USA v. Virginio Martinez

Filing

FILED OPINION (WILLIAM A. FLETCHER, SANDRA S. IKUTA and SARAH EVANS BARKER) VACATED AND REMANDED. Judge: SSI Authoring. FILED AND ENTERED JUDGMENT. [10582281]

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IMMIGRATION
GUIDELINES
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November 2016
Prepared by the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Disclaimer: This document provided by the Commission’s Legal Staff is offered to assist in
understanding and applying the sentencing guidelines. The information in this document does
not necessarily represent the official position of the Commission, and it should not be considered
definitive or comprehensive. The information in this document is not binding upon the
Commission, courts, or the parties in any case. Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 (2007), some cases
cited in this document are unpublished. Practitioners should be advised that citation of such cases
under Rule 32.1 requires that such opinions be issued on or after January 1, 2007, and that they
either be “available in a publicly accessible electronic database” or provided in hard copy by the
party offering them for citation.

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................................................................................................................... ii
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRANSPORTING, AND HARBORING - §2L1.1 ................................. 1
I.
STATUTORY SCHEME........................................................................................ 1
II.
GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.1 ....................................................................... 4
A. Base Offense Level ......................................................................................... 4
B. Specific Offense Characteristics ...................................................................... 4
C. Cross Reference ............................................................................................... 5
III.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINE APPLICATION ISSUES ............................................... 6
A. Lack of Profit Motive - §2L1.1(b)(1) .............................................................. 6
B. Number of Aliens - §2L1.1(b)(2) .................................................................... 6
C. Unaccompanied Minors - §2L1.1(b)(4).......................................................... 8
D. Creating Risk of Injury - §2L1.1(b)(6) ............................................................ 9
E. Bodily Injury - §2L1.1(b)(7) .......................................................................... 12
F. Involuntary Detention - §2L1.1(b)(8)(A)....................................................... 13
IV.
CHAPTER THREE ADJUSTMENTS ................................................................. 13
017
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A. Vulnerable Victim - §3A1.1(b)(1)................................................................. 13
artin ber 12, 2
.M
B. Role in the Offense - §§3B1.1,v3B1.2 ptem
SA Se ........................................................... 14
U
C. Special Skill - ited in.................................................................................... 15
d on
c §3B1.3hiv............................................................................... 15
D. Reckless Flight - §3C1.2 e
c
ar
E. Departures0026
5 and Variances .............................................................................. 15
17ILLEGAL ENTRY OR REENTRY - §2L1.2 .............................................................................. 16
No.
I.
STATUTORY SCHEME...................................................................................... 16
II.
GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.2 ..................................................................... 19
A. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 19
B. Ex Post Facto Considerations........................................................................ 19
C. Base Offense Level........................................................................................ 20
D. Specific Offense Characteristics ................................................................... 20
III.
PRIOR CONVICTIONS....................................................................................... 21
A. General Principles ......................................................................................... 21
B. Misdemeanors – Crime of Violence or Drug Trafficking Offenses .............. 25
IV.
CRIMINAL HISTORY ....................................................................................... 31
V.
DEPARTURES ..................................................................................................... 32
A. Early Disposition Programs - §5K3.1: “Fast Track” ..................................... 33
B. Collateral Consequences................................................................................ 34
C. Motive and Cultural Assimilation ................................................................. 35
D. Seriousness of Prior Offense ......................................................................... 36
IMMIGRATION FRAUD OR MISCONDUCT .......................................................................... 37
I.
STATUTORY SCHEME...................................................................................... 37
II.
GUIDELINE OVERVIEW................................................................................... 38

ii

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A. Immigration Fraud - §2L2.1 .......................................................................... 38
B. Immigration Fraud - §2L2.2 .......................................................................... 38
C. Scope of coverage .......................................................................................... 39
III.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINE APPLICATION ISSUES ............................................. 40
A. Lack of Profit Motive - §2L2.1(b)(1) ............................................................ 40
B. Number of Documents Involved - §2L2.1(b)(2) ........................................... 40
C. Use of Passport or Visa to Commit a Felony - §2L2.1(b)(3) ........................ 42
D. Prior Deportation - §2L2.2(b)(1) ................................................................... 42
E. Departures and Variances .............................................................................. 42
Appendix A - Illegal Reentry Pre-November 2016 .................................................................... A-i

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INTRODUCTION

.

ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRANSPORTING, AND HARBORING §2L1.1

I. STATUTORY SCHEME

8 U.S.C. § 1324

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Bringing in and Harboringem
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No.

1

See
8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)

Bringing in, Transporting, and Harboring Aliens

Id.

1

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8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)11 Bringing in Aliens

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see also

See id

Apprendi

See also

cert. denied
mens rea

2

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7
Employing Aliens, and Bringing in Aliens for Employment
, 201
tinez

8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(3)

No.

r 12
Mar
A v. eptembe
n US
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ci
arch
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See, e.g., id.
See Apprendi

3

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8 U.S.C. § 1327

Aiding or Assisting Certain Aliens to Enter

II. GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.1
A. BASE OFFENSE LEVEL

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B. SPECIFIC OFFENSE CHARACTERISTICS
o. 17
N

4

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C. CROSS REFERENCE

No.

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See

See

5

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III.

SPECIFIC GUIDELINE APPLICATION ISSUES
A. LACK OF PROFIT MOTIVE §2L1.1(B)(1)
If (a) the offense was committed other than for profit, or the offense involved the
smuggling, transporting, or harboring only of the defendant’s spouse or child . . . ,
and (b) the base offense level is determined under subsection (a)(2), decrease by
3 levels.

B. NUMBER OF ALIENS §2L1.1(B)(2)
If the offense involved the smuggling, transporting, or harboring of six or more
7
unlawful aliens, increase . . . .
, 201
tinez

No.

r 12
Mar
A v. eptembe
n US
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See, e.g.,

see also
Juan Manuel

6

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No.

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see also

Id
Id
Id
Id

7

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C. UNACCOMPANIED MINORS §2L1.1(B)(4)
If the offense involved the smuggling, transporting, or harboring of a minor who
was unaccompanied by the minor’s parent, adult relative, or legal guardian,
increase by 4 levels. . . .

48 017
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ex post facto v. M
A
tem
Guidelines Manual
in US on Sep
ed
ex post factocit
ived
arch
Guidelines Manual
026
7-50
1
No.

See supra
See
ex post facto

8

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D. CREATING RISK OF INJURY §2L1.1(B)(6)
If the offense involved intentionally or recklessly creating a substantial risk of
death or serious bodily injury to another person, increase by 2 levels.

likelihood

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o. 17

N
Id.

Compare
with

Compare
with

9

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1. Fifth Circuit
per se

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see also

Garza

Solis Garcia

Zuniga Amezquita
Id.

Solis Garcia

but see

See, e.g.

10

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2. Ninth Circuit

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3. Tenth Circuit

Id.
Id.

11

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E. BODILY INJURY §2L1.1(B)(7)
If any person died or sustained bodily injury, increase the offense level according
to the seriousness of the injury.

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Torres Flores6 ar
02
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o. 17

N

Id

12

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F. INVOLUNTARY DETENTION §2L1.1(B)(8)(A)
If an alien was involuntarily detained through coercion or threat, or in
connection with a demand for payment, (i) after the alien was smuggled into the
United States; or (ii) while the alien was transported or harbored in the United
States, increase by 2 levels. If the resulting offense level is less than level 18,
increase to level 18.

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IV. CHAPTER THREE ADJUSTMENTS
A. VULNERABLE VICTIM §3A1.1(B)(1)

Id
Cardena Garcia

see also Herrera Rojas

13

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voluntarily

B. ROLE IN THE OFFENSE §§3B1.1, 3B1.2

See

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Id
Id

No.

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inherent

Id.

See, e.g.,

See also

See, e.g., Villanueva

14

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C. SPECIAL SKILL §3B1.3

D. RECKLESS FLIGHT §3C1.2

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No
E. DEPARTURES AND VARIANCES
1.

