Saati v. Holder et al
Filing
28
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER granting defendant's 16 Motion for Summary Judgment. ORDERED that plaintiff's 21 Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED. Signed by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino on 7/21/11. (ban)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
____________________________________________
NAIM SAATI,
Plaintiff,
vs.
1:10-CV-1345
(MAD/DEP)
ERIC H. HOLDER, Attorney General;
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY;
JANET NAPOLITANO, Secretary, Department
of Homeland Security; UNITED STATES
CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES;
MICHAEL AYTES, Acting Deputy Director,
United States Citizenship & Immigration Services;
KEVIN E. GALLAGHER, Field Director, Albany
Field Office; PERRY RHEW, Chief Administrative
Appeals Office;
Defendants.
____________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
OF COUNSEL:
DiRAIMONDO & MASI, LLP
445 Broadhollow Road
Suite 107
Melville, New York 11747
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Michael P. DiRaimondo, Esq.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE
Office of Immigration Litigation
District Court Section
P.O. Box 868, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044
Attorneys for Defendants
Christopher W. Hollis, Esq.
Mae A. D’Agostino, U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Naim Saati, brings this action for declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to the
Immigration & Nationality Act of 1952 (“INA”), 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. and the Administrative
Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 551 et seq. The parties have moved for summary judgment
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56.1 (Dkt. Nos. 16 and 21).
BACKGROUND2
On November 17, 2003, plaintiff, an Israeli citizen, entered the United States on a B-2
visitor’s visa for pleasure. Pursuant to the visa, plaintiff was authorized to remain in the United
States for a period of six months. On January 12, 2005, plaintiff married Valerie Rhodes, a
United States citizen. In August 2005, Ms. Saati filed a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
and plaintiff filed a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
On September 27, 2005, plaintiff and his wife appeared for an interview with the United
States Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and responded to inquiries about plaintiff’s
criminal history. Plaintiff admitted that he was previously arrested in Israel. The first arrest was
when plaintiff was a juvenile. The second arrest occurred on April 22, 2002. Plaintiff, twenty
years old at the time, was charged with possession of a dangerous drug, which plaintiff explained
was marijuana. The interview was concluded in order to obtain information regarding plaintiff’s
prior conviction.
1
Plaintiff did not formally cross move for summary judgment but argues in his Response to Defendants’
Motion For Summary Judgment, “[s]ummary judgment in favor of the plaintiff is appropriate in the instant matter, as
there exists no significant issues of fact, but only issues of law”.
2
The background set forth in this section is taken from: (1) defendant’s Statement of Material Facts and
plaintiff’s response therein; and (2) the exhibits and evidence submitted by defendant in support of the motion for
summary judgment; and (3) the exhibits and evidence submitted by plaintiff in opposition to the motion for summary
judgment. The Court has reviewed defendant’s Statement of Material Facts to ensure that they are supported by the
record. The facts recited are for the relevant time period as referenced in the complaint.
2
According to court documents, on April 22, 2002, plaintiff was driving a vehicle in which
hashish and marijuana were found. The Statement of Indictment from the State of Israel
provided:
1.
On April 22, 2002, at around 22:00, on Rashbag St. in
Jerusalem, Defendant 13 unlawfully held in his jacket pocket
a dangerous narcotic type hashish, with the net weight of 1.61
grams, and further unlawfully held in his pants pocket 1 gram
of a dangerous narcotic, cannabis type, with a net weight of
1.44 grams. Defendant 1 further unlawfully held a dangerous
narcotic, hashish type, with a net weight of 0.59 grams, which
he threw out of the vehicle in which he was traveling.
2.
In the same circumstances, Defendant 1 unlawfully supplied
Defendant 2 with a dangerous narcotic, hashish type, with a
net weight of 5.72 grams. The narcotic was held by Defendant
2 under the chair by the driver in the vehicle of Defendant 1.
The Verdict - Regarding Defendant 1 provided:
On the foundation of the defendant’s response to the statement of the
indictment, which includes an admission of the facts in the statement
of the indictment, I convict him of an offense in accordance with
Article 7(A) + the latter part of (C) of the dangerous Narcotics
Ordinance (New Version) 5733-2003.
Due to plaintiff’s failure to inform authorities of his prior arrests in the course of applying
for a visitor’s visa, plaintiff was found inadmissible pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C)4 as an
alien who sought to procure a visa by fraud or willfully misrepresenting a material fact. Plaintiff
was also deemed inadmissible on the basis of plaintiff’s controlled substance conviction pursuant
3
4
Plaintiff was Defendant 1.
8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C) provides:
(C) Misrepresentation
(i) In general
Any alien who, by fraud or willfully misrepresenting a material fact, seeks to procure (or has sought to
procure or has procured) a visa, other documentation, or admission into the United States or other benefit
provided under this chapter is inadmissible.
