Habtegaber v. Jenifer

213 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13803, 2002 WL 1751207
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedJuly 26, 2002
DocketCIV. 02-40072
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 213 F. Supp. 2d 792 (Habtegaber v. Jenifer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Habtegaber v. Jenifer, 213 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13803, 2002 WL 1751207 (E.D. Mich. 2002).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

GADOLA, District Judge.

Before the Court is Petitioner Benyam Habtegaber’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief [docket entry 1]. Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1(e)(2), the Court has determined that a hearing would not aid significantly in the disposition of the peti *794 tion. For the reasons set forth below, the Court shall conditionally grant the petition.

I. BACKGROUND

Petitioner, a citizen of Ethiopia, entered the United States on November 30, 1990 as a refugee. On August 26, 1992, Petitioner’s status was adjusted to that of a lawful permanent resident. On April 22, 1997, following a conviction for “unlawful issuance of bank checks or drafts,” Petitioner was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 359 days suspended in the King County District Court, Seattle, Washington. On December 10, 1998, Petitioner was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 24 months probation in 56th Circuit Court, Charlotte, Michigan, following a conviction for “no account check.” On December 21, 1998, Petitioner was sentenced in the 54-B District Court, East Lansing, Michigan to 29 days in jail and 24 months probation following convictions on two counts of “check non-sufficient funds over $50 but less than $200.”

Petitioner filed for naturalization on November 21, 1997, but withdrew his naturalization application on August 11, 2000. On January 28, 2002, the INS took Petitioner into custody, and charged him with being removable from the United States because of his prior convictions pursuant to two separate provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a) (2) (A) (iii) (alien convicted of an aggravated felony), and 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(ii) (alien convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude).

Petitioner requested a custody determination, and on February 19, 2002, an immigration judge found, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(c), that detention was mandatory until the conclusion of Petitioner’s removal proceedings. Petitioner did not appeal the immigration judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”). Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in this Court under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging the constitutionality of § 1226(c). Petitioner seeks a declaration that § 1226(c) is unconstitutional because it violates his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment, and a writ of habeas corpus granting him either immediate release from detention, or an immediate, individualized bond hearing before an impartial adjudicator.

II. DISCUSSION

A. JURISDICTION

Although Respondent does not challenge the Court’s jurisdiction in this matter, the Court must conduct its own, independent review to determine if it has jurisdiction. Mt. Healthy City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 278, 97 S.Ct. 568, 50 L.Ed.2d 471 (1977). A writ of habeas corpus may be issued when a prisoner is “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). An alien in federal custody pending removal may challenge the constitutionality of his confinement pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Marogi v. Jenifer, 126 F.Supp.2d 1056, 1058-59 (E.D.Mich.2000). Nevertheless, the Court examines two provisions of the INA that limit judicial review of certain actions taken by the Attorney General during the removal process. See id.

The first provision, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(g), deprives courts of jurisdiction to heai 1 “any cause or claim by or on behalf of any alien arising from the decision or action by the Attorney General to commence proceedings, adjudicate cases, or execute removal orders against any alien.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(g). The Supreme Court has construed this preclusion clause to encompass only the three specific situations set forth in the statute. Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Comm., 525 U.S. 471, 482-87, 119 S.Ct. 936, 142 *795 L.Ed.2d 940 (1999). As Petitioner is not challenging any of the enumerated decisions or actions, § 1252(g) does not foreclose habeas review of his claims. See Shurney v. INS, 201 F.Supp.2d 783, 788 (N.D.Ohio 2001).

The second provision, 8 U.S.C. § 1226(e), provides that:

The Attorney General’s discretionary judgment regarding the application of this section shall not be subject to review. No court may set aside any action or decision by the Attorney General under this section regarding the detention or release of any alien or the grant, revocation, or denial of bond or parole.

8 U.S.C. § 1226(e). This provision, however, applies to “challenges to operational decisions, rather than to the legislation establishing the framework for those decisions.” Marogi, 126 F.Supp.2d at 1059 (quotation omitted). As Petitioner is not seeking review of a decision made by the Attorney General, but is instead directly challenging the constitutionality of the statute, § 1226(e) does not foreclose habe-as review. See Shurney, 201 F.Supp.2d at 788. Accordingly, the Court finds that these provisions of the INA do not deprive the Court of jurisdiction to review Petitioner’s § 2241 habeas petition.

B. EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES

Petitioner admits that he has not exhausted all of his available administrative remedies, but contends that exhaustion is not required in this case because it would be futile. Although Respondent has not raised the issue, the Court addresses this issue because, under the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies, “a party may not seek federal judicial review of an adverse administrative determination until the party has first sought all possible relief within the agency itself.” Howell v. INS, 72 F.3d 288, 291 (2d Cir.1995) (quotation omitted).

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Related

Habtegaber v. Jenifer
256 F. Supp. 2d 692 (E.D. Michigan, 2003)

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Bluebook (online)
213 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13803, 2002 WL 1751207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/habtegaber-v-jenifer-mied-2002.