Multiple Deaths

Id

15

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2.

Duration of the Harboring

3.

Extent of Detention

ILLEGAL ENTRY OR REENTRY §2L1.2

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No
I. STATUTORY SCHEME

Id.

16

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8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)

Improper Entry By Alien (Illegal Entry)

8 U.S.C. § 1326

Reentry of Removed Aliens (Illegal Reentry)

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Apprendi

Almendarez Torres
see also

See, e.g.,
Almendarez Torres

17

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8 U.S.C. § 1253

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SA 113 Septem
Failure to Depart n
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No.

1

See, e.g.,

Calderon Segura
after
Salazar Lopez
See

18

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II. GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.2
A. INTRODUCTION

017
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B. EX POST FACTO CONSIDERATIONS
.M
SA v Septem
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Guidelines arc
Manual
026
ex post facto
7-50
1
No.
Guidelines Manual
Guidelines Manual

See
See

ex post facto

19

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ex post facto

C. BASE OFFENSE LEVEL

D. SPECIFIC OFFENSE CHARACTERISTICS

017
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SA v Se2L1.2(b)(1)
1.
Prior Illegal Reentry Offenses pt
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N

Whittaker

20

see also

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2.

Other prior convictions – 2L1.2(b)(2) and (b)(3)

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III. PRIOR CONVICTIONS
A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Ordered deported or ordered removed from the United States for the
first time

See

21

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2. Count convictions that were final before and/or after the first order of
removal

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3. Qualifying adult convictions
arc
026
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o. 17
N

See, e.g.,
after

second removal

See

22

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4. Delayed adjudications may qualify as convictions

5. Vacating a conviction may disqualify it from consideration

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Garcia Lopez
Campbell

23

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6. Prior convictions need not be charged to qualify for enhancement

7. Is the prior conviction a felony?

.

i.e.

017
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SA v Septem
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8. Sentence imposed rc
6a
5002
17No.

See, e.g.,

See, e.g.
Almendarez Torres

See e.g.,

24

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9. Simultaneous convictions

B. MISDEMEANORS – CRIME OF VIOLENCE OR DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSES

017
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M
1. The Categorical and Modified.Categorical Approach
SA v Septem
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o. 17
N

See

See supra
See

25

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Taylor v. United
Mathis v. United States

Shepard v. United States,151 Descamps v. United States

a. The Categorical Approach
Taylor v. United
not
Descamps v. United States,
Id

Mathis v. United States

017
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Descamps

No.

17-

See, e.g.,

Taylor
Id.

see also

Taylor,
Id.

26

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Taylor

Shepard

Mathis
i.e

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SA v Septem
b. The Modifiedn U
i Categorical Approach
cited hived on
arc
026
-50
e.g.,
o. 17
N

“Taylor

Shepard

Shepard

Descamps,
Id
Mathis,
Id
Descamps,
Mathis,

Descamps,

Descamps,

27

Taylor
Taylor

or

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Shepard

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No.

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overruled on other grounds by

,

See, e.g.

See, e.g.
See, e.g. Shepard

Taylor
superseded on

other grounds by guideline amendment

28

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2. Crime of Violence

See, e.g.,

017
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026
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See, e.g.,

No.

17-

Johnson
Dimaya

See e.g.

But see
See

reh’g en banc,
See

See, e.g.,

See

29

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3. What Convictions Constitute A “Drug Trafficking Offense”

a. All of the conduct covered by the statute of conviction must be a
drug trafficking offense

No.

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United States v. Rodriguez
Id.
See, e.g.,
overruled on other grounds by

see also

Id
See, e.g.,

,

30

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Taylor Shepard

b. “Drug trafficking offense” includes the offense of “possession
with intent to distribute”

IV.

CRIMINAL HISTORY

No.

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See, e.g.

See, e.g.

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Sosa Carabantes

V. DEPARTURES

No.

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Figaro

See, e.g., Cano Rodriguez

See
Id.

