Del Toro-Chacon v. Chertoff

431 F. Supp. 2d 1135 (2006)

Maria DEL TORO-CHACON, Petitioner,
v.
Michael CHERTOFF, et al., Respondents.

No. C05-1861RSL-MJB.

United States District Court, W.D. Washington, at Seattle.

May 8, 2006.

Robert H. Gibbs, Gibbs Houston Pauw, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Brian C. Kipnis, U.S. Attorney's Office, Seattle, WA, for Respondents.

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

LASNIK, District Judge.

The Court, having reviewed the habeas corpus petition, the motion for preliminary injunction, the Report and Recommendation of the Honorable Monica J. Benton, United States Magistrate Judge, and any objections or responses thereto, and the remaining record, finds and Orders as follows:

(1) The Court adopts the Report and Recommendation;

(2) The motion for preliminary injunction (Dkt.# 2) is GRANTED;

(3) This matter is REMANDED to the Seattle Immigration Court for the purpose of providing petitioner with an individualized bond hearing within 10 days of the date of this Order. The Immigration Judge is to determine whether and under what conditions petitioner may be released from custody pending petitioner's Petition for Review in the Ninth Circuit;

(4) If bond is set by the Immigration Judge, respondents shall promptly release petitioner upon tender of the bond amount;

(5) Having hereby granted the alternative relief sought by petitioner in her Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, the Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in this matter.

(6) The Clerk shall send a copy of this Order to all counsel or record and to the Honorable Monica J. Benton.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

BENTON, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Petitioner Maria Del Toro-Chacon is a native and citizen of Mexico who is currently in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and. Customs Enforcement ("ICE"). On November 9, 2005, she filed, through counsel, a habeas corpus petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, and a motion for temporary restraining order ("TRO"), challenging her continued detention. (Dkt. # 1 and # 2). Petitioner requests that this Court issued an order granting her release from custody, or, in the alternative, directing a bond hearing before a neutral adjudicator. (Dkt.# 2). Respondents oppose petitioner's motion, arguing that the Court lacks jurisdiction to review the discretionary decision by ICE to detain petitioner pending her petition for review with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Respondents further argue that petitioner has failed to establish any constitutional or statutory infirmity in ICE's decision to detain her. (Dkt.# 9).

Having reviewed the entire record, I recommend that the Court GRANT petitioner's motion for preliminary injunction. (Dkt.# 2).

II. BACKGROUND

Petitioner Maria Del Toro-Chacon is a native and citizen of Mexico. (Dkt. # 1 at 3). In 1992, she illegally entered the United States without inspection. Petitioner states that she fled to the United States because of concern for her family's safety as a result of a vendetta against her family by another family. (Dkt. # 1 at 3). Petitioner is a single mother of two school-aged children.

On August 9, 1992, King County Police Officer Christopher Badker stopped an automobile operating without a rear license plate light. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 1). Upon, approaching the vehicle, Officer Badker observed that "the left rear quarter window was broken out, the steering column cover was broken off, and a bag similar to a rifle bag was lying on the rear seat." Officer Badker also learned that the vehicle was reported stolen. The occupants of the vehicle, including petitioner, were removed from the vehicle and subjected to a "patdown," due to the stolen vehicle report and observation of a rifle bag. During the search, Officer Badker discovered a golfball size bag containing white powder and a scale covered with a white powder residue. A subsequent search of petitioner's "fanny pack" resulted in Officer Badker discovering two additional bags containing a hard black tar substance, later found to contain heroin. Id. On August 15, 1997, petitioner was convicted in the Superior Court of Washington for King County of attempted possession of heroin, and was sentenced to five days in prison.^[1] (Dkt.# 11, Ex. 3).

On September 6, 2000, petitioner was arrested at her place of residence during "Operation Conquistador," a major operation involving agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), the former Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS"), and the Seattle Police Department, targeting an international heroin trafficking organization. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 3). Petitioner was not a target of the investigation but was turned over to immigration officials due to her unlawful status in the United States. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 3). Petitioner cooperated with agents by providing information on her brother's residence, leading to his arrest and conviction. (Dkt. # 2 at 3). Petitioner was subsequently permitted to voluntarily depart the United States in lieu of being placed in removal proceedings. Id.

