Gai MAKIR-MARWIL, Petitioner, v. U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent.
No. 09-14197.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
May 22, 2012.
1227
pretation of
V.
For these reasons, we affirm Ms. Zuniga-Arteaga‘s conviction.
AFFIRMED.
Brittany Young, University of Miami School of Law, Rebecca Sharpless, University of Miami School of Law Immigration Clinic, Coral Gables, FL, for Petitioner.
Lyle D. Jentzer, D. Nicholas Harling, Ernesto H. Molina, Jr., USDOJ, OIL, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before HULL and COX, Circuit Judges, and WALTER,* District Judge.
* The Honorable Donald E. Walter, United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation.
HULL,
Gai Makir-Marwil, a native and citizen of Sudan, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ ( “BIA“) final order affirming the Immigration Judge‘s (“IJ“) order of removal and denial of Makir-Marwil‘s application for a waiver of inadmissibility under
I. BACKGROUND
A. Notice to Appear
In 2000, Makir-Marwil, age 12, was admitted to the United States as a refugee from Sudan. In 2004, Makir-Marwil applied to adjust his status to lawful permanent resident, but on October 18, 2005, this application was denied because Makir-Marwil failed to appear for an interview.
In 2006, at age 18, Makir-Marwil pled nolo contendere to charges of grand theft of a go-cart and burglary of a dwelling, in violation of
In 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS“) issued a notice to appear (“NTA“), charging that Makir-Marwil was removable on account of his 2006 convictions. See
B. Makir-Marwil‘s Applications for Relief
On May 14, 2008, Makir-Marwil applied to the DHS for a waiver of inadmissibility. On September 14, 2008, he applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and temporary deferral of removal pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“CAT“),
As explained later, the IJ granted temporary deferral of removal under CAT but denied Makir-Marwil‘s application for asylum and withholding of removal. This appeal does not involve those issues. Instead, this appeal concerns the IJ‘s denial of Makir-Marwil‘s application for a
C. General Principles for a § 209(c) Waiver of Inadmissibility
Generally, an alien—like Makir-Marwil—who commits a “crime of moral turpitude” is inadmissible and therefore may not have his status adjusted to that of a lawful permanent resident. See
The Attorney General has established guidelines for exercising his discretion whether to grant a
In sum, in
D. DHS Denial of Waiver of Inadmissibility
Here, Makir-Marwil applied for a waiver of inadmissibility on all three grounds listed in
The record contains the State Department‘s 2007 Country Report on Sudan.1 The Country Report states that the government, government-aligned militias, and tribal factions “razed numerous villages, committed acts of torture, and perpetrated violence against women.” The Country Report also indicates that the Sudanese government‘s “human rights record remained poor” and identifies serious abuses,
On September 19, 2008, the DHS denied Makir-Marwil‘s application for a discretionary waiver of inadmissibility.
E. IJ Hearing and Decision
At a January 2009 hearing, the IJ considered Makir-Marwil‘s waiver application de novo and considered Makir-Marwil‘s request for asylum, withholding of removal, and temporary deferral of removal under CAT. Makir-Marwil and his mother, Awaud Akanju, testified at the hearing. In a written decision, the IJ denied Makir-Marwil‘s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and a waiver of inadmissibility but, as noted earlier, granted a temporary deferral of removal under CAT.2
As to Makir-Marwil‘s criminal convictions, the IJ found that Makir-Marwil was in trouble with the law beginning at age 15. In 2005, Makir-Marwil pled nolo contendere to charges of burglary of a vehicle and strong-arm robbery, in violation of
As to Makir-Marwil‘s 2006 convictions identified in the NTA, the IJ found that the 2006 burglary conviction involved a residence where a man and a woman lived. Makir-Marwil stated that the male occupant of the residence broke through a window and invited him in through the front door. The man told him that the woman was not returning and that Makir-Marwil could take whatever he wanted. Makir-Marwil admitted taking a television, a computer, and a radio. As to his 2006 grand theft conviction, the IJ found that Makir-Marwil and his friends had taken a go-cart from another person‘s house and that he did not know the go-cart owner.
As to Makir-Marwil‘s application for waiver of inadmissibility, the IJ found that
Specifically, the IJ found “particularly troubling” Makir-Marwil‘s 2006 burglary of a residential dwelling, due to the “heightened risk of violence in such crimes.” The IJ also noted that Makir-Marwil admitted to purchasing crack-cocaine with the proceeds of the 2006 burglary. As to the 2005 robbery, the IJ noted that strong-arm robbery was a “crime of violence” and found that the conviction revealed “an exploitative nature because [Makir-Marwil] targeted a vulnerable person, an elderly lady, for a purse snatching.” Although Makir-Marwil was convicted as an accomplice, the IJ found that this fact did not mitigate the seriousness of the offense. The IJ also noted that Makir-Marwil “was treated as a juvenile delinquent and youthful offender [after his 2005 offenses], but he did not stop his errant behavior until he was incarcerated in 2006.”
Applying Jean‘s heightened standard for “violent and dangerous individuals,” the IJ found that Makir-Marwil failed to establish extraordinary circumstances warranting a waiver of inadmissibility. The IJ found that Makir-Marwil and his family “would experience some hardship” upon his removal but concluded that “such hardship would [not] amount to exceptional and extremely unusual hardship.” As to disruption to his family, the IJ was not persuaded that Makir-Marwil was an integral part of his family in the United States (his mother, grandmother, and two U.S. citizen sisters).
For purposes of this appeal, the critical part of the IJ‘s decision is this next paragraph because it is the IJ‘s only discussion of the conditions in Sudan as they pertain to Makir-Marwil‘s application for a waiver of inadmissibility and whether he has shown “extraordinary circumstances” under Jean. In this regard, the IJ states:
The Court is also unconvinced that the political considerations present in this case demand favorable discretion. The Court reviewed all submitted documents and recognizes Sudan‘s poor human rights record as well as the United States position on the Sudanese government. However, the Court fails to see how his case would reverberate beyond those directly impacted by [Makir-Marwil‘s] removal. The Court finds, instead, that these issues are better analyzed and considered on alternate forms of relief, particularly relief under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture.
We consider this paragraph in the context of Jean‘s requirement that a “violent or dangerous individual” must show “extraordinary circumstances, such as those involving national security or foreign policy considerations, or cases in which an alien clearly demonstrates that the denial of status adjustment would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship.” Jean, 23 I. & N. Dec. at 383. Although this paragraph lacks clarity, the most reasonable reading is that the IJ concludes that the conditions in Sudan are better analyzed and considered in response to Makir-Marwil‘s CAT claim and not as to whether Makir-Marwil has established “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” for purposes of a waiver of inadmissibility. At best, this statement by the IJ addresses only the political or foreign policy considerations affected by this case. But Jean also identifies “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to the individual as a
The IJ, however, granted Makir-Marwil‘s request for a deferral of removal pursuant to CAT. The IJ observed that “Sudan‘s human rights violations and propensity to engage in state sponsored torture is well documented. In addition, [Makir-Marwil‘s] age, ethnicity, religion, and family background places him in a high probability zone to be targeted for maltreatment by the Sudanese authorities.” The IJ examined evidence in the administrative record and concluded that “torture is routinely practiced in Sudan, with specific intent, and with direct involvement of the government,” and that the practice of torture in Sudan was “pervasive.” The IJ noted that Makir-Marwil “will be singled out for detention and interrogation because of his age” and is “liable for national military service in Sudan.” The IJ found that “it [is] a certainty that [Makir-Marwil] will be required to endure some sort of interrogation by the Sudanese authorities” and that he “is uniquely exposed to . . . high danger of torture.”
The IJ found that the following facts met the burden of proof on Makir-Marwil‘s CAT claim: (1) Makir-Marwil is “not Arab” but “of southern African descent with a dark complexion,” which would subject him to increased scrutiny; (2) Makir-Marwil and his family are “Christians,” “the government of Sudan engages in forced Islamization of non-Muslims,” and Makir-Marwil “would face intense pressure from the Sudanese authorities to convert to Islam, much as [Makir-Marwil‘s] two uncles had been“; and (3) Makir-Marwil‘s father “was involved in politics, . . . had been arrested three times by the Sudanese authorities, . . . disappeared as the family was leaving Sudan,” and—according to Makir-Marwil‘s mother—might “still be detained in jail.”
In light of this record evidence, the IJ found that, if Makir-Marwil were removed to Sudan, “there is a high likelihood that he would be further targeted by the Sudanese authorities because of his family background and his father‘s involvement in politics.” Accordingly, the IJ granted Makir-Marwil‘s application for deferral of removal under CAT. See
F. Appeal to the BIA
Makir-Marwil appealed to the BIA, challenging the denial of his application for a waiver of inadmissibility. In pertinent part, Makir-Marwil argued that (1) the IJ erred by employing a “categorical” approach, rather than a “fact-based” analysis, of Makir-Marwil‘s criminal convictions in determining that he was a “violent and dangerous” individual subject to Jean‘s heightened standard; and (2) even if Jean‘s heightened standard applied, the IJ erred in finding that Makir-Marwil had not established “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to him as an individual and especially in not analyzing and addressing the conditions in Sudan as part of his hardship if returned there.
Makir-Marwil stated this in several ways, such as by noting that the IJ “properly found [Makir-Marwil] would be tortured if returned to Sudan” but failed to address “the fact that torture of Mr. Makir-Marwil would rise to the level of exceptional and extremely unusual hardship, which it surely does.” Later in his brief, Makir-Marwil asserted that the IJ “failed to properly analyze the exceptional and
In a two-to-one panel decision, the BIA rejected both of Makir-Marwil‘s assertions of error. First, the BIA majority concluded that the Attorney General‘s decision in Jean did not require the IJ to use a “fact-based” analysis in determining whether an alien is “violent or dangerous.” The BIA found “no error in the [IJ‘s] determination that [Makir-Marwil‘s] convictions for two separate counts of burglary (one count of which involved a residential dwelling), grand theft, and robbery, demonstrate that he ‘is a violent and dangerous individual’ based on the analysis set forth in [the IJ‘s] well-reasoned decision.”
Second, the BIA majority rejected Makir-Marwil‘s challenge to the IJ‘s “hardship” analysis. The BIA stated “the only factor that [Makir-Marwil] asserts that the Immigration Judge erred in failing to consider is the fact that it is more likely than not that he will be tortured upon return to Sudan.” However, as shown above, Makir-Marwil‘s brief to the BIA actually mentions other country conditions—such as the “abject poverty,” “war,” and “genocide” in Sudan, and the “persecution” that he would face if returned to Sudan—that do not rise to the level of torture but might nevertheless create “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to Makir-Marwil.
As to torture only, the BIA concluded that the IJ “did not err when he did not address whether [Makir-Marwil] would be harmed upon return to Sudan.” The reason the BIA saw was that Makir-Marwil “will not face any ‘exceptional and extremely unusual hardship’ because he is not being removed to Sudan.” The BIA added that “there is no basis in reality upon which to conclude that [Makir-Marwil] will be tortured in Sudan because he is not being removed to Sudan. Our legal analysis must be based on actual hardship, not hypothetical hardship.” Accordingly, the BIA dismissed Makir-Marwil‘s appeal.
The BIA dissent disagreed on both issues. The dissent argued that Jean required the IJ to employ a “fact-based” analysis to determine whether an alien is violent or dangerous and concluded that the IJ‘s analysis was “categorical” and therefore insufficient under Jean. On the issue of the IJ‘s hardship analysis, the dissent argued that the temporary deferral of removal under CAT did not excuse the IJ‘s duty to consider evidence of Makir-Marwil‘s potential torture in Sudan in deciding whether to waive his inadmissibility. The dissent concluded that “humanitarian consideration[s]” counseled in favor of waiving Makir-Marwil‘s inadmissibility and adjusting his status to lawful permanent resident.
Makir-Marwil timely petitioned this Court for review.
II. DISCUSSION3
Makir-Marwil‘s petition raises two issues. First, he argues that the BIA erred
A. “Categorical” or “Fact-Based” Analysis Under Jean
Applying Jean, the IJ found that Makir-Marwil was a “violent or dangerous individual” and thus could be granted a waiver only upon a showing of “extraordinary circumstances, such as those involving national security or foreign policy considerations, or cases in which an alien clearly demonstrates that the denial of status adjustment would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship.” Makir-Marwil argues that Jean required the IJ to apply a “fact-based” approach and to look to the underlying circumstances of his crimes, and that the IJ failed to do so in determining that he was a “violent or dangerous individual.” Because this argument turns so heavily on the actual language the Attorney General used in Jean, we review the Attorney General‘s opinion in more detail.
