Nourredine Khodja v. Eric H. Holder
666 F.3d 415
7th Cir.2011Background
- Khodja became a lawful permanent resident in 1984 and was later convicted in 1990 of aggravated battery and armed violence, receiving four years' imprisonment.
- After sentencing, Khodja moved for a JRAD; INS urged denial, suggesting § 212(c) relief could be sought later, and the trial court denied the JRAD.
- Congress repealed § 212(c) in 1996; § 212(h) remained, but § 212(h) excludes relief for aggravated felons.
- In 2003 Khodja faced removal proceedings for a crime involving moral turpitude; he sought waivers under § 212(c) and § 212(h).
- The IJ denied both waivers; the Board partly remanded § 212(h) for a proper aggravated felony determination; on remand the IJ again denied § 212(h).
- Khodja challenged the Board’s decisions, arguing retroactivity of the § 212(c) repeal and related due process/reliance concerns; the Seventh Circuit granted relief on § 212(c) and remanded for a full hearing.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retroactivity of §212(c) repeal | Khodja relied on §212(c) relief; repeal should not apply retroactively. | Repeal governs removal proceedings; no §212(c) relief post-repeal. | Remand for §212(c) waiver proceedings; retroactivity favored Khodja. |
| §212(h) applicability given aggravated felony | §212(h) discretion should apply if not barred by aggravated felony. | Aggravated felony predicate bars §212(h) relief. | Aggravated felony bar affirmed; §212(h) relief unavailable. |
Key Cases Cited
- LaGuerre v. Mukasey, 526 F.3d 1037 (7th Cir. 2008) (definition and scope of 'crime of violence' under § 16(a))
- United States v. Fife, 624 F.3d 441 (7th Cir. 2010) (modified categorical approach in armed-violence cases)
- United States v. Curtis, 645 F.3d 937 (7th Cir. 2011) (modified categorical approach limits to conviction record)
- United States v. De Horta Garcia, 519 F.3d 658 (7th Cir. 2008) (reliance-based exposure to relief under prior §212(c))
- Solis-Ch Chavez v. Holder, 2011 WL 5041916 (7th Cir. 2011) (reliance on discretionary relief; not an official reporter (note: WL citation))
- St. Cyr v. INS, 533 U.S. 289 (U.S. 2001) (retroactivity of IIRIRA repeal of §212(c))