Respondents Return in Response to Order to Show Cause
Respondents Return in Response to Order to Show Cause
Respondents Return in Response to Order to Show Cause
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Case5:13-cv-00512-EJD Document12 Filed02/15/13 Page2 of 10123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282manda<strong>to</strong>ry detention under INA §236(c)(1)(A) (codified at 8 U.S.C. §1226(c)) for be<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>admissible as an alien who has been convicted of a crime <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g moral turpitude. She hasnow been <strong>in</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>dy approximately 16 months. Petitioner asks this Court <strong>to</strong> order herimmediate release or “order a constitutionally adequate hear<strong>in</strong>g before an Immigration Judge.”Though there are many issues relat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> Mejia’s immigration status, the only issue before thisCourt is whether her current detention is lawful.Federal immigration statutes classify non-citizens <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> different groups. Theseclassifications matter. An alien’s classification makes “all the difference” <strong>in</strong> terms of whether,when, under what standard, and <strong>in</strong> what forum an alien may challenge his detention. Zadvydas v.Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 693 (2001). “Where an alien falls with<strong>in</strong> this statu<strong>to</strong>ry scheme can affectwhether his detention is manda<strong>to</strong>ry or discretionary, as well as the k<strong>in</strong>d of review processavailable <strong>to</strong> him if he wishes <strong>to</strong> contest the necessity of his detention.” Prie<strong>to</strong>-Romero v. Clark,534 F.3d 1053, 1057-58 (9th Cir. 2008).Petitioner <strong>in</strong> this case is an alien, who has never received lawful permanent resident3status, who has been convicted of a crime <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g moral turpitude and is thus <strong>in</strong>admissible.Under such circumstances, the law requires that she be taken <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>dy. See 8 U.S.C. §1226(c) (“The At<strong>to</strong>rney General shall take <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>dy” such aliens.).The Petition was filed on February 6, 2013. On the same date, this Court issued an <strong>Order</strong><strong>to</strong> <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Cause</strong> requir<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Respondents</strong> <strong>to</strong> file a return with<strong>in</strong> three days of the service of theorder, and requir<strong>in</strong>g Petitioner <strong>to</strong> file a reply or traverse with<strong>in</strong> three days thereafter. OnFebruary 7, 2013, the parties submitted a stipulation request<strong>in</strong>g modifications <strong>to</strong> that schedule.The Court agreed and issued an order giv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Respondents</strong> until February 15, 2003 <strong>to</strong> file theirreturn, and giv<strong>in</strong>g Petitioner until February 22, 2013 <strong>to</strong> file a reply or traverse.2<strong>Respondents</strong> will use the United States Code citations <strong>to</strong> the INA. Unless otherwisenoted, statu<strong>to</strong>ry references here<strong>in</strong> will be <strong>to</strong> Title 8 of the United States Code.3Petitioner does not seem <strong>to</strong> contest that her multiple crim<strong>in</strong>al convictions place her <strong>in</strong>the category of aliens described <strong>in</strong> §1226(c)(1)(A). Instead, she challenges the validity andconstitutionality of the manda<strong>to</strong>ry detention process, whether the At<strong>to</strong>rney General <strong>to</strong>ok her <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong>cus<strong>to</strong>dy at the time allowed under the statute, and whether she should be excused from theprovision of § 1226(c) because, ultimately, she might not be removed.RESPONDENTS’ RETURN IN RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AND PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUSCase No. C 13-0512 EJD 2