Court Opinion

ID: 150931
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-07-19 18:47:00+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:22.929963
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                      No. 09-4738
                                      ___________

                            ANDREW ROWAN GORDON,
                                            Petitioner

                                            v.

                 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
                                                  Respondent

                      ____________________________________

                       On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                            Board of Immigration Appeals
                             (Agency No. A026-629-636)
                     Immigration Judge: Honorable Andrew Arthur
                      ____________________________________

                   Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                   July 14, 2010
                 Before: SMITH, FISHER and GARTH, Circuit Judges

                              (Opinion filed: July 19, 2010 )
                                      ___________

                                       OPINION
                                      ___________

PER CURIAM

      Andrew Gordon, proceeding pro se, petitions for review of a Board of

Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision upholding an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order of

removal. For the reasons that follow, we will deny the petition for review.
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       Gordon is a citizen of the United Kingdom. He was born in January 1969, arrived

in the United States in July 1984, and obtained lawful permanent resident status in

November 1987. In 1989, Gordon was convicted in Connecticut state court for

possession with intent to sell cocaine. He was sentenced to a suspended term of two

years’ imprisonment. In 2007, Gordon pleaded guilty in the United States District Court

for the District of Connecticut to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams

of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). He received a

sentence of 70 months’ imprisonment.

       Based on his federal drug conviction, the Department of Homeland Security

initiated removal proceedings against Gordon. Gordon conceded removability, but

argued before the IJ that he may have obtained United States citizenship when his mother

naturalized in 1994. The IJ concluded that Gordon was not a citizen and that he was

ineligible for any form of discretionary relief.

       Gordon appealed, pro se, arguing that the IJ failed to consider the hardship on his

American-born children and United States citizen wife. He also made reference to INA

§ 204, 8 U.S.C. § 1154, which includes provisions for spousal visa petitions. The BIA

dismissed the appeal, agreeing with the IJ that Gordon did not have derivative citizenship

and concluding that he was ineligible for other relief. Gordon then filed a petition for

review.

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                                              II

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a). Because the BIA issued its

own opinion, we review its decision rather than that of the IJ. See Li v. Att’y Gen., 400

F.3d 157, 162 (3d Cir. 2005). However, we also look to the decision of the IJ to the

extent that the BIA deferred to or adopted the IJ’s reasoning. See Chavarria v. Gonzalez,

446 F.3d 508, 515 (3d Cir. 2006). We review agency factual determinations for

substantial evidence, and will uphold a factual determination “unless the evidence not

only supports a contrary conclusion, but compels it.” Zhang v. Gonzales, 405 F.3d 150,

155 (3d Cir. 2005) (internal citations omitted). Because Gordon is proceeding pro se, we

construe his pleadings liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972).

       Gordon does not appear to challenge the Agency’s determination that his 2007

drug conviction, which constituted an aggravated felony, see INA § 101(a)(43)(B), 8

U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B), rendered him ineligible for discretionary relief. See INA

§ 240A(a)(3), 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3) (cancellation of removal); INA § 212(h), 8 U.S.C.

§ 1182(h) (waiver of inadmissibility); 8 C.F.R. § 212.3(f) (relief under former INA

§ 212(c)). Nor does he dispute that he did not obtain derivative citizenship through his

mother. Rather, Gordon argues that: (1) he was entitled to derivative citizenship through

his wife; (2) the Board erred in holding “that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain [his]

constitutional claim”; (3) the statute governing removal of aliens is unconstitutional;

(4) removal constitutes “double punishment”; (5) he was denied due process (but does not

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elaborate); and (6) removal constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth

Amendment.

       Because arguments 3 through 6 were not raised before the BIA, they are

unexhausted and we lack authority to consider them. See Lin v. Att’y Gen., 543 F.3d

114, 119-21 & n.6 (3d Cir. 2008). With regard to his wife’s citizenship, the Board

reasoned that Gordon provided no evidence that his wife had filed a visa petition on his

behalf and, even if she had, Gordon could not obtain the benefit of such a petition

because he is inadmissible and ineligible for any waiver. We agree.

       As to Gordon’s argument that the Board erred in holding that it lacked jurisdiction

to consider his “constitutional claim,” it is unclear what constitutional claim Gordon

refers to: the only issue the BIA held that it lacked authority to act on was what the Board

construed to be a request for humanitarian relief. The BIA can grant only those forms of

relief from removal that are expressly authorized by Congress and delegated by the

Attorney General. See Beharry v. Ashcroft, 329 F.3d 51, 59 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing Matter

of Medina, 19 I&N Dec. 734, 741-42, 746 (BIA 1988)). Here, the BIA reasoned that it

lacked the power to grant equitable remedies or general humanitarian relief. Gordon does

not identify – and we are not aware of – any remedy within the BIA’s power for which he

would have been eligible.

       Accordingly, we will deny the petition for review.

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