Court Opinion

ID: 30287
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:52:41+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:05.781734
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                               FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                     No. 02-20167
                                   Summary Calendar

      UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                       Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                          versus

      IDLEBRANDO GARCIA-GARCIA, also known as
      Ildeprando Garcia, also known as Ildebrando Garcia,

                                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                  Appeal from the United States District Court for
                           the Southern District of Texas
                            (USDC No. H-01-CR-163-1)
          _______________________________________________________
                                 February 11, 2003

Before REAVLEY, SMITH and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

      We affirm for the following reasons:

      1. Appellant Garcia-Garcia waived his right to a jury trial, except insofar as he

      *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should
not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in
5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
complains that the district court denied him a jury decision on his limitations defense.

We assume without deciding that the arguments he now raises were duly preserved for

appellate review.

       2. A district court errs if it refuses a charge on a defense theory for which there is

an evidentiary foundation, and which, if believed, would entitle the defendant to an

acquittal. United States v. Maseratti, 1 F.3d 330, 336 (5th Cir. 1993). A defendant

generally is entitled to a jury instruction on a recognized defense for which there exists

sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find in his favor. United States v. Branch, 91

F.3d 699, 711-12 (5th Cir. 1996).

       3. For the crime of illegal reentry, we have held that the limitations period begins

to run from the time the defendant’s “physical presence is discovered and noted by the

immigration authorities, and the knowledge of the illegality of his presence, through the

exercise of diligence typical of law enforcement authorities, can reasonably be attributed

to the immigration authorities.” United States v. Santana-Castellano, 74 F.3d 593, 598

(5th Cir. 1996). The issue presented is one of law if, like the district court, we assume

the factual basis of the defense as alleged by appellant. On appeal, Garcia-Garcia does

not claim that the documentation he presented—a border crossing card—at the port of

entry should have put immigration authorities on notice that he could not legally enter the

country. His argument is that he did not misrepresent his true identity, and that the INS

could have conducted a database search of deported aliens and thereby could have

discovered his earlier deportation. In effect, appellant would impose a duty on

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immigration authorities to conduct a computerized background check on every alien who

attempts to enter the country by presenting ostensibly valid papers to immigration

officials at the border crossing or port of entry. We hold as a matter of law that, for

purposes of the limitations defense and whatever “due diligence” or “reasonable

diligence” requirement may be associated with it, such a duty does not exist.

       AFFIRMED.

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