Darko v. Sessions

342 F. Supp. 3d 429
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedOctober 19, 2018
Docket18 Civ. 5675 (ER)
StatusPublished
Cited by45 cases

This text of 342 F. Supp. 3d 429 (Darko v. Sessions) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Darko v. Sessions, 342 F. Supp. 3d 429 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

Opinion

Ramos, D.J.:

Eunice Darko, a citizen of Ghana, was detained pending potential removal pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1226(a). She was detained following an individualized bond hearing at which she bore the burden of proving that she was not a flight risk or a danger to the community. The bond hearing was presided over by an Immigration Judge ("IJ"), whose decision was affirmed by the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA"). Ms. Darko, who has no criminal convictions, has now been detained from March 18, 2018, to the present day. She brings the instant Petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging the constitutionality of her detention, and specifically, the requirement that she bear the burden of establishing her right to be released on bond. The question thus presented is whether the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment required that the Government bear the burden of justifying her detention. Joining with a *431growing body of persuasive authority, the Court concludes that the Due Process Clause required that the Government bear the burden of proving that Ms. Darko's detention was justified, and that it was required to meet its burden by clear and convincing evidence. Accordingly, Ms. Darko's Petition is GRANTED.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Ms. Darko is a 43-year old citizen of Ghana. Doc. No. 1 ("Pet'n") ¶ 20. She entered the United States on June 11, 2011, on a nonimmigrant visa and overstayed the visa, remaining in the country ever since. Id. On September 23, 2015, she married Peter Amoako, a naturalized U.S. citizen who also was from Ghana. Id. ¶¶ 20, 21. The two lived in the Bronx along with Mr. Amoako's three teenaged children from a previous marriage. Id. ¶ 20. On December 20, 2017, Mr. Amoako filed a Petition for Alien Relative for Ms. Darko with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS"), in order to adjust her status as a lawful permanent resident. Pet'n Ex. F, at 59.

On January 22, 2018, Ms. Darko was arrested on misdemeanor charges of "excessive corporal punishment" of her three stepchildren, and was released on her own recognizance. Pet'n ¶ 22. The charges were subsequently dismissed on April 23, 2018 due to "a lack of corroboration and cooperation" from the stepchildren, and the matter was sealed. Id. However, on February 8, 2018, the New York Administration of Children's Services commenced an action against Ms. Darko in Family Court on the basis of neglect arising from the same incidents of excessive corporal punishment. Id. ¶ 24.

Meanwhile, on January 30, 2018, Ms. Darko was mailed a Department of Homeland Security form G-56, entitled "Call-in-Letter," requesting that she appear at their offices in New York City on March 8, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., in connection with an "official matter." Id. ¶ 25. When she arrived at the appointed time and place, she was detained. Id. ¶ 26. At that time, she was first given a Notice to Appear advising her that removal proceedings had been commenced against her pursuant to § 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Id. Ex. B.

Ms. Darko had her first Master Calendar Hearing and Custody Redetermination Hearing on May 10, 2018, two months after her initial detention. Pet'n ¶ 27. At that time, after hearing from the parties and reviewing 67 pages of evidence, the IJ adjourned the bond proceeding for two weeks, until May 24, 2018, in order to receive and review additional information concerning the open Family Court matter. Id. ¶¶ 28-29.

Prior to the adjourn date, on May 18, 2018, Ms. Darko settled the Family Court matter by agreeing to a finding of neglect by excessive corporal punishment by hitting the children on the hands with a belt on one occasion, and by telling the two older children to hit the younger one on the hands with a belt on another occasion. Id. ¶ 30. The Family Court also modified a previously entered order of protection so as to allow Ms. Darko to return home to live with the family on certain conditions. Id.

Ms. Darko submitted an additional 35 pages of evidence in connection with the second bond hearing, which took place on May 24, 2018. Id. ¶ 31. The IJ ultimately denied the bond, finding that Ms. Darko had not "met her burden of proof." Return to Habeas Petition ("Return"), Doc. 8 Ex. 2, transcript of bond hearing at 11. The IJ noted that she had read Ms. Darko's documentation "very closely," but that the allegations against her by the stepchildren were "incredibly disturbing," and "too serious."

*432Id. On June 15, 2018, the IJ issued a Memorandum Decision further explaining her reasons for denying the bond. Pet'n Ex. K.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
342 F. Supp. 3d 429, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/darko-v-sessions-ilsd-2018.