Opinion ID: 2744624
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Second Circuit Interpretation

Text: The Second Circuit held that the second clause in § 1432 “requires something less than a lawful admission of permanent residency.” Nwozuzu, 726 F.3d at 328. Gonzalez’s argument that he satisfies this test is unavailing. 4 We give “deference to the BIA’s interpretation of the INA under the principles of Chevron USA, Inc. v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837 . . . (1984) . . . .” Nolos v. Holder, 611 F.3d 279, 281 (5th Cir. 2010) (per curiam). However, we decline to decide whether deference is warranted under Chevron in this case because it would not affect the resolution of our decision. See Ayton, 686 F.3d at 335 (declining to decide deference issue in regards to the BIA’s interpretation of § 1432); see also Marquez-Marquez, 455 F.3d at 554 n.12. 10 Case: 14-60378 Document: 00512809426 Page: 11 Date Filed: 10/21/2014 No. 14-60378 Gonzalez did not exhibit “an objective and official manifestation” of an intent to remain in the country. See id. at 334. In Nwozuzu, the petitioner’s father filed an I-130 petition on his behalf, and the petitioner filed an application for adjustment of his legal status before he turned eighteen. Id. at 325, 334. The court also noted that Nwozuzu’s siblings and parents were naturalized. Id. at 334. Conversely, although Gonzalez’s father filed an I-130 form on his behalf when he was fourteen, no further action was taken until Gonzalez applied for an adjustment of status at the age of twenty-three. As we have previously noted, an undocumented individual “who has acquired unlawful or illegal status (either by overstaying a visa or illegally crossing the border without admission or parole) cannot relinquish that illegal status until his application for adjustment of status is approved.” United States v. Elrawy, 448 F.3d 309, 314 (5th Cir. 2006) (emphasis added). Gonzalez failed to take even the initial step of applying for adjustment of status while he was under the age of eighteen. We are not persuaded that he presented “some objective official manifestation of” a permanent residence. See Nwozuzu, 726 F.3d at 333 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).