Matilde Carrillo De Palacios v. Eric Holder, Jr.
2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 1864
| 9th Cir. | 2013Background
- Carrillo de Palacios, a Mexican citizen, seeks adjustment of status under INA § 245(i).
- BIA held she is inadmissible under INA § 1182(a)(9)(C)(i) and ineligible for the § 1182(a)(9)(C)(ii) exception.
- She previously was deported in 1984 and allegedly reentered unlawfully in 1992 and 1997.
- IJ granted adjustment; BIA reversed, concluding inadmissibility forecloses § 1255(i) relief.
- Court defers to BIA on statutory interpretation; addresses retroactivity of Torres-Garcia and the ten-year bar.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Carrillo de Palacios is inadmissible under § 1182(a)(9)(C)(i)(II). | Carrillo de Palacios asserts improper analysis of removal history and entry timing. | BIA correctly found a prior removal and unlawful reentry, satisfying § 1182(a)(9)(C)(i)(II). | Inadmissible under § 1182(a)(9)(C)(i)(II). |
| Whether Carrillo de Palacios qualifies for the § 1182(a)(9)(C)(ii) ten-year waiver. | She argues ten years outside the U.S. were satisfied, so waiver applies. | Temporary absence does not satisfy the ten-year outside requirement before reentry. | Does not satisfy ten-year absence; not eligible for waiver. |
| Whether Torres-Garcia may be applied retroactively to Carrillo de Palacios under Montgomery Ward. | Relied on Perez-Gonzalez and argued no retroactive effect for her timing. | Torres-Garcia properly applied; retroactivity analyzed under Montgomery Ward. | Torres-Garcia applied retroactively; majority factors favor government, retroactive application upheld. |
| Overall viability of adjustment under § 1255(i) given inadmissibility and retroactivity. | If Torres-Garcia applies retroactively, adjustment might be possible under § 1255(i). | Even with retroactivity, § 1182(a)(9)(C)(ii) not satisfied; adjustment denied. | Petition denied; not eligible for adjustment. |
Key Cases Cited
- Morales-Izquierdo v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 600 F.3d 1076 (9th Cir. 2010) (discusses § 1182(a)(9)(C)(ii) ten-year bar and waiver)
- Gonzales v. Department of Homeland Security, 508 F.3d 1227 (9th Cir. 2007) (deferred to BIA interpretation in Torres-Garcia)
- Perez-Gonzalez v. Ashcroft, 379 F.3d 783 (9th Cir. 2004) (prior Ninth Circuit view on § 1255(i) eligibility)
- Delgado v. Mukasey, 516 F.3d 65 (2d Cir. 2008) (ten-year bar interpretation outside the United States)
- Mortera-Cruz v. Gonzales, 409 F.3d 246 (5th Cir. 2005) (noting ten-year absence requirement and readmission)
- Fernandez-Vargas v. Ashcroft, 394 F.3d 881 (10th Cir. 2005) (describing ten-year period outside the United States)