On July 30, 2001, petitioner was encountered by immigration officials after she voluntarily departed the United States and illegally reentered on September 26, 2000. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 4). Petitioner was served with a Notice to Appear, charging her with removability under INA § 212(a)(6)(A)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(A)(i), because she was an alien present in the United States without being admitted or paroled. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 6). Petitioner admitted the allegations contained in the Notice to Appear and conceded removability. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 7). As relief from removal, however, petitioner applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 8). Petitioner sought relief based on the following:

My sister Blanca's son's father, Guadelupe Castrejon-Mendoza, killed another man in Mexico in 1989. He then ran away and abandoned my sister and her son. She stayed three days with our parents, and then we all left and went to live with our uncle in another city because we were afraid of the parents of the dead man, that they would retaliate against Blanca and her son for what her son's father did. We lived with our uncle for about two years. Then someone told our father to tell Blanca to be really careful because the people started to say that they were going to take revenge, and they wanted to kill her son, because they wanted Blanca to feel the same way they felt in losing their son. Other neighbors of our parents said the same thing, that they heard that. We were so afraid of what would happen that we ran away to the United States. They still say that they are going to seek revenge, even up to now, and that's why we never go back to Mexico to visit our parents, because we are so afraid. I am afraid for myself and my son, because I look like my sister and our sons look alike, too. Even the INS officer who arrested us got us mixed up.

(Dkt. # 9, Ex. 8 at 5).

On January 16, 2002, the Immigration Judge ("IJ") denied her applications for asylum, withholding from removal, and protection under the CAT, but granted her voluntary departure until March 16, 2002, on the posting of a $500 voluntary departure bond. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 7).

Petitioner appealed the IJ's decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA"). On October 1, 2002, the BIA affirmed the IJ's decision without opinion. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 9). On October 29, 2002, petitioner timely filed, pro se, a petition for review and motion for stay in the Ninth Circuit. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 10). On April 16, 2003, the Ninth Circuit granted petitioner's motion for a stay of removal pending the adjudication of her petition for review. On October 31, 2003, attorney Kaaren Barr filed a notice of appearance, and the Ninth Circuit set a briefing schedule, which was later extended to January 26, 2004. On March 10, 2004, the Ninth Circuit dismissed petitioner's appeal because her attorney had failed to file an opening brief. Petitioner's attorney did not notify petitioner that she had failed to file an opening brief or that her appeal had been dismissed.

On October 18, 2005, ICE officers arrested petitioner at her place of employment. On October 20, 2005, following her apprehension by ICE, petitioner filed an emergency motion to reinstate her petition for review with the Ninth Circuit, and requested a stay of removal. The same day, the Ninth Circuit granted petitioner's motion for stay of removal and reinstated her petition for review. (Dkt.# 1, Ex. 1). Petitioner's appeal remains pending with the Ninth Circuit.

On October 26, 2005, petitioner submitted a written request to ICE Field Office Director A. Neil Clark that she be released from custody on her own recognizance. (Dkt.# 9, Ex. 11). On November 3, 2005, Mr. Clark denied petitioner's request for release, taking the position that petitioner is a flight risk and a danger to the community. Mr. Clark stated that,

Ms. Del Toro's habitual disregard for the law and the history of subterfuge provides no assurance that she will comply with the conditions of release and she poses a significant flight risk. Moreover, her criminal record relating to Heroin trafficking clearly evidences her danger to the community. For these reasons, Ms. Del Toro will not be released.

(Dkt.# 9, Ex. 12).

On November 9, 2005, petitioner submitted the instant habeas petition and motion for TRO. (Dkt. # 1 and # 2). The Court determined that petitioner had not demonstrated, as required by Rule 65(b), that she would suffer immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage before respondents could be heard in opposition. Accordingly, the Court construed petitioner's motion as a preliminary injunction, rather than as one for TRO, and directed respondents to file a response. (Dkt.# 3).

III. DISCUSSION

A. Preliminary Injunction Standard.

The basic function of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo ante litem pending a determination of the action on the merits. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Comm'n v. National Football League, 634 F.2d 1197, 1200 (9th Cir.1980). In determining whether to grant a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, the Ninth Circuit considers: (1) the likelihood of success on the merits; (2) the possibility of irreparable injury to a plaintiff if an injunction is not granted; (3) the extent to which the balance of hardships favor plaintiff; and (4) whether the public interest will be advanced by the injunction. See, e.g., Los Angeles Mem'l Coliseum Comm'n, 634 F.2d at 1200. The analysis is often compressed into a single continuum where the required showing of merit varies inversely with the showing of irreparable harm. See Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. v. PPR Realty, Inc., 204 F.3d 867, 874 (9th Cir.2000). The moving party may meet its burden by demonstrating either: (1) a probability of success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury; or (2) that serious legal questions are raised and the balance of hardship tips sharply in petitioner's favor. Los Angeles Mem'l Coliseum Comm'n, 634 F.2d at 1201.

