crimmigration.com

The intersection of criminal law and immigration law

Archive

After regularly updating crimmigration.com from January 2009 until November 2022, I have stopped doing so. I hope you continue to benefit from the blog as an archive. For up-to-date information about my work, visit ccgarciahernandez.com. – César

Supreme Court says gap in conviction records hurts migrant

In a split decision issued today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that gaps in conviction records created by state courts should be treated against migrants who are required to show that they haven’t been convicted of certain types of crimes. The decision, Pereida v. Wilkinson, No. 19-438 (March 4, 2021) (previewed here), split the Court along ideological lines, with Justice Gorsuch writing the majority opinion and Justice Breyer leading Justices Sotomayor and Kagan in dissent. Justice Barrett didn’t participate in this case, resulting in a five to three vote. The majority and dissenters [...]

BIA rejects retroactive application of California sentencing change

By Kim Langona In Matter of Velasquez-Rios, issued on October 4, 2018, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or the Board) concluded that federal law, rather than state law, must be used to determine the immigration consequences of a state conviction. 27 I&N Dec. 470, 474 (BIA 2018). Thus, a 2014 California legislative enactment that “retroactively lowered the maximum possible sentence” for a state conviction “from 365 days to 364 days, does not affect the applicability of section 237(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) of [the Immigration and Nationality Act] to a past conviction for a crime involving [...]

With DACA’s demise, renewed focus on Dream Act of 2017

After this week’s announcement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Trump administration has decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, congressional attention quickly turned to possible legislative responses. A growing bipartisan list of members of Congress have indicated their support for the Dream Act of 2017, the latest version of the well-known proposal to provide a legalization route for young people who came to the United States without authorization. Introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) and Linsey Graham (R-South Carolina) in July, [...]

Dream Act of 2017 crime bars

With much fanfare, Senators Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) and Linsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced a revamped version of the Dream Act yesterday. White House officials have already said that the president is unlikely to support it. But with a president who shifts positions constantly, it’s worth taking seriously the prospect that the Dream Act of 2017, S. 1615, moves forward. As with the earlier version of the Dream Act that came a handful of votes away from landing on President Obama’s desk and with DACA, the Dream Act of 2017 would exclude people who have encountered the criminal [...]

Fear-mongering and immigration policymaking

By Emily Torstveit Ngara In announcing his run for President of the United States, Donald Trump brought anti-immigrant rhetoric back into the national spotlight by proclaiming that “[w]hen Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best...They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” Trump’s vitriol is nothing new. Throughout the history of U.S. immigration, the same themes recur in cycles. One prominent theme is “immigrants are immoral, dangerous criminals.” This rhetoric does more than promote a hostile environment [...]

Silva-Trevino is dead

Without fanfare and with only the stroke of a pen, Attorney General Eric Holder made an enormous contribution to the rule of law last Friday when he vacated Matter of Silva-Trevino, 24 I&N Dec. 687 (A.G. 2008), a much criticized decision by Attorney General Michael Mukasey about the proper means of analyzing the crimes involving moral turpitude basis of inadmissibility. Matter of Silva-Trevino, A013-014-303 (A.G. April 10, 2015) (read the informal order as originally distributed here; read the formal decision here). Building off multiple Supreme Court decisions and even longer federal [...]

BIA Broadens Mental State Analysis for Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude

By Alex Sheppard In January, the Board of Immigration Appeals found the offense of “deadly conduct” in violation of section 22.05(a) of the Texas Penal Code to be categorically a crime involving moral turpitude. Matter of Hernandez, 26 I&N Dec. 464 (BIA 2015). Under § 22.05(a), the BIA in Matter of Hernandez found a mens rea requirement of recklessness coupled with an actus reus of no actual physical harm to categorically constitute a CIMT. Id. at 467. Hernandez is a native and citizen of Mexico who entered the United States at an unknown date and place. On June 11, 2002, he was [...]

5th Circuit addresses good moral character requirement for non-LPR cancellation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently clarified two related requirements for obtaining Cancellation of Removal for non-Lawful Permanent Residents. Rodriguez-Avalos v. Holder, No. 13-60736, slip op. (5th Cir. March 4, 2015). Specifically, the court concluded that the good moral character requirement doesn’t involve an analysis of moral turpitude and that the applicant must have established GMC during the ten years immediately preceding the immigration judge or Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision. This case involved a migrant who entered without inspection and was later [...]