32

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A. EARLY DISPOSITION PROGRAMS §5K3.1: “FAST TRACK”

Kimbrough

per se

017
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No.

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abrogated on other grounds by
See

See

See
available at

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B. COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES

Guidelines Manual

Clase Espinal

No.

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Jauregui

See, e.g.

See, e.g.

Clase Espinal
See Rodriguez Lopez
Martin Castaneda

Mignott

Galvez Falconi

Jauregui

34

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something

C. MOTIVE AND CULTURAL ASSIMILATION

No.

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See id.
Id.
See id.
See

Martin Castenada

Marin Castenada
See Rodriguez Lopez

Galvez Falconi
see also

.

35

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increase

United
States v. Lua Guizar

United

States v. Rodriguez

017
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D. SERIOUSNESS OF PRIOR OFFENSE
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SA v Septem
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N
See, e.g.

Saucedo Patino

,
See

36

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P r i m e r on th e Im m ig ra t i o n Gu ide l i n e s

IMMIGRATION FRAUD OR MISCONDUCT

I. STATUTORY SCHEME

8 U.S.C. § 1160(b)(7)(A)

False Statements in Applications

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
8 U.S.C. § 1255a(c)(6)
False Statements in Applications
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

8 U.S.C. § 1325(c)

Marriage Fraud

37

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8 U.S.C. § 1325(d)

Immigration Related Entrepreneurship Fraud

II. GUIDELINE OVERVIEW

A. IMMIGRATION FRAUD §2L2.1

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
2.
Specific OffenseiCharacteristics:
nU
cited hived on
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

1.

Base Offense Level:

B. IMMIGRATION FRAUD §2L2.2
1.

Base Offense Level:

2.

Specific Offense Characteristics:

38

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3.

Cross reference:

C. SCOPE OF COVERAGE

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Id.
see also

See, e.g.

39

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III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINE APPLICATION ISSUES
A. LACK OF PROFIT MOTIVE §2L2.1(B)(1)
If the offense was committed other than for profit, or the offense involved . . . only
the defendant’s spouse or child . . . decrease by 3 levels.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

B. NUMBER OF.DOCUMENTS INVOLVED §2L2.1(B)(2)
o 17
N

If the offense involved six or more documents or passports, increase by . . .

1. Number

See, e.g.

See, e.g.,
withdrawn by

40

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2. Documents

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
3. Involved
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N
see also

Id.
Id.

see
also
see also
Castellanos

41

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C. USE OF PASSPORT OR VISA TO COMMIT A FELONY §2L2.1(B)(3)
If the defendant knew, believed, or had reason to believe that a passport or visa
was to be used to facilitate the commission of a felony offense, other than an
offense involving violation of the immigration laws, increase by 4 levels.

D. PRIOR DEPORTATION §2L2.2(B)(1)
If the defendant is an unlawful alien who has been deported (voluntarily or
involuntarily) on one or more occasions prior to the instant offense, increase by
2 levels.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
E. DEPARTURES AND VARIANCES
arc
026
-50
o. 17 Security
N
1. National

42

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2. Facilitating Another Offense §5K2.9

3. Motive

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

43

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2L1.2 Illegal Reentry
Pre November 2016
No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Prepared by the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Disclaimer: This document provided by the Commission’s Legal Staff is offered to assist in
understanding and applying the sentencing guidelines. The information in this document does
not necessarily represent the official position of the Commission, and it should not be considered
definitive or comprehensive. The information in this document is not binding upon the
Commission, courts, or the parties in any case. Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 (2007), some cases
cited in this document are unpublished. Practitioners should be advised that citation of such cases
under Rule 32.1 requires that such opinions be issued on or after January 1, 2007, and that they
either be “available in a publicly accessible electronic database” or provided in hard copy by the
party offering them for citation.