Respondents argue that petitioner seeks not to preserve the status quo — her present detention — but to change it, by compelling ICE to release her from custody notwithstanding its determination that she should remain in custody. (Dkt. # 9 at 7). Respondents argue that petitioner actually seeks a mandatory preliminary injunction that goes well beyond maintaining the status quo pendente lite, and thus the court should be extremely cautious about issuing a preliminary injunction and should not grant relief unless the facts and the law clearly favor the petitioner. Committee of Central American Refugees v. Immigration and Naturalization Serv., 795 F.2d 1434, 1441 (9th Cir.1986).

Petitioner's order of removal became administratively final on October 1, 2002, by virtue of the BIA's summary affirmance of the IJ's January 16, 2002 decision. Although she initially sought review of the BIA's decision by the Ninth Circuit, her appeal was dismissed on March 10, 2004. On October 18, 2005, ICE arrested petitioner pursuant to a final order of removal, and on November 3, 2005, ICE denied petitioner's request for release from detention. On November 9, 2005, petitioner filed the instant action seeking an injunction to compel ICE to release her from detention, or, in the alternative, to compel an IJ to hold an individualized bond hearing. Accordingly, an injunction would not maintain the status quo. Instead, it would command respondents to take affirmative action. The Court therefore concludes that petitioner seeks a mandatory injunction, and her request is subject to a higher degree of scrutiny because such relief is "particularly disfavored." Stanley v. Univ. of S. Cal., 13 F.3d 1313, 1320 (9th Cir.1994)(citing Anderson v. United States, 612 F.2d 1112, 1114 (9th Cir.1979)).

B. Subject Matter Jurisdiction.

As a preliminary matter, the parties dispute the statutory provision under which petitioner is held. Respondents argue that petitioner wrongly assumes that the basis for her detention is INA § 236, 8 U.S.C. § 1226, which governs "pre-removal" detention. Respondents assert that INA § 241, 8 U.S.C. § 1231, which governs "post-order" detention, is applicable because petitioner allowed her Ninth Circuit appeal to lapse, leading to dismissal on March 10, 2004. According to respondents, the "removal period" had begun despite the reinstatement of her petition for review and stay of removal by the Ninth, Circuit, and therefore, petitioner's custody is under the authority of INA § 241. Petitioner contends that because she appealed the BIA's decision to the Ninth Circuit, and because the Ninth Circuit issued a stay of her removal, her detention is governed by INA § 236.

INA § 241(a)(1)(B) provides that:

The removal period begins on the latest of the following:

(i) The date the order of removal becomes administratively final.

(ii) If the removal order is judicially reviewed and if a court orders a stay of the removal of the alien, the date of the court's final order.

(iii) If the alien is detained or confined (except under an immigration process), the date the alien is released from detention or confinement.

8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1)(B)(emphasis added).

This Court has previously held that an alien is not subject to INA § 241 until the removal period begins. Quezada-Bucio v. Ridge, 317 F. Supp. 2d 1221, 1224 (W.D.Wash.2004). This Court recognized "that courts have issued published decisions that reach different conclusions regarding whether detention shifts from INA § 236 to INA § 241 when the order of removal becomes ``final' or rather when the ``removal period begins.'" Id. at 1223 (citing De La Teja v. United States, 321 F.3d 1357, 1362-63 (11th Cir.2003); Clavis v. Ashcroft, 281 F. Supp. 2d 490, 493 (E.D.N.Y.2003); Milbin v. Ashcroft, 293 F. Supp. 2d 158, 161 (D.Conn.2003)). This Court concluded that the removal period begins on the latest of the following: the "date the order of removal becomes administratively final" or "[i]f the removal order is judicially reviewed and if a court orders a stay of the removal of the alien, the date of the court's final order." INA § 241(a)(1)(B). Accordingly, where an alien's removal order has been stayed by the Ninth Circuit pending its review of the BIA's decision, the "removal period" has not yet commenced, and the alien is detained pursuant to INA § 236. Id. at 1224.

Respondents point out and petitioner acknowledges, however, that unlike Quezada-Bucio, the Ninth Circuit's initial stay of removal ended as a result of the dismissal of petitioner's appeal, and the stay of removal was reinstated when petitioner's appeal was reinstated. Respondents argue that the removal period had begun but was suspended pursuant to INA § 241(a)(1)(C). INA § 241(a)(1)(C) provides that:

The removal period shall be extended beyond a period of 90 days and the alien may remain in detention during such extended period if the alien fails or refuses to make timely application in good faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien's departure or conspires or acts to prevent the alien's removal subject to an order of removal.

