Primero Garcia v. Barr

• Court: District Court, N.D. California
• Decided: March 9, 2020
• Docket: 5:20-cv-01389
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9

10 NARCISO PRIMERO GARCIA, Case No. 20-cv-01389-NC 11 Petitioner, ORDER GRANTING IN PART 12 PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR v. TEMPORARY RESTRAINING 13 ORDER WILLIAM P. BARR, et al., 14 Re: Dkt. No. 8 Respondents. 15 16 17 Petitioner Narciso Primero Garcia seeks a temporary restraining order against 18 respondents William P. Barr, Chad Wolf, Matthew Albence, and David W. Jennings in 19 their official capacities as United States officials. See Dkt. No. 8. Primero Garcia requests 20 that the Court order Respondents to stay his removal while he pursues immigration relief 21 and to order him released from custody. See Dkt. No. 8-1. The Court finds that Primero 22 Garcia is entitled to a stay of removal while he pursues immigration relief but has not 23 shown that he must be released from custody at this time. Accordingly, the Court 24 GRANTS IN PART Primero Garcia’s motion for a temporary restraining order. 25 I. Background 26 Primero Garcia is a 21-year-old citizen of Guatemala who came to the United States 27 as an unaccompanied minor when he was 13 years-old. See Dkt. No. 1 (“Petition”) ¶¶ 20, 1 uncle as his legal guardian, finding that his parents had abandoned, abused, and neglected 2 him and that it was not in his best interests to return to Guatemala. Id. ¶ 27. On the basis 3 of that order, Primero Garcia applied for Special Immigrant Juvenile (“SIJ”) status to 4 obtain immigration relief. Id. 5 Before Primero Garcia submitted his petition, this Court preliminarily enjoined the 6 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), the Department of 7 Homeland Security (“DHS”), and officials in charge of those departments from removing 8 individuals with a pending SIJ petition in a related lawsuit, J.L. v. Cissna, Case No. 5:18- 9 cv-04914-NC, (N.D. Cal.). See J.L. v. Cissna, 341 F. Supp. 3d 1048 (N.D. Cal. 2018). 10 The Court also certified a class of young immigrants with SIJ petitions based on a 11 California court order. See J.L., No. 5:18-cv-04914-NC, Dkt. No. 112. 12 Notwithstanding that injunction, Respondents removed Primero Garcia to 13 Guatemala on June 13, 2019. Petition ¶ 31. In Guatemala, Primero Garcia was attacked 14 twice over the next six months by gang members. Id. ¶¶ 34–35. 15 During this time, J.L. settled (see J.L., No. 5:18-cv-04914-NC, Dkt. No. 228) and 16 J.L. class counsel discovered that Primero Garcia was a J.L. class member (see id., Dkt. 17 No. 223). The Court held the J.L. defendants in civil contempt for violating the 18 preliminary injunction and ordered Primero Garcia’s return to the United States. Id., Dkt. 19 Nos. 249, 252. 20 ICE returned Primero Garcia to the United States on February 12, 2020, and placed 21 him in ICE custody. Petition ¶ 37. Shortly after, USCIS adjudicated Primero Garcia’s SIJ 22 petition and granted him SIJ status in accordance with the J.L. settlement agreement. Id.; 23 see also J.L., No. 5:18-cv-04914-NC, Dkt. No. 211-2, Ex. A § V. On February 24, 2020, 24 Primero Garcia moved to reopen his removal proceedings on various grounds to seek 25 immigration relief, including his recently granted SIJ status. See Petition ¶ 38; see also 26 Dkt. No. 1-2 (“Beier Decl.”), Ex. PP. Primero Garcia’s motion to reopen is still pending 27 (see Petition ¶ 41), but the IJ presiding over his removal proceedings stayed removal 1 Chhabria also ordered ICE to “not deport the petitioner” pending further Court order. See 2 Dkt. No. 9. 3 Because ICE apparently indicated that it still intends to remove Primero Garcia 4 from the United States (see Beier Decl., Ex. V), he now seeks a temporary restraining 5 order enjoining Respondents from removing him while he pursues immigration relief. See 6 Dkt. No. 8-1. Primero Garcia also requests that the Court order his release from ICE 7 custody or, in the alternative, grant him a bond hearing before an IJ. Id. 8 The Court held a hearing on Primero Garcia’s motion on March 5, 2020. See Dkt. 9 No. 27. All parties have consented to the jurisdiction of magistrate judge. See Dkt. Nos. 10 20, 22. 11 II. Discussion 12 A. Whether the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is Moot 13 The jurisdiction of federal courts depends on the existence of a “case or 14 controversy” under Article III of the Constitution. PUC v. FERC, 100 F.3d 1451, 1458 15 (9th Cir. 1996). Thus, a case becomes moot when “it no longer present[s] a case or 16 controversy under Article III, § 2 of the Constitution.” Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 7 17 (1998). Put differently, “a litigant must continue to have a personal stake in the outcome 18 of the suit throughout ‘all stages of federal judicial proceedings.’” Abdala v. INS, 488 F.3d 19 1061, 1063 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting United States v. Verdin, 243 F.3d 1174, 1177 (9th Cir. 20 2001)). 