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Appendix A

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ILLEGAL ENTRY OR REENTRY - §2L1.2 .............................................................................. 1
I.
STATUTORY SCHEME........................................................................................ 1
II.
GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.2 ....................................................................... 4
A. Ex Post Facto Considerations ......................................................................... 4
B. Base Offense Level.......................................................................................... 5
C. Specific Offense Characteristic ....................................................................... 5
III.
IDENTIFYING PRIOR CONVICTIONS .............................................................. 7
A. General Principles ........................................................................................... 7
B. Categorical Approach .................................................................................... 12
C. Modified Categorical Approach .................................................................... 13
D. Common Sense Approach ............................................................................. 16
IV.
DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSE - §2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(i) .................................... 18
A. What Convictions Constitute a “Drug Trafficking Offense”? ...................... 18
B. How Long was the Sentence? ........................................................................ 20
V.
CRIME OF VIOLENCE ....................................................................................... 22
A. General Principles ......................................................................................... 23
B. Enumerated Offenses ..................................................................................... 24
017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
C. “Use of Force” ............................................................................................... 27
.M
VI.
AGGRAVATED FELONIES ............................................................................... 30
SA v Septem
in U
VII. OTHER CATEGORIES (+16)ed on
cited hiv ............................................................................. 32
A. Firearms Offense ........................................................................................... 32
arc
026 Offense ........................................................................... 32
B. Child Pornography
-50
o. 17 Security or Terrorism Offense ........................................................ 33
C. N
National
D. Human Trafficking Offense .......................................................................... 33
E. Alien Smuggling Offense .............................................................................. 33
F. Inchoate Crimes ............................................................................................. 33
VIII. CRIMINAL HISTORY ........................................................................................ 34
IX.
DEPARTURES ..................................................................................................... 35
A. Early Disposition Programs - §5K3.1: “Fast Track” ..................................... 35
B. Collateral Consequences................................................................................ 36
C. Motive and Cultural Assimilation ................................................................. 38
D. Seriousness of Prior Offense ......................................................................... 39

A ii

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Appendix A

ILLEGAL ENTRY OR REENTRY §2L1.2

I.

STATUTORY SCHEME

Improper Entry By Alien (Illegal Entry) 017
ez

8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)

No.

12, 2
artin
v. M tember
A
in US on Sep
cited hived
arc
026
50

17-

Id.

See

A1

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Appendix A

8 U.S.C. § 1326

Reentry of Removed Aliens (Illegal Reentry)

Apprendi

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Almendarez Torres
see also

See, e.g.,

Almendarez Torres

See, e.g.,

A2

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Appendix A

8 U.S.C. § 1253

Failure to Depart18

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Calderon Segura
Salazar Lopez
See

A3

after

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Appendix A

II.

GUIDELINE OVERVIEW: §2L1.2
PROMULGATED AMENDMENT TO §2L1.2
The following section provides background and legal analysis regarding §2L1.2 as
it currently exists in the guidelines. On April 15, 2016, the Commission promulgated an
amendment to §2L1.2, which will take effect on November 1, 2016 unless rejected by
Congress. The promulgated amendment makes significant changes to the structure and
operation of §2L1.2 based on the Commission’s 2015 report, Illegal Reentry Offenses, its
previous consideration of the “categorical approach” in the context of the definition of
“crimes of violence,” and extensive public testimony and public comment, in particular
from judges from the southwest border districts where the majority of illegal reentry
prosecutions occur.
Among other changes, the promulgated amendment modifies the existing guideline
by (1) eliminating the “categorical approach,” which hasez a source017
in been r , 2 of widespread
Mart mband12 recalibrating the
complaints by judges, the Department of Justice, and others; e (2)
v.
USA in a more
guideline to account for prior criminal conductn Septe proportionate manner. The
d in
cit a h ved enhancement specifically aimed at
newly adopted amendment addse new itieredo
arc
criminal conduct occurring after a defendant reentered the country illegally and also
026
50
adds an enhancement to-account for the number of times a defendant has been convicted
o. 17
N
of illegal reentry. The current base offense level for illegal reentry offenders will remain
the same.
For further information on the promulgated amendment, see Amendment 4 of the
amendments submitted by the Commission to Congress on April 28, 2016, 81 FR 27261
(May 5, 2016), available at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/amendment
process/reader friendly amendments/20160415_RF_Prelim.pdf.
A.