8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1)(C). According to respondents, petitioner's detention is controlled by § 241, not § 236.

Owing to deficiencies in the text of the statute, petitioner does not fall squarely into either INA § 236 or INA § 241. In any event, the Court need not reach the merits of whether petitioner is detained under § 236 or § 241 because the Court retains habeas jurisdiction under either provision to review challenges to detention arising from statutory or constitutional violations. (Dkt. # 9 at 14); see Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 688, 121 S. Ct. 2491, 150 L. Ed. 2d 653 (2001)(holding that habeas proceedings remain available as a forum for statutory and constitutional challenges to post-removal period detention); Quezada-Bucio, 317 F.Supp.2d at 1227 (holding that INA § 236 does not bar habeas review of statutory or constitutional challenges to detention)(citing Demore v. Kim, 538 U.S. 510, 123 S. Ct. 1708, 155 L. Ed. 2d 724 (2003)). Respondents argue that this Court lacks jurisdiction because the discretionary decision to detain petitioner without bond is not subject to judicial review under INA § 242(a)(2)(B)(ii), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii).^[2] However, petitioner does not seek review of the Attorney General's exercise of discretion, but raises a constitutional challenge to her continued detention by the Attorney General without a bail hearing. See id. Accordingly, the Court retains jurisdiction to review petitioner's constitutional claim that she is entitled as a matter of due process to a bond hearing by a neutral adjudicator.

C. Procedural Due Process.

Petitioner argues that she is entitled as a matter of due process to a bond hearing before a neutral adjudicator, such as this Court or an Immigration Judge. In this case, petitioner has not had a bond hearing before a neutral adjudicator. Rather, the ICE Field Office Director, at petitioner's request, issued a written determination denying petitioner's request for release. Petitioner argues that the facts in this case demonstrate the need for a neutral adjudicator, rather than the official whose duty it is to remove petitioner from the United States.

The Court agrees that petitioner's due process rights have been violated by ICE's failure to provide her with an individualized bond hearing. See Morisath v. Smith, 988 F. Supp. 1333, 1340 (W.D.Wash.1997)(citing St. John v. McElroy, 917 F. Supp. 243, 248 (S.D.N.Y.1996); Caballero v. Caplinger, 914 F.Supp, 1374, 1378 (E.D.La.1996); Kellman v. District Director, 750 F. Supp. 625 (S.D.N.Y.1990); Paxton v. INS, 745 F. Supp. 1261, 1265 (E.D.Mich.1990); Agunobi v. Thornburgh, 745 F. Supp. 533 (N.D.Ill.1990); Leader v. Blackman, 744 F. Supp. 500 (S.D.N.Y. 1990)); see also Morales-Izquierdo v. Johnston, Case No. C03-89Z (W.D.Wash); Felix v. Ashcroft, Case No. 02-2330L (W.D.Wash). Furthermore, it is not enough that the ICE Field Office Director has provided a written decision denying petitioner's release on bond. In Morisath, the Court determined that a "written decision [by the District Director] ... is inadequate to satisfy due process." Morisath, 988 F.Supp. at 1340. As the Court explained in St. John, "due process requires ... consideration of whether [petitioner], viewed as an individual, presents a risk to abscond and a threat to the community's safety." St. John, 917 F.Supp. at 248. Accordingly, the Court finds that to satisfy the requirements of due process, petitioner is entitled to an individualized bond hearing before a neutral adjudicator, not just a written decision rendered by the ICE Field Office Director, at which she can attempt to show that she does not pose a flight risk or a danger to the community.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, I find that petitioner's case raises serious legal questions and the balance of hardship tips sharply in petitioner's favor. Los Angeles Mem'l Coliseum Comm'n, 634 F.2d at 1201. Accordingly, I recommend that petitioner's motion for preliminary injunction (Dkt.# 2) be GRANTED. A proposed Order accompanies this Report and Recommendation.

March 3, 2006.

NOTES

[1] On November 18, 2005, petitioner obtained an expungement of her 1997 conviction by the Superior Court of Washington for King County. (Dkt.# 11, Ex. 1).

[2] "Notwithstanding any other provision of law (statutory or nonstatutory), including section 2241 of Title 28, or any other habeas corpus provision, and sections 1361 and 1651 of such title, and except as provided in subparagraph (D), and regardless of whether the judgment, decision, or action is made in removal proceedings, no court shall have jurisdiction to review —... (ii) any other decision or action of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority for which is specified under this subsection to be in the discretion of the Attorney General or the Department of Homeland Security ..." INA § 242(a)(2)(B)(ii), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii).