Torrijos v. Immigration Naturalization Services

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM re Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 1 filed by Hector Samuel Torrijos (Order to follow as separate docket entry)Signed by Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo on 04/02/14. (ma)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
HECTOR SAMUEL TORRIJOS,
Petitioner
v.
IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICE,
Respondent

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CIVIL NO. 1:14-CV-0132

MEMORANDUM
On January 24, 2014, Petitioner, Hector Samuel Torrijos, filed a petition
for a temporary restraining order (Doc. 1). Torrijos seeks to restrain the Immigration
and Naturalization Service (“INS”) from removing him from the United States.
There is no order of removal of which this court is aware. Torrijos also appears to be
appealing the denial by United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“ICE”)
of his application for citizenship. By order dated February 28, 2014 (Doc. 6),
Torrijos was directed to file an amended complaint, which he has done (Doc. 7), but
again seeks only a temporary restraining order.
In his amended document, it appears that his request for a temporary
restraining order is to prevent his deportation. Upon court inquiry to ICE, it has been
determined that Torrijos was ordered removed on August 6, 2010. A claim for
asylum is apparently pending. It does not appear that removal is imminent. One of
the elements to be considered for a temporary restraining order to be issued is that
the harm or irreparable injury must be imminent. Acierno v. New Castle County, 40

F.3d 645, 653 (3d Cir. 1994). For this reason alone, the instant petition for a
temporary restraining order can be dismissed.
If, in fact, the petition for a temporary restraining order seeks to prevent
deportation, his petition should be filed with the United States Court of Appeals for
the Third Circuit. The exclusive means to challenge an order of removal is the
petition for review process.
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, a petition for review filed with an appropriate
court of appeals in accordance with this section shall be the
sole and exclusive means for judicial review of an order of
removal entered or issued under any provision of this
chapter, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section.
8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(5) (emphasis added).
Title 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(9), sometimes referred to as a “zipper” clause,
consolidates all “questions of law and fact . . . arising from any action or proceeding
brought to remove an alien” into a petition for review. Martinez v. Napolitano, 704
F.3d 620 (2012), citing Singh v. Gonzales, 499 F.2d 969, 976 (9th Cir. 2007).
Torrijos’ Application for Certificate of Citizenship is an effort to preclude
deportation and should be part of any petition for review before the court of appeals.
It appears that Torrijos did not exhaust his administrative proceedings in
the denial of his Application for Certificate of Citizenship. The Notice of Denial was
dated April 2, 2013. He was advised in that notice of his right to appeal that
decision. (Doc. 1 at p.7.) This court has no way of knowing if he appealed that
decision.

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It also appears that this case is still in administrative proceedings. In
Torrijos’ amended petition for a temporary restraining order, he claims that he has
recently filed for asylum. (Doc. 7 at p. 5.)
It is the opinion of this court that it does not have jurisdiction over this
matter for the following reasons: (1) proceedings involving Torrijos may be on going
in the administrative level; (2) no final order of deportation has been issued; and (3)
if Torrijos is seeking to prevent deportation, jurisdiction lies with the United States
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Thus, the petition will be denied. An
appropriate order will be issued.
s/Sylvia H. Rambo
United States District Judge
Dated: April 2, 2014.

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