Opinion ID: 2994812
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Under the transitional rules of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), when a final order of deportation is entered there shall be no appeal permitted in the case of an alien who is . . . deportable by reason of having committed a [controlled substance] offense covered in . . . the Immigration and Nationality Act. IIRIRA, sec. 309(c)(4)(G), Pub. L. No. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009-625 (Sept. 30, 1996), set out at 8 U.S.C. sec. 1101, Historical and Statutory Notes. Notwithstanding this restriction, courts do have jurisdiction to review whether the alien was convicted of a criminal offense that justifies deportation. See Wedderburn v. INS, 215 F.3d 795, 797 (7th Cir. 2000), petition for cert. filed, 69 U.S.L.W. 3409 (U.S. Nov. 29, 2000) (No. 00-875); see also Jideonwo v. INS, 224 F.3d 692, 696 (7th Cir. 2000); Xiong v. INS, 173 F.3d 601, 604 (7th Cir. 1999). This limited review enables judicial correction of bizarre miscarriages of justice. LaGuerre v. Reno, 164 F.3d 1035, 1040 (7th Cir. 1998). Therefore, we must determine whether Sandoval was convicted of a controlled substance offense that would justify deportation under the INA.