Opinion ID: 1237154
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Arizona Criminal Conviction

Text: On February 23, 2000, following an encounter with Sonya White, who is the mother of Brezilien's United States citizen daughter, Brezilien was charged with aggravated assault under Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 13-1204(A)(11), (B), -1203(A)(1), -1001, -3601(A), -701, -702, -702.01 and -801 (2000). He ultimately pled guilty to attempted aggravated assault and was sentenced to a deferred period of four months in Maricopa County Jail with furlough consideration and three years probation, which he completed in one year and six months. Thereafter, Brezilien's conviction was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. When Brezilien returned from Haiti in July 2003 after visiting his ailing mother, he applied for admission as a returning lawful permanent resident at the Miami International Airport. He was told to report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Phoenix with court-certified copies of his criminal record. When Brezilien reported to DHS, he was taken into custody and issued a Notice to Appear, which charged him as removeable under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) as an alien who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. Brezilien admitted the factual allegations in the Notice to Appear, but applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under CAT, arguing that he would be subject to persecution and torture if returned to Haiti.