quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
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Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Quick Reference Chart <strong>and</strong> Notes<br />
February 2010<br />
§ N.3 The Categorical Approach,<br />
including Divisible Statutes <strong>and</strong> the Record of Conviction<br />
(For more in<strong>for</strong>mation, see Defending Immigrants in the Ninth Circuit, Chapter 2, § 2.11,<br />
www.ilrc.org/criminal.php)<br />
A. Overview: The Categorical <strong>and</strong> Modified Categorical Analysis<br />
B. When Does the Categorical Approach Not Apply to a Conviction? Moral Turpitude <strong>and</strong><br />
“Circumstance Specific” Offenses<br />
C. For a Divisible Statute, What Documents Can the Immigration Judge Consult to Determine the<br />
Elements of the Offense of Conviction?<br />
D. Charging Papers, Plea Agreements, Minute Orders <strong>and</strong> Abstracts of Judgment<br />
E. Factual Basis <strong>for</strong> the Plea<br />
A comprehensive discussion of the “categorical analysis” appears at Chapter 2, § 2.11,<br />
Defending Immigrants in the Ninth Circuit (www.ilrc.org). The discussion here will focus on<br />
one issue: how criminal defense counsel can construct a record of conviction under a divisible<br />
statute so as to avoid harm a noncitizen defendant’s <strong>immigration</strong> status.<br />
Part A is an overview of how the categorical <strong>and</strong> modified categorical analysis work <strong>and</strong><br />
what a divisible statute is. Part B discusses the two <strong>immigration</strong> categories to which the<br />
categorical approach will not to apply to characterize an offense of conviction. Parts C – E<br />
discuss strategies <strong>for</strong> how to manage documents in the record of conviction<br />
A. Overview: The Categorical <strong>and</strong> Modified Categorical Analysis<br />
An <strong>immigration</strong> judge in most cases will use the “categorical approach” to analyze the<br />
elements of an offense that was the subject of a prior conviction, in order to determine whether<br />
the conviction triggers a penalty, e.g. is an aggravated felony, deportable firearms offense, or<br />
crime involving moral turpitude. 53 While this discussion focuses on the use of this approach in<br />
<strong>immigration</strong> proceedings, the same approach <strong>and</strong> case law are used throughout federal criminal<br />
proceedings to evaluate prior convictions as bases <strong>for</strong> sentence enhancements.<br />
1. The Categorical Approach: Concepts <strong>and</strong> Burden of Proof<br />
The categorical analysis employs the following key concepts in evaluating the<br />
<strong>immigration</strong> penalties that attach to a conviction.<br />
‣ The elements of the offense as defined by statute <strong>and</strong> case law, <strong>and</strong> not the actual conduct of<br />
the defendant, is the st<strong>and</strong>ard used to evaluate whether an offense carries <strong>immigration</strong><br />
penalties such as being an aggravated felony, crime involving moral turpitude, etc. It does<br />
53 The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the categorical analysis applies to <strong>immigration</strong> proceedings in the same<br />
manner as it applies to federal criminal proceedings. Nijhawan v. Holder, 129 S.Ct. 2294 (June 15, 2009).<br />
N-36 Immigrant Legal Resource Center