Opinion ID: 3046977
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Claim on the Merits

Text: Ponta-Garcia argues that even if the reinstatement procedures pass muster, they should not have been applied to him. He claims not only that the 1987 order of removal was invalidated by a court, but claims as well that he did not reenter the country illegally when he returned from his four-day visit to Canada in 1992 with what he says was a valid green card. If he is correct as to either or both of these claims – and there is some support for each – serious concerns are raised. narrow and mechanical determinations immigration officers must make and the procedural safeguards provided by [the regulations], the risk of erroneous deprivation is extremely low. . . . While the regulation does not offend due process, we leave open the possibility that individual petitioners may raise procedural defects in their particular cases.”); Lorenzo, 508 F.3d at 1284; Tilley, 2005 WL 1950796, at  (“We also hold that the reinstatement procedure offers adequate due process. . . . The reinstatement order asks only three factual questions. A judge is not needed to decide whether the alien was subject to a prior order of removal, nor whether the alien deported is the same alien as the one subject to reinstatement, not whether the alien re-entered the country illegally. And if the alien asserts that any of these decisions was incorrect, she may appeal the immigration officer’s findings directly to the circuit court. To plead for additional process in this procedure is to forget how limited is its scope.”). Other courts have discussed this issue in dicta, and indicated mixed feelings. Compare Alvarez-Portillo v. Ashcroft, 280 F.3d 858, 867 (8th Cir. 2002) (declining to reach the issue, but stating that the “streamlined notice and opportunity to be heard afforded illegal reentrants under [the regulations] seem quite appropriate when the only issues to be determined are those establishing the agency’s right to proceed under [the reinstatement statute”) with Lattab, 384 F.3d at 21 n.6 (declining to reach the issue, but commenting that “[t]he summary reinstatement process offers virtually no procedural protections,” and suggesting that appellate review “may not be adequate when the alien has not been given a meaningful opportunity to develop an administrative record”). 10 The Court of Appeals for the First Circuit addressed the nearly-identical situation of Ponta-Garcia’s brother, Helder, and recognized these same concerns. Helder, subject to the same order of removal, and, much later, subject to reinstatement of that order, challenged the reinstatement in the Court of Appeals. See Ponta-Garc[i]a, 386 F.3d 341. The Court found that it lacked jurisdiction because the petition for review was untimely, see id. at 341-42, but noted that the issues were potentially meritorious and “encourage[d] the respondent to reexamine the case with care.” Id. at 343. If the representations made by [Helder’s] counsel are accurate, he would appear to have a strong case on the merits. [Helder] contends that he did not voluntarily depart under the prior deportation order but, rather, left the country temporarily to attend a wedding. He also contends that he did not reenter the country illegally, but, rather, was inspected and allowed entry. If either of these assertions is correct, the reinstatement provision would appear to be inapplicable by its express terms. Moreover, the petitioner contends that the 1987 deportation order was invalidated by the federal district court in Connecticut at some point after his reentry. If that is so, the administrative reinstatement of that order would appear problematic. See Chacon- Corral v. Weber, 259 F.Supp.2d 1151, 1164 (D.Col. 2003) (“Because deportation for unauthorized reentry under INA § 241(a)(5) is under the original order of deportation, a determination that the original order was invalid renders § 241(a)(5) inapplicable in a given case.”). Particularly in light of the due process concerns that can arise in this context. . . ., we encourage the respondent to reexamine the case with care. Id. (citations omitted). Just as the First Circuit was troubled by the brother’s claims, we are troubled by Ponta-Garcia’s claims and thus return 11 the matter from whence it came for a careful consideration of those claims.5 In so doing, we are cognizant of the fact that Congress passed 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(5) to streamline and expedite reinstatement determinations. In most cases, a reinstatement determination will be simple, and the underlying grounds for reinstatement (the existence of an order of removal, identity confirmation, and the fact of illegal reentry) will not be contested. However, in circumstances such as these, where the alien claims that he contested the bases for reinstatement and offered some support for why he may be correct, the regulation requires that the immigration officer “consider [the alien’s] evidence” and “attempt to verify an alien’s claim.” 8 C.F.R. § 241.8(a)(3). As the government tells us in its brief on appeal, “ICE has the necessary expertise to determine the validity of Petitioner’s assertions.” (Respondent’s Br. 25.) Assuming that Ponta-Garcia contested before the immigration officer the notice of intent to reinstate the prior order of removal, more is required than it appears was done here.