3
to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II).5 On March 20, 2007, plaintiff filed a Form I-601 waiver
application in an effort to overcome his inadmissibility pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1182(a)(6)(C) and
1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II). Under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h)6 and (i)7, the USCIS has the discretion to issue a
waiver so long as the alien shows that denial of admission would result in extreme hardship to the
alien’s spouse.
On June 19, 2007, USCIS again interviewed plaintiff and his wife regarding the pending I130 petition and the pending adjustment and inadmissibility waiver applications. USCIS
approved Ms. Saati’s I-130 petition for plaintiff as her alien relative husband. However, at the
conclusion of the interview, USCIS did not issue a decision on plaintiff’s adjustment or waiver
5
8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) provides:
2) Criminal and related grounds
(A) Conviction of certain crimes
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (ii), any alien convicted of, or who admits having committed, or who admits
committing acts which constitute the essential elements of-(II) a violation of (or a conspiracy or attempt to violate) any law or regulation of a State, the United States, or
a foreign country relating to a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of Title 21), is inadmissible.
6
8 U.S.C. 1182(h), provides, in pertinent part:
h) Waiver of subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)(I), (II), (B), (D), and (E)
The Attorney General may, in his discretion, waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), (B), (D), and
(E) of subsection (a)(2) of this section and subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of such subsection insofar as it relates to a
single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana if-(B) in the case of an immigrant who is the spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States
or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if it is established to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General that the alien's denial of admission would result in extreme hardship to the United States citizen or
lawfully resident spouse, parent, son, or daughter of such alien . . .
7
8 U.S.C. § 1182(i) provides:
Admission of immigrant inadmissible for fraud or willful misrepresentation of material fact
(1) The Attorney General may, in the discretion of the Attorney General, waive the application of clause (i)
of subsection (a)(6)(C) of this section in the case of an immigrant who is the spouse, son, or daughter of a
United States citizen or of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if it is established to the
satisfaction of the Attorney General that the refusal of admission to the United States of such immigrant
alien would result in extreme hardship to the citizen or lawfully resident spouse or parent of such an alien or,
in the case of a VAWA self-petitioner, the alien demonstrates extreme hardship to the alien or the alien's
United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or qualified alien parent or child.
4
applications and provided plaintiff twelve weeks to submit evidence supporting the claims in his
waiver petition. Specifically, plaintiff was provided with time to prove that his wife would suffer
extreme hardship if USCIS did not waive plaintiff’s inadmissibility and if plaintiff was removed
from the United States.
On August 29, 2007, plaintiff provided USCIS with documents in support of his waiver
application. According to plaintiff’s amended complaint, these documents included letters from
Christine Sawtelle (plaintiff’s employee), Rabbi Paul B. Silton, Colleen Murphy (plaintiff’s
mother-in-law), Andrea Saati, Valerie Saati and Jeffrey H. Fox, Ph.D (a mental services provider
who treated plaintiff’s wife). In addition, plaintiff claims that he supplied a letter from Albany
Law School confirming that his wife was enrolled.
On September 27, 2007, USCIS issued a decision denying plaintiff’s Application for
Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (Form I-601). The USCIS found:
Upon review of the documentation submitted in support of the waiver
of inadmissibility it does not appear that the factors in this case rise to
the level of extreme hardship. Therefore, the evidence does not
establish that the applicant is able to show extreme hardship over and
above the normal economic and social disruptions involved in the
deportation of a family member.
On the same date, the USCIS issued a decision denying plaintiff’s Application for Status
as Permanent Resident. The agency concluded, “ [t]he instant application is denied on the
grounds that the applicant is inadmissible under Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) and Section
212(a)(6)(c)(i) of the Act. Any permission to remain in the United States or any employment
authorization, previously granted to the applicant, is hereby revoked as of this date.”8
8
The September 2007 decision denying plaintiff’s Application for Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, was
annexed as an exhibit to plaintiff’s Amended Complaint.
5
On October 16, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion to reopen the denial of his I-601 waiver
application. On October 22, 2007, plaintiff’s motion to reopen was denied. On October 26, 2007,
plaintiff filed an appeal of the motion to reopen with the Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”).
On July 13, 2010, the AAO dismissed plaintiff’s appeal finding:
. . . the applicant had, prior to supplying hashish to Nissim Tzuna,
possession of 7.47 grams of hashish. The drug equivalency of 1 gram
of marihuana/cannabis (granulated or powdered) is 1 gram of
marihuana, and 1 gram of hashish is equivalent to 5 grams of
marihuana. See United States Sentencing Commission Supplement to
the 2000 Guidelines Manual, dated May 1 2001, Drug Equivalency
Table. In order to be eligible for consideration for a waiver under
section 212(h) of the Act, the applicant must establish that his
conviction was for the drug equivalency of 30 grams or less of
marijuana. The applicant has not demonstrated that his conviction for
possession of cannabis and hashish meets the requirement of being a
single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana.
