L-G-H

26 I. & N. Dec. 365
CourtBoard of Immigration Appeals
DecidedJuly 1, 2014
DocketID 3809
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 26 I. & N. Dec. 365 (L-G-H) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Board of Immigration Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
L-G-H, 26 I. & N. Dec. 365 (bia 2014).

Opinion

Cite as 26 I&N Dec. 365 (BIA 2014) Interim Decision #3809

Matter of L-G-H-, Respondent Decided August 15, 2014 U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review Board of Immigration Appeals

Sale of a controlled substance in violation of section 893.13(1)(a)(1) of the Florida Statutes, which lacks a mens rea element with respect to the illicit nature of the substance but requires knowledge of its presence and includes an affirmative defense for ignorance of its unlawful nature, is an “illicit trafficking” aggravated felony under section 101(a)(43)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B) (2012).

FOR RESPONDENT: Jesus Novo, Esquire, Miami, Florida FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Elizabeth A. S. Thaler, Associate Legal Advisor BEFORE: Board Panel: PAULEY, MALPHRUS, and MULLANE, Board Members. PAULEY, Board Member:

In a decision dated September 4, 2013, an Immigration Judge found the respondent removable and denied his application for cancellation of removal under section 240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a) (2012). The Immigration Judge also denied the respondent’s applications for asylum and withholding of removal under sections 208(a) and 241(b)(3) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158 and 1231(b)(3) (2012), as well as his request for protection pursuant to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted and opened for signature Dec. 10, 1984, G.A. Res. 39/46, 39 U.N. GAOR Supp. No. 51, at 197, U.N. Doc. A/RES/39/708 (1984) (entered into force June 26, 1987; for the United States Apr. 18, 1988) (“Convention Against Torture”). The respondent has filed a timely appeal from that decision. The respondent’s request for a waiver of the filing fee associated with the filing of an appeal is granted. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1003.3(a)(1), 1003.8(a)(3) (2014). The appeal will be dismissed in part, and the record will be remanded to the Immigration Judge.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY The respondent is a native and citizen of Venezuela who was first admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor on April 28, 1989.

365 Cite as 26 I&N Dec. 365 (BIA 2014) Interim Decision #3809

On June 21, 2003, he adjusted his status to that of a conditional permanent resident. He became a lawful permanent resident when the conditions were removed on July 24, 2006. On December 1, 2006, the respondent was convicted of selling cocaine in violation of section 893.13(1)(a)(1) of the Florida Statutes. On the same day, he was convicted of possession of cocaine in violation of section 893.13(6)(a) of the Florida Statutes. Again on January 9, 2009, the respondent was convicted of both possession of cannabis with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver in violation of section 893.13(1)(a)(2) of the Florida Statutes and of use or possession of drug paraphernalia in violation of section 893.147(1). Based on these convictions, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued a notice to appear, charging that the respondent was removable under sections 237(a)(2)(A)(ii) and (B)(i) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1227(a)(2)(A)(ii) and (B)(i) (2012), as an alien who was convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude and of a controlled substance violation. The DHS subsequently lodged an additional charge under section 237(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the Act, charging that the respondent was convicted of illicit trafficking in a controlled substance, which is an aggravated felony under section 101(a)(43)(B) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B) (2012). At his removal hearing, the respondent admitted the factual allegations and conceded the charges in the notice to appear, but he denied the lodged charge that he was convicted of an aggravated felony. Based on the respondent’s convictions and his concession of removability, the Immigration Judge found him removable as an alien convicted of a controlled substance violation. 1 He further determined that the respondent was convicted of an aggravated felony based on his conviction for selling cocaine. The Immigration Judge also denied each of the respondent’s applications for relief from removal. On appeal, the respondent argues that the Immigration Judge erred in finding that his convictions were for aggravated felonies and in denying his applications for relief. A panel of the Board held oral argument on March 6, 2014.2

1 The Immigration Judge did not sustain the charge relating to crimes involving moral turpitude under section 237(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act. The DHS has not contested the Immigration Judge’s finding on that charge, and we consider the issue waived. Matter of R-A-M-, 25 I&N Dec. 657, 658 n.2 (BIA 2012). 2 The parties agreed during oral argument that the issues on appeal in this case did not involve any factual disputes. We review de novo the question of law presented on appeal. 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(ii) (2014).

366 Cite as 26 I&N Dec. 365 (BIA 2014) Interim Decision #3809

II. LEGAL BACKGROUND Section 101(a)(43)(B) of the Act includes within the definition of an aggravated felony

illicit trafficking in a controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act), including a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 924(c) of title 18, United States Code).

Prior to the enactment of section 893.101 of the Florida Statutes, the Florida Supreme Court held that the “guilty knowledge” element of the crime of possession of a controlled substance contained two aspects: knowledge of the presence of the substance and knowledge of its illicit nature. Scott v. State, 808 So. 2d 166, 169–70 (Fla. 2002); Chicone v. State, 684 So. 2d 736, 738, 745–46 (Fla. 1996). In 2002, the Florida legislature found those cases to be contrary to legislative intent and expressly eliminated knowledge of the substance’s illicit nature as an element of controlled substance offenses. Fla. Stat. § 893.101 (2002). The statute did not, however, eliminate the element of knowledge of the presence of the substance, and it created an affirmative defense of lack of knowledge of the illicit nature of the substance. State v. Adkins, 96 So. 3d 412, 415−16 (Fla. 2012). This change was evidently intended to help facilitate the prosecution of drug offenses in Florida. However, for purposes of the immigration laws, the amendment had the effect of preventing drug trafficking offenses in Florida from qualifying as aggravated felonies under the “drug trafficking crime” clause of section 101(a)(43)(B) of the Act. See Donawa v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 735 F.3d 1275 (11th Cir. 2013).

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26 I. & N. Dec. 365, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/l-g-h-bia-2014.