EX POST FACTO CONSIDERATIONS
ex post facto
Guidelines Manual

See

ex post facto
Guidelines Manual

ex post facto

A4

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Appendix A

Guidelines Manual
ex post facto

B.

BASE OFFENSE LEVEL

C.

SPECIFIC OFFENSE CHARACTERISTIC

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Whittaker

A5

see also

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Appendix A

1.

Certain temporal limitations on the 16 and 12 level
enhancements
nature
length

timing

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

No.

17-

after

See

A6

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Appendix A

III.

IDENTIFYING PRIOR CONVICTIONS
A.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

No.
1.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Only count convictions that were final before the defendant was
ordered deported

See, e.g.,

A7

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Appendix A

2.

The date an order of removal is reinstated constitutes a new
deportation

physical

3.

Qualifying adult convictions

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g.,

after

second removal

See, e.g.,

Diaz Luevano

see also, e.g.,

A8

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Appendix A

4.

Delayed adjudications may qualify as convictions

5.

Vacating a conviction may disqualify it from consideration

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

see also

A9

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Appendix A

6.

Prior convictions need not be charged to qualify for enhancement

7.

Is the prior conviction a felony?

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on that are punishable by more
a.
State misdemeanors
arc
02 one year.
than6
-50
o. 17
N

Garcia Lopez
Campbell
See, e.g.,

See, e.g.
Almendarez Torres

See e.g.,

A 10

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Appendix A

i.e.

b.

“Aggravated felony” as used in §2L1.2(b)(1)(C) and
8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43) can encompass misdemeanor
offenses.

is at least one year

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
could be
6 arc
5002

17-

See e.g.

See, e.g.,
See, e.g.,
Id

A 11

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Appendix A

B.

CATEGORICAL APPROACH

Taylor v. United

not

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Hernandez Castillo

Taylor
Id.

Shepard v. United States

see also

Id.
Id.

A 12

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Appendix A

Shepard

Taylor

Taylor

C.

Shepard

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
MODIFIED CATEGORICAL APPROACH v. M
A
tem
in US on Sep
cited hived
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

Id.
Shepard
See, e.g.,

see also

A 13

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Appendix A

Descamps v. United States

Shepard

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
overruled on other grounds by
50

See

No.

17-

Reina Rodriguez

Taylor

e.g.,

Id

See
Id.
Shepard

Taylor

A 14

Descamps

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Appendix A

Shepard

,

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
overruled on other grounds by
cited hived on
c
6 ar
5002

See, e.g.

No.

17-

See, e.g.
See, e.g. Shepard
Taylor
See, e.g.

superseded on

other grounds by guideline amendment
See, e.g.,

A 15

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Appendix A

Shepard

what crime
behind
D.

COMMON SENSE APPROACH

United States v. Rodriguez

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
Shepard
026
50

17-

See also Descamps,
See, e.g.,

See

Id.
Izaguirre Flores

A 16

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Appendix A

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g., Torres Diaz

Shepard

See, e.g.,

Rojas Gutierrez

.

A 17

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Appendix A

IV.

DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSE §2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(i)
A.

WHAT CONVICTIONS CONSTITUTE A “DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSE”?

1.

See, e.g.,

All conduct under the statute of conviction must be a drug
trafficking offense

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

overruled on other grounds by

see also

See, e.g.,

,

A 18

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Appendix A

Shepard

2.

“Drug trafficking offense” includes the offense of “possession with
intent to distribute”

3.

Simple possession of a “trafficking quantity” of drugs is not a drug
trafficking offense but may warrant a sentence increase

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g.,

See, e.g.

See, e.g.,

see also
See, e.g.,

A 19

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Appendix A

B.

HOW LONG WAS THE SENTENCE?

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

could

see also

see also

A 20

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Appendix A

See, e.g.,

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Alvarez Hernandez
See, e.g.,

see also

See, e.g.,

A 21

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Appendix A

V.