The Drug Equivalency Table is a source for drug quantity calculation and conversion rates
to be used when the drug at issue is not listed in the federal criminal statutes among common
drugs and their penalties. The AAO found that at the time of his 2002 arrest, plaintiff possessed
the equivalent of 49.79 grams of marijuana.9 The decision informed plaintiff that he had an
opportunity to file a motion to reconsider or a motion to reopen if plaintiff had “additional
information”.
On August 13, 2010, plaintiff filed a motion to reopen with the AAO using form I-290B
Notice of Appeal or Motion. Plaintiff argued:
1.
9
The decision erred by concluding that the applicant engaged
in trafficking a controlled substance and possessed more than
30 grams of marijuana. The only evidence referred to in the
decision was the police report and charging document. The
Defendants concede that this calculation was erroneous. Defendants argue that the actual marijuana-based
total is 41.04 grams. (7.92 grams of hashish [1.61 grams found in plaintiff’s pocket, .59 grams thrown from the car
and the 5.72 grams found under the seat of the car] multiplied by 5 = 39.60 grams of marijuana). 39.60 grams is then
added to the 1.44 grams of marijuana found on plaintiff = 41.04 grams.
6
decision also concluded that the applicant admitted to all the
facts in the charge document. Those conclusions are not
correct. An affidavit from the applicant confirming this is
attached.10
2.
The decision raised a ground of inadmissibility which was
never raised when the applicant first sought a waiver of
inadmissibility. The AAO should not have raised this issue for
the first time without allowing applicant to respond to it.
On December 23, 2010, the AAO granted the motion to reopen and affirmed its prior
decision. In the decision, the AAO noted, “we determined that, in accordance with the drug
equivalency tables found in the U.S. sentencing guidelines, the applicant possessed marijuana or
its equivalent in a total amount of 49.79 grams. We acknowledge a slight error in this calculation,
as it appears the correct total is 48.35 grams”.
Removal proceedings have not commenced and plaintiff is still residing in the United
States.
In the Amended Complaint, plaintiff alleges: (1) the AAO’s decision is contrary to law
because it applied an inapplicable legal standard in finding that plaintiff’s possession of marijuana
was more than 30 grams; and (2) the AAO’s decision raised the issue of plaintiff’s eligibility to
apply for a waiver pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h) for applicants with controlled substances
convictions and that plaintiff was denied the opportunity to respond or challenge the AAO’s
erroneous findings.
Defendant moves for summary judgment arguing that the AAO’s denial was not
“arbitrary, capricious or contrary to law”.
DISCUSSION
10
In the affidavit dated August 13, 2010, plaintiff claims he did not have hashish in his possession and did
not know that his passenger had hashish. Plaintiff further alleges that when he pled guilty, he did so only as to
possession of marijuana and never admitted to possession or trafficking hashish.
7
I.
SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION11
The parties cannot consent to the improper exercise of subject matter jurisdiction. Ruiz v.
Mukasey, 552 F.3d 269, 274, n.1 (2d Cir. 2009); see also Awah v. Holder, 2010 WL 2572848, at
*2 (D. Md. 2010) (citing Steele Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 101 (1998) (if a
court is uncertain as to whether jurisdiction exists, it cannot proceed to the merits of the case)).
Because federal courts have an independent obligation to ascertain subject matter jurisdiction, the
issue must be considered sua sponte. Henry v. Quarantillo, 684 F.Supp.2d 298, 302 (E.D.N.Y.
2010) (citing United Republic Ins. Co. v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 315 F.3d 168, 170-71 (2d Cir.
2003) (subject matter jurisdiction should be treated as a threshold issue, not simply addressed
when raised by one of the parties)).
The Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”) allows, “‘[a] person suffering legal wrong
because of agency action, or adversely affected or aggrieved by agency action within the meaning
of a relevant statute’ to seek judicial review of the agency's action”. Kakushadze v. Chertoff,
2008 WL 2885292, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. 2008). The APA provides, in pertinent part:
To the extent necessary to decision and when presented, the reviewing
court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional
and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability
of the terms of an agency action. The reviewing court shall–
(2) hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and
conclusions found to be -(A) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in
accordance with law;
In making the foregoing determinations, the court shall review the
whole record or those parts of it cited by a party, and due account shall
be taken of the rule of prejudicial error.
11
The parties did not address subject matter jurisdiction in their original submissions. The Court directed the
parties to provide additional briefing and appear for oral argument on this issue.
