Opinion ID: 792148
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The BIA's Use of the Streamlining Procedure

Text: 19 Before we address the legal and constitutional questions presented by Hamdan's petition — specifically, whether the IJ violated the principle of res judicata or Hamdan's due process rights — we briefly address his challenge to the procedural posture of this case. Hamdan argues that his appeal was not appropriate for single-member review and summary affirmance by the BIA since the IJ made a legal error in denying his application for adjustment of status. He further contends that this alleged legal error required correction by the BIA and that the BIA should have reviewed his case utilizing a three member panel instead of summarily affirming the IJ's decision without issuing an opinion. 20 Although an IJ's decision is ordinarily reviewed by a three member panel, the BIA's streamlining regulation authorizes a single BIA member to affirm the judge's decision without opinion if the following conditions are met: [T]he Board member determines that the result reached in the decision under review was correct; that any errors in the decision under review were harmless or nonmaterial; and that (A) [t]he issues on appeal are squarely controlled by existing Board or federal court precedent and do not involve the application of precedent to a novel fact situation; or (B) [t]he factual and legal issues raised on appeal are not so substantial that the case warrants the issuance of a written opinion in the case. 21 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(4)(i). 12 If a case is streamlined, the IJ's decision becomes that of the BIA for purposes of judicial review. Georgis v. Ashcroft, 328 F.3d 962, 966-67 (7th Cir.2003). 13 Thus, while courts are to review only the final determinations of the BIA, the practical effect is that when the BIA streamlines an appeal, a court reviews the IJ's decision. See Morales-Morales v. Ashcroft, 384 F.3d 418, 423 (7th Cir.2004). 22 The Department of Homeland Security, relying on the Eighth Circuit's recent decision in Ngure v. Ashcroft, 367 F.3d 975, 983 (8th Cir.2004), argues that the BIA's decision to streamline is never subject to judicial review because that decision is committed to the absolute discretion of the agency and therefore unreviewable under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). See also Heckler v. Chaney, 470 U.S. 821, 837-38, 105 S.Ct. 1649, 84 L.Ed.2d 714 (1985). Several courts of appeals have arrived at different conclusions on this issue and related issues. Compare Smriko v. Ashcroft, 387 F.3d 279, 294 (3d Cir.2004) (holding that the BIA's streamlining decisions are reviewable), Chen v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 1081, 1088 (9th Cir.2004), Haoud v. Ashcroft, 350 F.3d 201, 206 (1st Cir.2003), and Falcon Carriche, 350 F.3d at 852-53, with Tsegay v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 1347, 1356 (10th Cir.2004) (holding that decisions under § 1003.1(e)(4)(i) of the streamlining provisions are unreviewable), and Ngure, 367 F.3d at 983. However, we need not address this issue. This is not a case where the BIA's decision to streamline impact[s] or distort[s] the exercise of our judicial review function. Smriko, 387 F.3d at 296. As explained, we generally need not review the BIA's decision to streamline, for we review the IJ's decision directly when we have jurisdiction to do so, in which case it makes no practical difference whether the BIA properly or improperly streamlined review. . . . Georgis, 328 F.3d at 967. In this instance, we have limited jurisdiction to review the IJ's discretionary decision regarding adjustment of status; thus, it makes no practical difference whether the BIA properly or improperly streamlined review. Accordingly, we now turn our attention to Hamdan's challenges to the IJ's decision to deny him adjustment of status. 23