CRIME OF VIOLENCE

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See

See

Id

Id.

A 22

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Appendix A

A.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1.

To be a §2L1.2 crime of violence, the prior conviction must either
fit in one of the enumerated categories or have as one of its
elements the use of force

2.

A crime of violence need not be an aggravated felony to receive a
16 level enhancement

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g.,

see also, e.g.,

or property
substantial risk

A 23

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Appendix A

B.

ENUMERATED OFFENSES

1.

Aggravated Assault

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g.,

See, e.g.

,

A 24

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Appendix A

2.

Forcible Sex Offense

3.

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

United States v. Izaguirre Flores

superseded on other grounds by

guideline amendment

Id.

A 25

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Appendix A

United States v. Baza Martinez

either

or

mens rea

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Id.
Id.

see also

Id.
Id.
Id.
Id.
Id.
Id.
Izaguirre Flores

A 26

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Appendix A

4.

C.

Burglary of a Dwelling

“USE OF FORCE”

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
1.
The manner of committing the crime is irrelevant—only the
026
50
. 17oelements matter
N

Compare
with

A 27

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Appendix A

2.

The fact that the conduct resulted in harm does not establish the
use of force

by physical force

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

No.

17-

see also

See, e.g.

Id.
Id.

See also

A 28

not

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Appendix A

physical

3.

physical

Circuits are split as to the mens rea required for enhancement
under this provision

Leocal v. Ashcroft
mens rea
Leocal
mens rea

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
4.
Force must be used against Mperson
v. a
USA n Septem
in
cited hived o
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

Id.
See, e.g.
see also
Leocal

Narvaez Gomez

mens rea

A 29

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Appendix A

VI.

AGGRAVATED FELONIES

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

A 30

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Appendix A

The aggravated felony 8 level enhancement is only applicable to “possession”
conduct punishable as a felony under federal law.
Lopez v. Gonzales
felony
Lopez
Recidivist provisions in § 844(a) (“Possession” offenses) require actual previous
state convictions to trigger the “aggravated felony” enhancement.

No.
Rosendo v. Holder

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

Carachuri

see also

See, e.g.,

Id.
See, e.g.,
See

also

A 31

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Appendix A

VII.

OTHER CATEGORIES (+16)

A.

B.

FIREARMS OFFENSE

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

See

See
See
Id.

A 32

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Appendix A

C.

NATIONAL SECURITY OR TERRORISM OFFENSE

D.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING OFFENSE

E.

ALIEN SMUGGLING OFFENSE

F.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
INCHOATE CRIMES
arc
026
-50
o. 17
N

A 33

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Appendix A

VIII.

CRIMINAL HISTORY

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
.M
SA v Septem
in U
cited hived on
arc
026
50

17-

See, e.g.

Figaro

See, e.g., Cano Rodriguez

A 34

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Appendix A

Sosa Carabantes

IX.

DEPARTURES

A.

EARLY DISPOSITION PROGRAMS §5K3.1: “FAST TRACK”

No.

017
ez
artin ber 12, 2
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SA v Septem
in U
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026
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17-

Kimbrough

Id.

abrogated on other grounds by
See

See

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Appendix A

per se

B.

COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES

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Guidelines Manual
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o. 17
N

See
available at
See, e.g.

See, e.g.

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Appendix A

Clase Espinal

Jauregui

something

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No.

17-

Clase Espinal
See Rodriguez Lopez
Martin Castaneda

Mignott

Galvez Falconi

Jauregui
See id.
Id.
See id.
See

Martin Castenada

Marin Castenada
See Rodriguez Lopez

Galvez Falconi

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Appendix A

C.

MOTIVE AND CULTURAL ASSIMILATION

increase

United States v. Lua Guizar

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United States v. Rodriguez

No.

17-

see also

.
See, e.g.

Saucedo Patino

,
See

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Appendix A

D.

SERIOUSNESS OF PRIOR OFFENSE

Booker
Booker

No.

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17-

Montes Pineda

see also

See

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Appendix A

No.

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17-

See id

A 40