Document: 543 U.S. 1 LEOCALv.ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ET AL. No. 03-583. Supreme Court of United States. Argued October 12, 2004. Decided November 9, Petitioner, a lawful permanent resident the States, pleaded guilty to two counts driving under influence alcohol (DUI) and causing serious bodily injury in an accident, violation Florida law. While he was serving his prison sentence, Immigration Naturalization Service initiated removal proceedings pursuant § 237(a) Nationality Act (INA), which permits deportation alien convicted "an aggravated felony." INA 101(a)(43)(F) defines "aggravated felony" include, inter alia, "a crime violence [as defined 18 U. S. C. 16] for term imprisonment [is] at least one year." Title 16(a), turn, "crime violence" as offense that has element use . physical force against person or property another," 16(b) it "any other is felony that, by its nature, involves substantial risk another may be used course committing offense." An Judge Board Appeals ordered petitioner's deportation, Eleventh Circuit dismissed petition review, relying on precedent conviction Florida's DUI statute U.S.C. 16. Held: State offenses such Florida's, either do not have mens rea component require only showing negligence operation vehicle, are crimes Pp. 6-13. (a) Section 16 requires this look elements nature determining whether falls within ambit. statute, like similar statutes many proof causation but any mental state; some States appear acted negligently operating vehicle. This Court's analysis begins with 16's language. See Bailey v. 516 137, 144. Particularly when interpreting featuring elastic word "use," construes language context light terms surrounding it. Smith 508 223, 229. 16(a)'s critical aspect "use against" another's property. That active employment. Bailey, supra, 145. may, theory, actively employ something accidental manner, much less natural say employs accident. When words must given their "ordinary natural" meaning, Smith, 228, key phrase most naturally suggests higher degree intent than negligent merely conduct. Petitioner's therefore 16(a). 6-10. (b) Nor 16(b), sweeps more broadly does thereby encompass all conduct, It simply covers involve acting disregard might offense. The classic example burglary, which, burglar will victim completing crime. Thus, contains same formulation found determinative 16(a): Accordingly, 16(b)'s identical construction, requiring conduct involved 10-11. (c) ordinary meaning violence," what ultimately determining, combined emphasis (or having crime), category violent, cannot said include offenses. construction reinforced 101(h), includes alternative definitions "serious criminal offense" violence, [§ 16]," 101(h)(2), DUI-causing-injury offense, 101(h)(3). Interpreting would leave 101(h)(3) practically void significance, contravention rule effect should every whenever possible, see Duncan Walker, 533 167, 174. 11-12. (d) case present question reckless qualifies P. 13. Reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR ELEVENTH CIRCUIT. J. Sedwick Sollers III argued cause petitioner. With him briefs were Patricia L. Maher Michael Ciatti. Dan Himmelfarb respondents. brief Acting Solicitor General Clement, Assistant Attorney Keisler, Deputy Solicitors Dreeben Kneedler, Donald E. Keener, Greg D. Mack.* CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST Petitioner Josue Leocal, Haitian citizen who 2000 injury, Fla. Stat. 316.193(3)(c)(2) (2003). Classifying 16, (BIA) petitioner deported INA. agreed, dismissing review. We disagree hold 2 immigrated 1980 became 1987. In January 2000, charged 316.193(3)(c)(2), after caused accident resulting people. He both sentenced 2½ years prison. 3 while (INS) Under provision, "[a]ny deportable" removed upon order General. 66 201, 8 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii). 101(a)(43) (as section title 18, including purely political offense) year."1 1101(a)(43)(F) (footnote omitted). mean: "(a) use, attempted threatened another, 4 "(b) 5 Here, INS claimed 6 2001, removable, Circuit's decision Le General, 196 F. 3d 1352 (1999) (per curiam), held qualified violence. BIA affirmed.2 completed sentence Haiti 2002. June 2003, previous ruling Le, supra.3 App. Pet. Cert. 5a-7a. granted certiorari, 540 1176 (2004), resolve conflict among Courts state Florida, qualify Compare 1354; Omar INS, 298 710, 715-718 (CA8 2002), Trinidad-Aquino, 259 1140, 1145-1146 (CA9 2001); Dalton Ashcroft, 257 200, 205-206 (CA2 Bazan-Reyes 256 600, 609-611 (CA7 Chapa-Garza, 243 921, 926-927 (CA5), amended, 262 479 (CA5 2001) curiam); also Ursu 20 Fed. Appx. 702 (following issue here count violence"). now reverse Circuit. 7 * enacted part Comprehensive Crime Control 1984, reformed federal code areas sentencing, bail, drug enforcement, added variety new violent nonviolent 1001(a), 98 2136. Congress employed numerous places Act, defining particular offenses, see, e. g., 1959 (prohibiting threats commit aid racketeering activity), directing hearing required before individual can released 3142(f) (requiring pretrial detention those alleged committed violence). provided general definition throughout Act. since been incorporated into statutory provisions, noncriminal.4 9 INA, applied find rendered deportable. ambit directs our focus "offense" conviction. 