Opinion ID: 164709
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: In absentia removal proceedings

Text: 7 It is well-settled that if `an alien is provided proper written notice of a removal hearing and fails to attend, the immigration judge is required to enter an in absentia order of removal.' Valencia-Fragoso v. INS, 321 F.3d 1204, 1206 (9th Cir.2003) (quoting Salta v. INS, 314 F.3d 1076, 1078 (9th Cir.2002)); 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(A). For purposes of in absentia proceedings, notice is adequate if provided at the alien's contact address, with the requisite information about the nature of proceedings, the charges against the alien, the right to be represented by counsel, the time and place of the proceedings, and the consequences of a failure to appear. § 1229(a)(1), (2). No notice is necessary if the alien fails to provide an updated, written record of the address at which he may be contacted about removal proceedings. §§ 1229a(b)(5)(B), 1229(a)(1)(F). Service by mail is sufficient if there is proof of attempted delivery to the last address provided by the alien. § 1229(c). 3 In sum, the INS does not have to prove actual receipt of notice before holding an in absentia proceeding. 8 Further, notice that meets statutory requirements also fulfills the due-process protections accorded to aliens in exclusion proceedings. Notice of a proceeding satisfies due process if it is reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections. Mullane v. Cent. Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314, 70 S.Ct. 652, 94 L.Ed. 865 (1950). 9 In an immigration setting, due process requires only that service must be conducted in a manner reasonably calculated to ensure that notice reaches the alien. Farhoud v. INS, 122 F.3d 794, 796 (9th Cir.1997) (quotation omitted); see also Anin v. Reno, 188 F.3d 1273, 1277-78 (11th Cir.1999). Notice of an exclusion hearing sent by regular mail to the last address provided by the alien satisfies the requirements of constitutional due process. See Dominguez v. United States Attorney Gen., 284 F.3d 1258, 1259-60 (11th Cir.2002) (holding that an alien's due process rights were not violated when the INS sent a notice of a removal hearing by regular mail to an address that the alien had provided several years earlier); Fuentes-Argueta v. INS, 101 F.3d 867, 872 (2d Cir.1996) (per curiam) (finding no per se due process violation where notice of deportation proceedings was returned unclaimed); United States v. Estrada-Trochez, 66 F.3d 733, 735-36 & n. 1 (5th Cir.1995) (due process satisfied where notice of deportation hearing, sent to alien by first-class mail, was returned because alien had moved without providing forwarding address). 10 A notice to appear is sufficient, both for due process and statutory purposes, if it is sent by regular mail to an alien's contact address of record. Such a procedure is consistent with the statute and is reasonably calculated to provide notice. Here, the INS sent Mr. Gurung notice in a form and manner that complied with the immigration statutes and the Constitution.