Opinion ID: 779772
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Due Process and Entrapment by Estoppel Claims

Text: 22 On appeal, Mr. Miranda-Ramirez argues that his sentence violates his right to due process because the recommended term of his imprisonment based on the underlying statute exceeds the incorrect reference to the potential sentence found in Form I-294. Additionally, he argues that the district court should have considered the legal defense of entrapment by estoppel as a mitigating factor warranting downward departure. We disagree. 23 The implication of either argument suggests that criminal statutes are immutable. Regardless of inaccuracies in Form I-294, it was unreasonable for Mr. Miranda-Ramirez to assume that the relevant statutes would not be amended, as they were, between 1992 and 2000. Likewise, it is difficult to imagine what error correcting process ought to be due to Mr. Miranda-Ramirez as a substitute for self help. Had he heeded the form's command to contact the Consular Office for instructions about reentry, the error, and his claimed reliance upon it, could have easily been corrected. Finally, we note that estoppel principles are not intended to simply reward irrational expectations. 24 Moreover, this court has addressed the same arguments based on the misleading language in Form I-294 in the context of a motion to dismiss an indictment. See United States v. Meraz-Valeta, 26 F.3d 992 (10th Cir.1994). In that case, we concluded that the discrepancy between the INS form and the statutory maximum term of imprisonment did not violate due process. Id. at 996. This conclusion is in accord with other circuits that have addressed these arguments at sentencing. See, e.g., Cruz-Flores, 56 F.3d at 463-64 ([R]eceipt of the erroneous Form I-294 does not transform a statutorily authorized sentence into a due process violation.); United States v. McCalla, 38 F.3d 675, 679 (3d Cir.1994) (holding that to satisfy due process, it is the underlying criminal statute, rather than the INS form, that must clearly set forth the conduct which constitutes a crime and the authorized punishment). 25 Likewise, in rejecting an argument based on the defense of entrapment by estoppel 4 we stated, 26 Defendant was not misled as to the legality of his conduct. If he was misled at all, it was only as to the specific penalties resulting from illegal entry into the United States. Because INS officials properly informed Defendant that any subsequent reentry without permission of the Attorney General would constitute a felony, the entrapment by estoppel defense is inapplicable to the facts of this case. 27 Meraz-Valeta, 26 F.3d at 996; see also United States v. Thomas, 70 F.3d 575, 576 (11th Cir.1995) (We agree with our sister circuits and hold that equitable estoppel is not a basis for challenging a sentence imposed in excess of the two-year maximum erroneously stated on INS Form I-294.).