8
5 U.S.C. § 706.
The APA provides the district court with authority to review agency action. Ruiz, 552
F.3d at 273. However, the REAL ID Act of 2005, 8 U.S.C. § 1252, divests federal district courts
of jurisdiction to review challenges to removal orders. Section 1252 provides, in pertinent part:
1252. Judicial review of orders of removal
(a) Applicable provisions:
(2) Matters not subject to judicial review
(B) Denials of discretionary relief
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (statutory or
nonstatutory), including section 2241 of Title 28, or any other habeas
corpus provision, and sections 1361 and 1651 of such title, and except
as provided in subparagraph (D), and regardless of whether the
judgment, decision, or action is made in removal proceedings, no court
shall have jurisdiction to review-(i) any judgment regarding the granting of relief under section
1182(h), 1182(i), 1229b, 1229c, or 1255 of this title . . .
(ii) any other decision or action of the Attorney General or the
Secretary of Homeland Security the authority for which is specified
under this subchapter to be in the discretion of the Attorney General
or the Secretary of Homeland Security, other than the granting of
relief under section 1158(a) of this title.
See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B).
Removal orders may only be appealed in the Second Circuit. Delgado v. Quarantillo,
2010 WL 726790, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. 2010). However, even without a removal order, the authority
of the district court to review agency decisions in the immigration context is limited by Section
1252. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B); see also Ruiz, 552 F.3d at 274; see also Jilin v. Pharm. USA,
Inc. v. Chertoff, 447 F.3d 196, 200, n. 5 (3rd Cir. 2006) (the jurisdiction-stripping provision
applies regardless of whether the judgment, decision or action is made in removal proceedings);
see also Lee v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serv., 592 F.3d 612, 619 (4th Cir. 2010) (this
9
statute explicitly precludes district courts from exercising jurisdiction [ ]regardless of “any other
provision of law,” or whether the decision was made in removal proceedings). The Court’s
authority is further limited. The Court is precluded from reviewing agency decisions that are
deemed “discretionary judgments”. Barco-Sandoval v. Gonzales, 516 F.3d 36, 38 (2d Cir. 2008).
Notwithstanding § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i), “nondiscretionary actions . . . purely legal determinations
made by the agency . . . remain subject to judicial review. Vaso v. Chertoff, 2010 WL 746393, at
*4 (3rd Cir. 2010). For example, determination of eligibility for adjustment of status or waiver of
inadmissibility - unlike the granting of adjustment or the waiver itself- is a purely legal question
and does not implicate agency discretion. Id. (if the plaintiff were challenging the determination
that he is statutorily inadmissible for attempting to procure admission through fraud, review of
that determination would not be foreclosed by 1252(a)(2)(B)); cf. Camara v. Dep’t of Homeland
Sec., 497 F.3d 121, 124 (2d Cir. 2007) (arguments that the decision was not supported by
substantial evidence or clearly erroneous are mere quarrels over the correctness of fact findings
and therefore, the court lack’s jurisdiction). In Sepulveda v. Gonzalez, 407 F.3d 59, 62 (2d Cir.
2005). the Circuit held that § 1252(a)(2)(B) did not strip courts of jurisdiction to review
nondiscretionary decisions regarding an alien’s eligibility for the relief specified in §
1252(a)(2)(B). This reasoning has been followed extensively in this Circuit. See, e.g., Riero v.
Holder, 337 F. App’x 71, 74 (2d Cir. 2009) (the court of appeals retains jurisdiction to review the
determination of a petitioner’s statutory eligibility for adjustment of status, which is a nondiscretionary determination). In Hoo Loo v. Ridge, 2007 WL 813000, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. 2007), the
district court cited Sepulveda as authority and retained jurisdiction over a “non-discretionary
purely legal claim that the defendants were required to review the plaintiff’s application”.
10
In this matter, no removal proceedings have commenced and to date, there is no timetable
for such proceedings. Indeed, defendants could not assure the Court that proceedings would ever
be commenced. Nonetheless, the parties agree that this Court is vested with subject matter
jurisdiction. Plaintiff filed a Form I-601 waiver application in an effort to overcome his
inadmissibility pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1182(a)(6)(C) and 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II), which may be
waived by USCIS discretion under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h) and (i). Sections 1182(h) and (i) are
explicitly enumerated in 1252(a)(2)(D)(i) and as such, the court would lack jurisdiction to review
the decision. Cantave v. Farquharson, 2002 WL 32500859, at *2, n.3 (D.Conn. 2002) (judicial
review is not available for denial of waivers sought pursuant to § 212(h)). However, the parties
claim that this jurisdiction stripping provision does not apply because the decision was not a
discretionary denial. Specifically, the parties argue that plaintiff’s claim involves a question of
law, not a discretionary decision, regarding plaintiff’s eligibility for a waiver.
