Opinion ID: 184448
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Fee Requirements of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996

Text: 26 Petitioner argues and the government concedes that the fee requirements of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996 (PLRA), Pub.L. No. 104-134, 100 Stat. 1321 (1996), do not apply to LaFontant's petition for review of the BIA's deportation order because an incarcerated alien facing deportation is not a prisoner for purposes of the PLRA. We agree. 27 The PLRA defines prisoner as any person incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(h). Although LaFontant was a prisoner for purposes of the PLRA when he served time for past convictions, he ceased being a prisoner at the time he was released on parole. When LaFontant was detained by the Attorney General under the INA for deportation purposes, he became an alien detainee, not a prisoner. See Ojo v. INS, 106 F.3d 680, 683 (5th Cir.1997) (holding that the PLRA does not bring alien detainees within its sweep). Thus, we hold that the fee requirements of the PLRA do not apply to LaFontant's petition for review.