turpitude without reference to the facts underlying Sosa-Martinez's conviction. 23 Whether aggravated battery involves moral turpitude is a question of first impression for this Court, but one that is easily answered in the affirmative. In Florida, aggravated battery includes, as necessary elements, that the perpetrator intentionally commit simple battery and in doing so either (1) cause great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, or (2) use a deadly weapon. We readily conclude that any intentional battery that includes, as an element of the offense either (1) that it caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, or (2) involved the use of a deadly weapon, constitutes a crime of moral turpitude. 4 24 Our conclusion is supported by the decisions of our sister circuits, involving laws similar to Florida's aggravated battery statute. See Yousefi v. INS, 260 F.3d 318, 327 (4th Cir.2001) (concluding that assault with a dangerous weapon under District of Columbia law involves moral turpitude); Pichardo v. INS, 104 F.3d 756, 760 (5th Cir.1997) (finding that aggravated assault pursuant to Pennsylvania's statute involves moral turpitude because conviction under the statute requires bodily injury and a minimum mens rea of recklessness); Gonzales v. Barber, 207 F.2d 398, 400 (9th Cir.1953), aff'd, 347 U.S. 637, 74 S.Ct. 822, 98 L.Ed. 1009 (1954) (concluding that assault with a deadly weapon is a crime that involves moral turpitude); United States ex rel. Zaffarano v. Corsi, 63 F.2d 757, 758 (2d Cir.1933) (observing that assault with a dangerous weapon plainly involve[s] moral turpitude); see also Matter of Medina, 15 I. & N. Dec. 611, 613-14, 1976 WL 32319 (1976) (concluding that assault with a deadly weapon under Illinois law involves moral turpitude under any of Illinois law's three mental states — intent, knowledge, or recklessness).