While not cited by the parties, Chen v. Napolitano, 651 F.Supp.2d 63 (S.D.N.Y. 2009),
provides support for their position. In Chen, the Southern District of New York was confronted
with a striking similar fact pattern. The plaintiff filed an I-601 and an I-485 seeking a waiver of
inadmissibility based upon extreme hardship and adjustment of status. Id. at 66. The CIS denied
the application for the waiver and the plaintiff challenged, not his inadmissibility, but the denial
of the waiver. The plaintiff claimed that the denial of the waiver was based upon, “an erroneous
interpretation of the hardship standard, mischaracterizations of the record, and an erroneous and
overly stringent evidentiary burden”. Id. at 67. In the complaint, plaintiff alleged that the denial
was, “not in accordance with established law and constitutional due process and falls outside the
boundaries of the jurisdiction-stripping provisions”. Id. In analyzing the CIS’ decision, the Court
noted, that it, “lack[ed] jurisdiction to review challenges to factual and discretionary
11
determinations leading to the denial of a petition for review where a jurisdiction-denying
provision of the INA is implicated”. Id. at 69. Thus, citing § 1182(i), the Court reasoned that the
plaintiff must demonstrate that the adjudication of their petition raised a constitutional claim or
questions of law . “A ‘constitutional claim’ or ‘question of law’ may arise for example in factfinding which is flawed by an error of law or where a discretionary decision is argued to be an
abuse of discretion because it was made without rational justification or based on a legally
erroneous standard.” Id. (citations omitted). The district court ultimately found that jurisdiction
existed over claims because the AAO’s decision was flawed by an error of law because the
decision represented that the plaintiff did not submit important evidence, when he did submit such
evidence. Id. at 70.
The parties argue that the decision at issue was a nondiscretionary decision regarding
eligibility for a waiver as a matter of law and, as such, the district court has jurisdiction to resolve
this matter. The Court agrees. As the Fifth Circuit noted in Alvarado de Rodriguez v. Holder,
585 F.3d 227, 234 (5th Cir. 2009), “the BIA held that [the plaintiff] was statutorily ineligible for a
hardship waiver because she failed as a matter of law to marshal sufficient evidence of good faith.
These are legal and constitutional issues unrelated to the discretion reserved to the Attorney
General. Accordingly, jurisdiction is proper.”
However, the aforementioned does not conclude the Court’s inquiry. Generally,
administrative exhaustion is required before plaintiff can proceed with redress in the courts. See
Ramos v. Ashcroft, 2002 WL 193404, at *3 (N.D. Ill. 2002) (the plaintiffs contested the denial of
their adjustment status applications but did not present a due process claim and could renew their
requests if and when immigration instituted removal proceedings). During oral argument, the
Court raised the issue of whether there were administrative courses plaintiff could or should
12
pursue prior to commencing this action in federal court. Plaintiff’s counsel suggested that there
were no other avenues available. Moreover, counsel for both parties advised the Court that
removal proceedings were based upon “prosecutorial discretion” and that plaintiff did not have
the authority to request removal proceedings. Counsel did not provide any authority for that
assertion and the Court notes that some caselaw from this district and others suggests otherwise.
In Hussain v. U.S., 2009 WL 2413260, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. 2009), the district court held:
[N]othing prevents petitioner himself from requesting that removal
proceedings be commenced against him. In the event that a removal
order were issued against petitioner, he could then obtain judicial
review of USCIS's denial of his application for adjustment of status.
Indeed, in cases involving similar facts, other plaintiffs have requested
to be placed in removal proceedings for this very reason.
See also Kawja v. Holder, 2010 WL 148217, at *3 (E.D. Va. 2010) (citing Reno v. Catholic Soc.
Serv.., Inc., 509 U.S. 43, 55, n. 16 (1993) (“Although aliens have no explicit statutory right to
force the INS to commence a deportation proceeding, the INS has represented that ‘any alien who
wishes to challenge an adverse determination on his legalization application may secure review
by surrendering for deportation at any INS district office’”).
