Court Opinion

ID: 9498240
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 17:11:54.393712+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:58:42.268718
License: Public Domain

MELLOY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority holds that the relevant statutory language is unambiguous, and thus the BIA’s interpretation is not entitled to deference. I do not agree that the statutory language relevant to this case is unambiguous. “Ambiguity is a creature not of definitional possibilities but of statutory context.” Brown v. Gardner, 513 U.S. 115, 118, 115 S.Ct. 552, 130 L.Ed.2d 462 (1994). That is, “the meaning of statutory language, plain or not, depends on context.” Id. Here, that context includes the prior suspension of deportation statute that permitted the Attorney General to suspend deportation for an applicant who “was and is a person of good moral character.” Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, Section 244(a), codified as 8 U.S.C. § 1254(a) (1994); see, e.g., Chanmouny v. Ashcroft, 376 F.3d 810, 811 n. 1 (8th Cir.2004) (discussing the change in available relief from suspension of deportation to cancellation of removal caused by the IIRIRA). Further, as with any applicant for government benefits, we expect applicants for immigration benefits to be honest in their dealings with the government. See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (prohibiting a person from “knowingly and willfully ... [making] any materially false ... statement ... ”). Given the emphasis on honesty and good moral character within all of the pertinent statutes, it is unlikely that an applicant’s behavior simply does not matter during the period between the filing of his or her application and the adjudication of his or her claim. Viewed in this context, I believe the relevant statutory language is sufficiently ambiguous that we should extend deference to the executive agency’s interpretation. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 843-45, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984) (holding that courts should give substantial deference to administrative agency’s construction of an ambiguous statute). I would affirm the decision of the BIA.