16(a) (defining another" (emphasis added)); added)). us conviction, rather facts relating 10 makes third-degree operate vehicle and, "by reason operation, caus[e] [s]erious another." state. Hubbard, 751 So. 2d 552, 562-564 (Fla. 1999) (holding, manslaughter 316.193, contain requirement). Many statutes, criminalizing death without state,5 or, appearing vehicle.6 interpreted 11 Our statute. 144 (1995). plain text states "as deal force. contends did "use" because common employment connotes intentional availment force, Government counters incorporate component, necessarily To support position, dissects employing dictionaries, legislation, own law contending even inadvertent. 12 Whether alone supplies element, parties' primary too narrow. features we construe 229 (1993); 143. involving (Emphasis added.) As S., pushing him; however, ordinarily "use[s] stumbling falling him. give meaning. 228. — 3d, 1145; 609. 13 Neither 16(b). But misconduct, relates possibility harm result from person's crime.7 burglary. A burglary covered generally way someone injured, 14 broader sense need actually applied, another. particularly true requirement "substantial risk" using "in no risks intoxicated injury. 15 construing parts forget violence." term, Cf. Doe, 960 221, 225 (CA1 1992) (Breyer, J.) (observing "violent 924(e) (2000 ed. Supp. II) "calls mind tradition closely related, blur distinction between "violent" sought distinguish heightened punishment crimes. Lucio-Lucio, 347 1202, 1205-1206 (CA10 2003). read law.8 Congress' 101(h) 1990. Foreign Relations Authorization Fiscal Years 1990 1991, 131, 104 31 (hereinafter FRAA). 212(a)(2)(E) renders inadmissible previously exercised diplomatic immunity jurisdiction 1182(a)(2)(E). 17 "(1) felony; "(2) 18; 19 "(3) prohibited substances if personal 1101(h) added). separate listing revealing. urges, devoid significance. wherever 174 (2001), distinct provision these bolsters conclusion itself offenses.9 21 respect person, thus reaching individuals less. Drunk nationwide problem, evidenced efforts legislatures prohibit impose appropriate penalties. fact warrant shoe-horning sections where fit. judgment reversed, remanded further consistent opinion. 22 so ordered. Notes: Briefs ofamici curiae urging reversal filed Citizens Immigrants Equal Justice et al. Carmine Boccuzzi, Jr.; Midwest Immigrant & Human Rights Center Shashank Upadhye; National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers Paul A. Engelmayer, Douglas Curtis, Joshua Dratel, Lucas Guttentag, Steven R. Shapiro, Robin Goldfaden, Lory Diana Rosenberg, Jeanne Butterfield, Marianne Yang, Manuel Vargas. first made commission grounds alien's 1988, murder, trafficking crimes, firearm Anti-Drug Abuse §§ 7342, 7344, 102 4469, 4470. Since then, frequently amended felony, broadening scope render See,e. Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty 1996, 440(e), 110 1277 (adding number INA); Illegal Reform Responsibility 1996 (IIRIRA), 321, 3009-627 (same). inclusion came 1990, 501, 5048. appealed, BIA's position counted Matter Puente-Salazar, I. N. Dec. 1006, 1012-1013 (BIA (en banc). Before received appeal (due clerical error relevant here), reversed Puente-Salazar recklessness Ramos, 23 336, 346 2002) However, Ramos "follow circuit circuits addressed id., 346-347, controlling, affirmed Judge's order. 1a-4a. Pursuant IIRIRA, review "removable committed" certain 1252(a)(2)(C). Because concluded had consider For instance, criminalize 842(p) distribution information explosives, destructive devices, weapons mass destruction relation Other provisions make classification consequential purposes of, extradition restitution. 3181(b), 3663A(c). And noncriminal enactments. See, 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii) (rendering deportable here). Ala. Code 13A-6-20(a)(5) (West 1994); Colo. Rev. 18-3-205(1)(b)(1) (Lexis 2003); Conn. Gen. 53a-60d(a) (2003); Ga. Ann. 40-6-394 2004); Idaho 18-8006(1) Ill. Comp. Ann., ch. 625, 5/11-501(d)(1)(C) 2002); Ind. 9-30-5-4 Iowa 707.6A(4) Ky. 189A.010(1) (11)(c) Me. Tit. 29-A, 2411(1-A)(D)(1) Mich. Laws 257.625(5) Neb. 60-6,198(1) (2002 Cum. Supp.); H. 265:82-a(I)(b) (II)(b) 2C:12-1(c) M. 66-8-101(B) (C) (2004); Cent. 39-09-01.1 1997); Ohio 2903.08(A)(1)(a) Okla. 47, 11-904(B)(1) 75 Pa. Cons. 3804(b) (Supp. 31-27-2.6(a) Tex. Penal 49.07(a)(1) Vt. 23, 1210(f) Wash. 46.61.522(1)(b) (1994); Wis. 940.25(1) (1999-2000); Wyo. 31-5-233(h) See,e.g., Cal. Veh. 23153 2000); Del. 11, 628(2), 629 1995); La. 14:39.1(A), 14:39.2(A) 1997 Md. Crim. Law 3-211(c) Miss. 63-11-30(5) Mo. 565.060.1(4) Mont. 45-5-205(1) Nev. 484.3795(1) 56-5-2945(A)(1) Codified 22-16-42 Utah 41-6-44(3)(a)(ii)(A) (3)(b) W. Va. 17C-5-2(c) 2004). plainly create possible used") Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual 4B1.2(a)(2) (Nov. 2003) (in career-offender sentencing enhancement, meaning,inter "conduct presents potential another"). occur drives thing 1205-1207 609-610 2001). Even lacked clarity point, constrained interpret ambiguity favor. Although context, applications. consistently, encounter application lenity applies. CfUnited Thompson/Center Arms Co., 504 505, 517-518 (1992) (plurality opinion) (applying tax civil setting, applications consistently applications). point carries significant weight case. 5048 29, 1990). incorporation 16and covering just nine months earlier. FRAA, (Feb. distinguished (and included both) shortly thereafter making 101(a)(43)(F), strongly supports

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