However, the Third Circuit has a different view of the exhaustion requirement in the
immigration context. In Pinho v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 193, 200 (3d Cir. 2005), the plaintiff
brought suit seeking a declaratory judgment that the denial of his adjustment status was arbitrary
and capricious. The court noted that, generally, if there were steps that an immigrant may take to
have action reviewed within the agency, then exhaustion is not satisfied. However, in that case,
the agency offered no further procedures for the plaintiff to invoke regarding his claim of
statutory eligibility. Id. The court noted, “[there is no provision for BIA review of an AAO
status-adjustment eligibility decision”. Id. (citing 8 CFR § 3.1(b)). The court further noted, “[i]f
the agency institutes removal proceedings against an immigrant, then the immigrant may renew
13
his or her application during those proceedings, but we do not find this possibility sufficient to
render the AAO's eligibility determination “tentative or interlocutory” in this case. Id. at 201
(internal citation omitted). “The Department of Homeland Security did not provide an avenue
for administrative appeal of the AAO decision”, thus, the Court reasoned, “Pinho had no further
opportunity to challenge the legality of the decision within the agency, and would have none at
all, were he forced to await deportation proceedings that the agency may or may not choose to
institute.” Id. The Court held:
. . . an AAO decision is final where there are no deportation
proceedings pending in which the decision might be reopened or
challenged. But even if the possibility of renewing an adjustment
application in future deportation proceedings were thought to cast
doubt on the finality of an AAO decision, this case falls into one of the
categories “in which the interests of the individual weigh heavily
against requiring administrative exhaustion,” namely, circumstances
in which an “indefinite timeframe for administrative action,” results
in prejudice to the individual who must await that action. The decision
whether or not to institute deportation proceedings is entirely within
the discretion of the agency. There are no steps that Pinho can take to
force the question in order to have his claim resolved. If the only route
to the courts is through deportation proceedings, then the agency
retains sole control over whether an individual's purely legal
claim-one which has not been made non-reviewable by statute-may
ever be brought before the courts. Such a result would be plainly at
odds not only with the APA, but also with broader principles of
separation of powers.
Id. at 202 (internal citations omitted).
During oral argument, neither party could provide any caselaw to support their position
and conceded that the issues presented in this matter are novel and have not yet been addressed by
the district court. The Court has conducted exhaustive research and thoroughly analyzed caselaw
from all districts. As Judge McMahon so aptly stated in her decision in Nigmadzhanov v.
Mueller, 550 F.Supp.2d 540, 544 (S.D.N.Y. 2008):
14
The arguments about whether jurisdiction exists in the circumstances
of this case have been made numerous times before district courts
across the country, so while this issue remains “open” it does not
remain unexplored. The district courts have split both between and
within circuits, and even districts.
With respect to administrative exhaustion, this Court is not willing to place the burden on
plaintiff to compel defendants to institute deportation proceedings. No removal proceedings are
pending or even contemplated and plaintiff argues that he has no recourse if this Court opts not to
entertain his claim. Moreover, the Court agrees that the agency determinations at issue herein are
based upon an application of law, and non-discretionary. Therefore, based upon Chen and Pinho,
and the fact that the parties offer no inapposite caselaw establishing a clear jurisdictional bar, the
Court finds that jurisdiction properly rests with the district court in this matter and thus, the Court
will entertain the motions and resolve the issues presented herein on the merits.
II.
STANDARD ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Substantive
law determines which facts are material; that is, which facts might affect the outcome of the suit
under the governing law. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 258 (1986). A party
moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of demonstrating that there is no genuine
issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c);
see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). If the Court, viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the nonmovant, determines that the movant has satisfied this burden, the
burden then shifts to the nonmovant to adduce evidence establishing the existence of a disputed
issue of material fact requiring a trial. See id. If the nonmovant fails to carry this burden,
summary judgment is appropriate. See id.
15
Summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 is only appropriate
where admissible evidence in the form of affidavits, deposition transcripts, or other
documentation demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and one party's
entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. See Viola v. Philips Med. Sys. of N. Am., 42 F.3d 712,
716 (2d Cir. 1994). No genuinely triable factual issue exists when the moving party
demonstrates, on the basis of the pleadings and submitted evidence, and after drawing all
inferences and resolving all ambiguities in favor of the non-movant, that no rational jury could
find in the non-movant's favor. Chertkova v. Conn. Gen ‘l Life Ins. Co., 92 F.3d 81, 86 (2d Cir.
1996) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)).
Plaintiff objects to the use of a “multiplier” to determine whether he was ineligible for a
waiver and argues that the Drug Equivalency Table does not apply to his case because he was not
a defendant in federal criminal proceedings. Moreover, plaintiff contends that the decision was
supported “only on an opinion by the “Office of General Counsel”issued on April 23, 1996
(hereinafter “Opinion”) and claims that he possessed only 9.36 grams of marijuana, well bellow
the 30 gram limit. Defendants argue that plaintiff is “cherry picking” portions of the Opinion he
wishes to challenge. Morever, defendants assert that the AAO decision is based on widely
accepted standards and therefore, the decision was not arbitrary or capricious.
The Court reviews the agency's factual findings, including adverse credibility
determinations under the substantial evidence standard. Mei Juan Xu v. Holder, 310 F. App’x
463 -64 (2d Cir. 2009). “A reviewing court reviews an agency’s reasoning to determine whether
it is ‘arbitrary’ or ‘capricious,’ ‘or if bound up with record-based factual conclusions, to
determine whether it is supported by substantial evidence’”. Singh v. Gantner, 2008 WL
3152959, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (the district court acts as an appellate court when reviewing
16
agency action). The district court focuses on questions of law only. Id. The substantial evidence
standard mandates that the district court not disturb a factual finding if it is supported by
reasonable, substantial and probative evidence in the record. Id. The narrow scope of review
forbids the district court from substituting its own judgment for that of the agency and mandates
affirmance of the agency decision even if the court disagrees. Khamisani v. Holder, 2011 WL
1232906, at *3 (S.D. Tex. 2011). The “focal point of the review is the administrative record.
