25 I. & N. Dec. 893
BIA2012Background
- Albanian citizen entered the U.S. in 1997; asylum granted by INS in 1997.
- DHS terminated the asylum status in 2007 under 8 C.F.R. § 208.24(a)(1) for alleged fraud.
- DHS termination proceeded with removal actions initiated; respondent faced removal charges.
- An Immigration Judge terminated the proceedings in 2010, restoring asylum, and claimed de novo review authority under 8 C.F.R. § 1208.24(f).
- DHS appealed; Board sustained the appeal, held no jurisdiction for IJ to review DHS termination under § 208.24(a), and remanded for further removal proceedings.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction to review DHS termination of asylum | A.Judge claimed § 1208.24(f) confers review authority | DHS arguing no IJ jurisdiction to review DHS termination under § 208.24(a) | IJ lacks jurisdiction to review DHS termination; DHS appeal sustained |
Key Cases Cited
- Nijjar v. Holder, 689 F.3d 1077 (9th Cir. 2012) (DHS lacks authority to terminate asylum; ultra vires challenge not accepted here)
- Bhargava v. Att’y Gen. of U.S., 611 F.3d 168 (3d Cir. 2010) (regulations do not confer IJ jurisdiction to review DHS termination of asylum)
- Qureshi v. Holder, 663 F.3d 778 (5th Cir. 2011) (DHS termination procedures; de novo review before IJ possible after termination)
- Ntangsi v. Gonzales, 475 F.3d 1007 (8th Cir. 2007) (preponderance standard for fraud in reopened termination proceedings)
- Matter of K-A-, 23 I&N Dec. 661 (BIA 2004) (discusses IJ authority to terminate asylum under § 1208.24(f) when removal proceedings exist)