Campbell v. Barr

387 F. Supp. 3d 286
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedMay 14, 2019
Docket19-CV-341
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 387 F. Supp. 3d 286 (Campbell v. Barr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campbell v. Barr, 387 F. Supp. 3d 286 (W.D.N.Y. 2019).

Opinion

LAWRENCE J. VILARDO, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

For more than three years-since April 22, 2016-the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") has detained the pro se petitioner, Damion A. Campbell,1 during his removal proceedings. Docket Item 4 at 15. In those three years, the government has never given Campbell an individualized hearing to adjudicate the reasons for his detention: his risk of flight or dangerousness. Id.

What is more, Campbell may be a United States Citizen. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has determined that there is "a genuine dispute of material fact" regarding Campbell's United States citizenship, "requiring resolution by the District Court." Campbell v. Sessions , 737 F. App'x 599, 602 (2d Cir. 2018) (summary order).

Campbell now petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and seeks release from detention.

*291This Court conditionally grants his petition. For the following reasons, this Court concludes that, given its length, Campbell's ongoing detention without an individualized hearing addressing the reasons for his detention violates his right to due process. Therefore, the government may not continue to detain Campbell unless a neutral decision maker determines by clear and convincing evidence that his detention necessarily serves a legitimate and compelling regulatory purpose.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The following facts, taken from the record, come largely from filings with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Other facts, provided by Campbell, are undisputed.

IMMIGRATION HISTORY, TIES TO THE UNITED STATES, AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Campbell is a 35-year-old man who was born in Jamaica. Docket Item 5-2 at 22. On May 20, 1999, when he was only fifteen years old, Campbell legally entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Docket Item 5-1 at 3.

Campbell has strong family ties to the United States. His fiancé lives in the United States. Docket Item 6 at 23. His father, mother, sister, and two brothers are all United States citizens. Docket Item 6 at 1. He has a twelve-year-old daughter who is a United States citizen. Id. According to the mother of Campbell's fiancé, his fiancé is "struggling as a single parent with three young girls" while the government detains Campbell. Docket Item 6 at 25. And Campbell's own elementary-school-aged daughter observes that although her mother "does her best to make sure [that she] and [her] sisters are well taken care of, it would be easier if [Campbell] was around." Docket Item 6 at 21.

In 2004 and again in 2006, Campbell was convicted of violations of New York State law for possessing marijuana. Docket Item 5-1 at 3. Then, in 2010, Campbell pleaded guilty to three New York state criminal charges: second degree assault, first degree burglary, and second degree criminal possession of a weapon. Id. All three charges stem from one criminal incident, which occurred on June 18, 2009. Docket Item 5-2 at 37-45. On the assault charge, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of five years and a term of post-release parole supervision of two years and six months; on the burglary charge, a term of imprisonment of eight years and a term of post-release parole supervision of five years; and on the weapons charge, a term of imprisonment of eight years and a term of post-release parole supervision of five years. Docket Item 5-1 at 3. Presumably, the sentences were to run concurrently. See id. On April 22, 2016, Campbell was released from New York State custody. Docket Item 5-1 at 6.

REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS

On April 20, 2016, two days before his scheduled release, the Department of Homeland Security determined that Campbell "was amendable [sic] to removal from the United States." Docket Item 5-1 at 4. The following day, the agency "commenced removal proceedings against [Campbell] by serving him with a Notice to Appear, which charged him with removability from the United States." Id.

On June 24, 2016, Campbell moved to terminate his removal proceedings, claiming that he acquired derivative United States citizenship as the child of a United States citizen. Id. at 6. On July 14, 2016, Immigration Judge Steven J. Connelly summarily denied Campbell's motion and ordered him removed to Jamaica. Docket Item 5-2 at 49. Campbell appealed the *292decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA"). Id. at 22. On November 30, 2016, the BIA affirmed the immigration judge's order of removal and dismissed Campbell's appeal. Id. at 24.

On January 5, 2017, Campbell sought review of the BIA's decision by the Second Circuit, Docket Item 5-1 at 8; see Campbell v. Barr , No. 17-26 (2d Cir.), and on January 24, 2017, Campbell moved to stay his removal. Docket Item 5-2 at 78. On August 8, 2017, the Second Circuit initially denied Campbell's motion, id. , but Campbell moved for reconsideration and on November 21, 2017, the court stayed his removal pending adjudication of his petition for review, id. at 79. On September 21, 2018, the Second Circuit found that although Campbell argued "that he derived U.S. citizenship as a result of his being [a citizen's] biological son ... the evidence of his relation with [that citizen] is disputed and therefore should be resolved by the District Court." Campbell , 737 F.

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Bluebook (online)
387 F. Supp. 3d 286, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campbell-v-barr-nywd-2019.