Preserve Endangered Areas of Cobb’s History, Inc. v. U.S. Army Corp of Eng’rs, 87 F.3d 1242,
1246 (11th Cir. 1996). The role of the Court is, “governed by Chevron and its progeny, and unless
the ‘statute is silent or ambiguous with respect to the specific issue’ before us, our work is done.”
Federiso v. Holder, 605 F.3d 695, 699 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural
Resources Defense Counsel, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 843 (1984)). “If a statute is found to be silent or
ambiguous on a particular issue, and an agency interpretation is not issued pursuant to the
agency's exercise of its formal rule-making authority, courts will evaluate the agency's
interpretation by applying the factors set forth in Skidmore v. Swift & Co., 323 U.S. 134 (1994).”
Serrano v. Holder, 2010 WL 2010007, at *6 (N.D. Ga. 2010) (the Skidmore factors include: the
thoroughness evident in [the agency's] consideration, the validity of its reasoning, its consistency
with earlier and later pronouncements, and all those factors which give it power to persuade, if
lacking power to control).
The Opinion was issued on April 23, 1996 from the Office of General Counsel and is
entitled “Section 212(h) waiver for controlled substance violations - forms of marijuana other
than marijuana leaves”. See Genco OP. No. 96-3. The Opinion references 18 U.S.C. App. 4 §
2D1.1 (Drug Equivalency Table, Schedule I, Marijuana) and provides:
. . . despite their common origin, cannabis leaves and other cannabis
products are distinguishable. Simple possession of some cannabis
17
products is much more serious an offense that simple possession of
cannabis leaves. The law recognizes this distinction. For sentencing,
30 grams of cannabis resin is equivalent to 150 grams of marijuana.
Thirty grams of hashish oil is equivalent to 1500 grams of marijuana.
*
*
*
In adjudicating cases involving forms of the same drug that have
different potencies, and that are treated differently for sentencing, it is
appropriate for the service to take note of these distinctions. The
Sentencing Guidelines, 18 U.S.C. App. 4 and INA 212(a)(2)(C), 8
U.S.C. 1182(A)(2)(C), provide a basis for distinguishing marijuana
leaves from other forms of marijuana. For purposes of sentencing, for
example, 6 grams of cannabis resin is the equivalent of 30 grams of
marijuana leaves. 18 U.S.C. App. 4 § 2D1.1 (Drug Equivalency
Table, Schedule I, Marijuana) (providing a 1-to-5 ratio for
equivalency).
The General Counsel concluded:
Absent some unusual circumstances, however, we recommend that
you limit your discretion in Section 212(h) cases so that a Section
212(h) waiver will be denied in most cases in which the alien
possessed an amount of marijuana, other than leaves, that is equivalent
of more than 30 grams of marijuana leaves under the Federal
Sentencing Guidelines, 18 U.S.C. App. 4.
Genco. Op. No. 96-3, 1996 WL 33166334 (INS April 23, 1996).
With regard to the “cherry picking” argument, defendants note that there is no provision in
the INA for a waiver of ineligibility for the possession of hashish. Rather, the waiver is based
upon possession of marijuana and “taking plaintiff’s arguments to their fullest extent, that would
completely remove the waiver for which he’s apply here from consideration because the waiver
doesn’t even mention the possession of hashish”. Defendants have provided no authority for this
assertion. As noted by plaintiff, the Opinion references the Board of Immigration Appeal in the
Matter of Lennon, 1994 WL 29994, at *24 (1975). In that case, the Board found:
Several federal courts have noted that hashish (cannabis resin) is
merely a refined form of marihuana. It would be illogical to construe
the term "marihuana" under section 212(a)(23) as including the
18
cannabis leaves (possibly mixed with stems and seeds) which contain
intoxicating cannabis resin, while not including the pure form of the
resin which has a much greater intoxicating effect. While it is true that
ambiguous provisions of the immigration laws are often construed in
favor of the alien, this general maxim does not require us to ignore
common sense and legislative objectives in order to reach a
construction favoring the alien.
Id. (internal citations omitted).
Moreover, the Ninth Circuit has held , “plaintiff’s contention that a distinction for the
purposes of applying [8 U.S.C. § 1182] should be drawn between marijuana and hashish is
without support. Both are derivatives of a common source and we hold in this context that
marijuana is sufficiently general in scope to include hashish.” Hamid v. U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Serv., 538 F.2d 1389, 1391 (9th Cir. 1976). Accordingly, the Court is unpersuaded
by this argument.
Turning to the substance of the AAO’s decision, the parties agree that the issue of the use
of the multiplier in matters such as this is novel. Neither party can cite to any caselaw, from any
district, lending support to their arguments. The Court is faced with this matter as one of “first
impression”.
Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h), “[t]he Attorney General may, in his discretion, waive the
application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), (B), (D), and (E) of subsection (a)(2) of this section and
subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of such subsection insofar as it relates to a single offense of simple
possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana if – (B) in the case of an immigrant who is the
spouse, [] of a citizen of the United States [] if it is established to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General that the alien's denial of admission would result in extreme hardship to the United States
citizen or lawfully resident spouse []of such alien . . .” Whether an alien is eligible for a waiver
remains a question of statutory interpretation fit for judicial review. Federiso, 605 F.3d at 699
19
(“whether issuing [] relief to a particular alien is consistent with the statute's underlying purpose
is a case-by-case policy determination that the statutory text commits not to the courts but to the
discretion of the Attorney General and his designee the IJ”).
Here, the record contains a Statement of Indictment, a Verdict and Sentence with respect
to plaintiff’s prior conviction. The record establishes that plaintiff admitted the facts in the
Statement of Indictment and was convicted of possession of a narcotic. The record further
establishes that plaintiff did not disclose this information when he applied for a visa and entered
this country in 2003. The information was only disclosed, two years later, when plaintiff
responded to inquiries during his interview with USCIS in connection with his application for
adjustment of his status. Plaintiff was given more than one opportunity to contest or dispute
information regarding this conviction. The only “evidence” plaintiff submitted in that regard was
his August 2010 affidavit which was provided in support of his motion to reconsider the denial of
his application for a waiver of inadmissibility. In the affidavit, plaintiff avers that he never
admitted to possession of hashish and pled guilty only to possession of marijuana. This sworn
statement does not warrant a reversal of the agency’s determination. See Singh, 2008 WL
3152959, at *3 (the plaintiff’s sworn statement that he relied on the advice of counsel was
insufficient evidence). Plaintiff provided no other information or evidence in connection with his
arrest or conviction. When the petitioner cannot establish that his foreign conviction fits within
the exception identified in § 1182(h), the waiver is properly denied. See Danso v. Gonzales, 489
F.3d 709, 713, n.1 (5th Cir. 2007) (the record did not establish the exact nature of the plaintiff’s
crime, but he was convicted in the England for “Fraudulent Evasion of Prohibition on Importation
of Controlled Drug (Cannabis)” and as such, the plaintiff could not, “show that his foreign
conviction fit[] this narrow exception”).
20
With respect to the use of the multiplier, plaintiff has not cited to any caselaw or other
authority which prevents the agency from relying upon the Opinion or parts thereof. “In the
immigration context, . . . the need for national uniformity is paramount, as the ‘[p]ower to
regulate immigration is unquestionably exclusively a federal power’”. Ferreira v. Ashcroft, 382
F.3d 1045, 1050 (9th Cir. 2004) (recognizing that immigration laws should be applied uniformly
regardless of state laws). Thus, this Court awards deference to defendants’ interpretation of the
Opinion, see Serrano, 2010 WL 2010007, at *6 (an opinion of the General Counsel of the former
INS explained the agencies reasoning with regard to its interpretation of relevant statutes and was
entitled to deference under Skidmore), and upon review of the entire record, finds that the USCIS
and AAO legal determinations were supported by reasonable, substantive and probative evidence.
Even assuming the statute is ambiguous in terms of the use of the multipliers, this Court finds that
the agency evaluated the evidence and thoroughly set forth its reasoning for applying the
multiplier. Moreover, the agency provided plaintiff with the opportunity to combat the use of the
multiplier which plaintiff failed to do. The agencies decisions are clearly consistent and find
support within the language of the Opinion.
As discussed, this Court is precluded from substituting it’s own judgment for that of the
agencies. The Court does not discern any abuse of discretion or find it unreasonable that the
USCIS and/or AAO applied the multiplier in this context. See Blacher v Ridge, 436 F.Supp.2d
602, 608-09 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (reliance upon the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Occupational Handbook was reasonable and not an abuse of discretion). While the Court may be
troubled by the application of the Drug Equivalency Table in this matter, the Court must confine
its analysis to the record. Here, the record clearly supports the agencies’ decisions and therefore,
the Court will not disturb that finding. Accordingly, defendants did not err in finding plaintiff
21
ineligible for a waiver. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted and plaintiff’s
complaint is dismissed.
CONCLUSION
ORDERED that defendant’s motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 16) is hereby
GRANTED; it is further
ORDERED that plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 21) is
DENIED.
The Clerk is directed to close this matter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: July 21, 2011
Albany, New York
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