Opinion ID: 1372411
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The INA Statutory Framework

Text: The INA provides numerical limits on the number of aliens who may be issued immigrant visas or admitted to the United States for permanent residence. 8 U.S.C. § 1151(a). However, the immediate relatives of United States citizens are not subject to the direct numerical limitations. See 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b). In order for an alien to immigrate as an immediate relative based on a close family relationship to a citizen or resident, a qualifying family relationship must exist. 8 U.S.C. § 1151. The alien is not automatically accorded the status of immediate relative under this provision; instead, the United States citizen or lawful permanent resident to whom the alien is related must file a Form I-130 petition on the alien's behalf with the USCIS to establish the existence of the relationship. 8 U.S.C. § 1154(a)(1)(A)(i). The USCIS shall approve the petition if it determines, after investigating the facts in each case, that the facts stated in the petition are true and the alien is an immediate relative. 8 U.S.C. § 1154(b). Following the USCIS's approval of the citizen's petition, an immigrant visa is immediately available to the alien, and the alien is eligible for an adjustment of status to that of permanent resident. 8 U.S.C. § 1255(a); 8 C.F.R. § 245.2(a)(2). Adjustment of status under 8 U.S.C. § 1255 is a two-step process. First, the alien must prove statutory eligibility for the adjustment, and second, the Attorney General or, in the context of deportation proceedings, the immigration judgemust exercise his discretion to grant relief. The question before this Court is whether an alien-spouse whose citizen-spouse filed the necessary immediate relative form under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1187, 1255(c)(4), but died within two years of the qualifying marriage, nonetheless remains a spouse under 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b)(2)(A)(i) and is entitled to treatment as a spouse when the DHS adjudicates that alien's petition to adjust his/her status to that of a lawful permanent resident. Two other circuit courts have weighed in on this precise issue, but they reached opposite conclusions. See Freeman v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 1031 (9th Cir.2006) and Robinson v. Napolitano, 554 F.3d 358 (3d Cir.2009). In Freeman, the Ninth Circuit held that the language, structure, purpose and application of § 1151(b)(2)(A)(i) indicate that Congress intended a surviving alien-spouse to remain a spouse under the immediate relative provision despite the death of the citizen-spouse. See Freeman, 444 F.3d at 1039. In Robinson, the Third Circuit reached the opposite conclusion, finding that a surviving alien-spouse is not an immediate relative under 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b)(2)(A)(i). Robinson, 554 F.3d at 364. The Secretary argues that Mrs. Lockhart is no longer the spouse of a United States citizen because, as a matter of law, her marriage ended when Mr. Lockhart died. Put simply, the Secretary argues that because Mrs. Lockhart is no longer legally married, she is likewise no longer Mr. Lockhart's spouse, and, therefore, no longer an immediate relative. We disagree. As set forth below, we are persuaded by the reasoning of the Ninth Circuit and, therefore, hold that a surviving alien-spouse whose citizen-spouse filed the necessary immediate relative form under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1187, 1255(c)(4), but died within two years of the qualifying marriage remains a spouse under 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b)(2)(A)(i).