In Jean, removal proceedings were commenced against Melanie Beaucejour Jean, a Haitian refugee, after she finished serving a prison sentence for second-degree manslaughter. 23 I. & N. Dec. at 374-75. Jean had confessed to shaking and beating a toddler she was babysitting; the toddler died after Jean failed to call 911 or seek help. Id. at 374-75. Jean‘s conviction rendered her inadmissible as an alien convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. See
Like Makir-Marwil, Jean did not contest her inadmissibility. Jean, 23 I. & N. Dec. at 375-76. Rather, Jean applied for a waiver of inadmissibility under
Reversing the BIA, the Attorney General stated that the BIA‘s analysis was “grossly deficient” because the BIA made “no attempt to balance claims of hardship to [Jean‘s] family against the gravity of her criminal offense.” Id. The Attorney General stated that the BIA “marginalize[d] the depravity” of Jean‘s crime and failed to attach any significance to the fact that Jean “confessed to beating and shaking a nineteen-month-old child to death.” Id. Although acknowledging that Jean‘s removal “will undoubtedly impose a strain on her family” and “will be a source of additional hardship for them,” the Attorney General explained that the propriety
In my judgment, that balance will nearly always require the denial of a request for discretionary relief from removal where an alien‘s criminal conduct is as serious as that of the respondent. . . . It would not be a prudent exercise of the discretion afforded to me by [
§ 209(c) ] to grant favorable adjustments of status to violent or dangerous individuals except in extraordinary circumstances, such as those involving national security or foreign policy considerations, or cases in which an alien clearly demonstrates that the denial of status adjustment would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. Moreover, depending on the gravity of the alien‘s underlying criminal offense, such a showing might still be insufficient. . . . For those aliens, like [Jean], who engage in violent criminal acts during their stay here, this country will not offer its embrace.
Id. at 383-84. Accordingly, the Attorney General denied Jean‘s application for a waiver of inadmissibility.
Notably, the Attorney General in Jean required neither a “categorical” nor a “fact-based” approach to determining whether a refugee‘s conviction renders him a “violent or dangerous individual.” See id. While Jean discusses the facts surrounding the particular conviction in that case, there is no holding or requirement in Jean that mandates a “fact-based” or “categorical” approach. Rather, all Jean requires is an adequate consideration of the nature of the refugee‘s crime. Some crimes may be so serious and depraved that the IJ need only consider the elements of the offense to determine that the alien is violent or dangerous. Sometimes the IJ may delve into the facts and circumstances of the prior offenses to determine whether the alien is violent or dangerous. The IJ need only make an appropriate determination under the circumstances as to whether the alien is violent or dangerous.
In this case, the IJ adequately considered the nature of Makir-Marwil‘s crimes. For example, the IJ noted that Makir-Marwil (1) had to waive not one but four serious criminal convictions, (2) showed an exploitative nature by preying on an elderly lady who was a particularly vulnerable victim, and (3) burglarized a residential dwelling, a crime that creates a “heightened risk of violence.” The IJ and the BIA committed no error in determining that Makir-Marwil is a violent or dangerous individual subject to Jean‘s heightened, “extraordinary circumstances” standard for determining whether to grant a discretionary
B. Refusal to Consider Hardship in Denying Waiver of Inadmissibility
Makir-Marwil next argues that the IJ and the BIA erred by failing to consider evidence of the country conditions in Sudan and the hardship Makir-Marwil individually would suffer upon removal to Sudan. We agree.
As Makir-Marwil notes, an alien must raise all defenses to removal and grounds for relief from removal in a single proceeding. See
Marwil
Although the deferral of removal under CAT resolves the torture issue, the Attorney General may grant a waiver of inadmissibility for reasons other than the possibility of torture, including “for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest.”
Both before the BIA and before this Court, Makir-Marwil asserted grounds beyond just torture in an effort to establish “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to justify waiving his inadmissibility. Before the BIA, Makir-Marwil argued that he had shown that requisite hardship based on both the likelihood that he would be tortured and “the horrific country conditions in Sudan.” Before this Court, Makir-Marwil also argues that he established the requisite hardship based on “the abysmal conditions in Sudan, the fact that he has spent many of his formative years in the United States, and his lack of a support structure or means of surviving in Sudan.” Yet the IJ and the BIA denied Makir-Marwil‘s application for a waiver of inadmissibility based solely on the fact that he would not be removed to Sudan until the possibility of torture had subsided.
By failing to consider any of the other facts and circumstances short of torture in Makir-Marwil‘s case, the IJ and the BIA erred as a matter of law. Accordingly, we grant Makir-Marwil‘s petition in part and remand to the BIA with instructions to remand to the IJ to consider in the first instance the argument that the country conditions in Sudan and the other circumstances shown by Makir-Marwil, in the complete record at the time of the hearing in this case, establish “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” and then whether Makir-Marwil‘s case warrants a discretionary waiver of his inadmissibility.
PETITION GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART; REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
JIAN LE LIN, Petitioner, v. U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent.
No. 11-12506.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
May 23, 2012.