Islam v. Heinauer

32 F. Supp. 3d 1063, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31458, 2014 WL 985545
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedMarch 7, 2014
DocketNo. C 13-02316 RS
StatusPublished
Cited by45 cases

This text of 32 F. Supp. 3d 1063 (Islam v. Heinauer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Islam v. Heinauer, 32 F. Supp. 3d 1063, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31458, 2014 WL 985545 (N.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS, DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

RICHARD SEEBORG, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

I. INTRODUCTION

In this immigration mandamus action, plaintiff Mohammed Sher Islam seeks an order compelling the government to adjudicate his Form 1-485 Application for adjustment of citizenship status. The government moves to dismiss, and both parties move for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth below, both of defendants’ motions are denied. Further, because Islam has endured an unreasonable delay in the processing of his 1-485 petition, his motion for summary judgment is granted. The government must process Islam’s application forthwith.

II. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Mohammad Sher Islam is a native and citizen of Pakistan who entered the United States in April of 2000. (Compl., ECF No. 1 at ¶ 6; Deck of Gareth R. Canaan, ECF No. 13-1 at ¶ 3). Islam applied for asylum on January 29, 2001 with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). An Immigration Judge granted his application on March 27, 2007. Id. On or about May 27, 2008, Islam filed a Form 1-485 Application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjust his immigration status to that of a lawful permanent resident. (Compl. at ¶ 6; Canaan Deck at ¶ 5). That application is still pending. Id.

[1067]*1067When an alien applies for adjustment of status, USCIS conducts several forms of security and background checks. (Canaan Deck at ¶7). These procedures are not, however, causing any delay in adjudication of Islam’s Form 1-485. Rather, defendants maintain that because Islam’s application would be denied if adjudication went forward, his petition has been placed on hold to determine whether he might benefit from certain discretionary exemptions. Id. at ¶¶ 21, 30. Defendants claim Islam is not admissible to the .United States under provisions of the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA), because, among other things, he admitted to having been a member of Muhajir Qaumiwa Movement — Altai Faction (MQM-A), a “Tier III” terrorist organization. See 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi)(III); (Canaan Deck at ¶¶ 12-17).1

On December 26, 2007, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008(CAA) expanded the discretionary authority of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to exempt certain terrorist-related inadmissibility grounds as they relate to individual aliens,” and to exempt certain Tier III terrorist organizations from being considered terrorist organizations. (Canaan Deck at ¶ 18). On March 26, 2008, the USCIS issued a memorandum instructing adjudicators to withhold adjudication of cases that could benefit from the Secretary’s expanded authority under the CAA. Id. at 20. Pursuant to this policy, Islam’s application was placed on hold to determine if he might qualify for an exemption, notwithstanding his associations with MQM-A. Id. at 21.

On September 17, 2010, Islam filed a complaint in this district, assigned to a different judge, challenging the delay in his adjudication. Islam v. Heinauer, C 10-04222 JSW, 2011 WL 2066661, at *2 (N.D.Cal. May 25, 2011) (“Islam I”). Islam alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) based on the unreasonable delay in processing his Form 1-485 and sought a writ of mandamus requiring adjudication. Id. The court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment, stating, “Although the Court can foresee a point at which the delay in ruling on Islam’s 1-485 Application would be unreasonable, based on the existing record, that time has not yet come.” Id. at *8.

Nearly two years later, with his 1-485 Application still pending, Islam filed this action on May 21, 2013. Islam once again asserts two claims for relief and seeks to compel adjudication.2 Defendants now move to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim. In the alternative, they move for summary judgment on the basis that the delay in processing Islam’s 1-485 Application is not unreasonable. Islam opposes the motion to dismiss and cross-moves for summary judgment on the basis that Defendants’ [1068]*1068delay in processing his 1-485 Application is unreasonable as a matter of law. ,

III. LEGAL STANDARD

A. Motion to Dismiss

A motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) challenges a court’s subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs claims. A challenge to subject matter jurisdiction “can be either facial, confining the inquiry to allegations in the complaint, or factual, permitting the court to look beyond the complaint.” Savage v. Glendale Union High Sch., 343 F.3d 1036, 1039 n. 2 (9th Cir.2003). A complaint may also be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. A Rule 12(b)(6) motion may be based on either the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.1990).

A complaint must present factual allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). Specifically, the factual allegations must suffice to state a claim that is “plausible on its face,” that is, “plausibly suggesting (not merely consistent with)” a right to relief. Id. at 557, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955. While the factual allegations of the complaint are taken as true and all reasonable inferences are drawn in favor of the plaintiff, “[tjhreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclu-sory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009); see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Accordingly, “a court discounts conclusory statements, which are not entitled to the presumption of truth, before determining whether a claim is plausible.” Chavez v. United States, 683 F.3d 1102, 1108 (9th Cir.2012).

B. Motion for Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 56(a). The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v.

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32 F. Supp. 3d 1063, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31458, 2014 WL 985545, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/islam-v-heinauer-cand-2014.