21 Respondents argue that Primero Garcia’s motion for a temporary restraining order 22 is moot because the IJ presiding over his removal proceedings already stayed removal 23 pending adjudication of his motion to reopen. See Dkt. No. 8-1. The appropriate time to 24 seek injunctive relief, Respondents argue, is after the IJ resolves Primero Garcia’s motion 25 to reopen and lifts the stay. 26 However, as Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler explained in Sied v. Nielsen, No. 17- 27 cv-06785-LB, 2018 WL 1142202, at *7–9 (N.D. Cal. 2018), there are limited procedural 1 motion to reopen. Of relevance here, if Primero Garcia’s motion to reopen is denied, he 2 may be removed by ICE before he has a chance to request a further stay by the BIA. Id. at 3 *9. As aptly demonstrated by the record in this case (see Petition ¶¶ 34–35), removal 4 before an alien exhausts the administrative procedures available to him may expose him to 5 unnecessary and significant harm. See Sied, 2018 WL 1142202, at *9 (“if the government 6 then deports the alien to a country where he may be subject to persecution or torture, the 7 alien may never have the opportunity to be heard on his underlying motion to reopen . . .”). 8 At the hearing, Respondents argued that ICE normally provides a grace period 9 between administrative decisions that may allow Primero Garcia to obtain further stays. 10 The Court is not persuaded. ICE has already indicated a willingness to remove Primero 11 Garcia and he is not required to rely on ICE’s good graces to obtain relief. 12 Moreover, Primero Garcia seeks more than just a stay. He also requests release 13 from custody or, in the alternative, a bond hearing. See Dkt. No. 8-1. The stay issued by 14 the IJ presiding over Primero Garcia’s removal proceedings does not resolve that issue. 15 Accordingly, the Court finds that Primero Garcia’s motion is not moot. 16 B. Whether the Court Has Jurisdiction 17 Congress has limited judicial review of removal orders. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252. 18 Relevant here, §§ 1252(a)(5) and (b)(9) prohibits district courts from reviewing removal 19 orders and makes “a petition for review filed with an appropriate court of appeals . . . the 20 sole and exclusive means for judicial review of an order of removal.” Likewise, § 1252(g) 21 prohibits all judicial review for “any cause or claim by or on behalf of any alien arising 22 from the decision or action by the Attorney General to commence proceedings, adjudicate 23 cases, or execute removal orders against any alien . . . .” 24 District courts in the Ninth Circuit disagree as to whether they have jurisdiction 25 over a motion to stay removal pending resolution of a motion to reopen. See Diaz- 26 Amezcua v. Barr, 402 F. Supp. 3d 963, 971 & n.4 (collecting cases). Most district courts 27 have concluded that § 1252 strips them of jurisdiction. Id. Courts of appeals that have 1 Cir. 2018) (“[T]he Attorney General’s enforcement of long-standing removal orders falls 2 squarely under the Attorney General’s decision to execute removal orders and is not 3 subject to judicial review.”); Sharif v. Ashcroft, 280 F.3d 786, 787 (7th Cir. 2002) (“[A] 4 district court lacks jurisdiction to compel the Attorney General to initiate or resolve 5 proceedings that would lead to relief from removal.”); with E.O.H.C. v. Sec’y United 6 States Dep’t of Homeland Sec., ___ F.3d ____, 2020 WL 728629 (3d Cir. Feb. 13, 2020) 7 (finding that “now-or-never claims” do not arise from removal actions). 8 Although the question is close, the Court is persuaded that it has jurisdiction under 9 the unique facts of this case. First, Primero Garcia’s request for a stay does not challenge a 10 removal order. Indeed, the immigration court’s June 13, 2019, removal order has already 11 been executed. The Court need not consider whether Primero Garcia is removable or if he 12 is eligible for adjustment of status in light of his recently granted SIJ petition to decide 13 whether he is entitled to a stay pending adjudication of his motion to reopen. 14 Second, the Ninth Circuit has “distinguished between challenges to orders of 15 removal and challenges that arise independently” when considering the applicability of 16 § 1252. Singh v. Gonzales, 499 F.3d 969, 978 (9th Cir. 2007). This case is closer to the 17 latter category than the former. Primero Garcia’s motion to stay his removal pending 18 adjudication of his motion to reopen arose from USCIS’s grant of SIJ status pursuant to the 19 J.L. settlement. Moreover, permitting ICE to re-remove Primero Garcia before he has an 20 opportunity to fully litigate his motion to reopen would render this Court’s civil contempt 21 sanctions an empty gesture. Thus, the Court concludes that it has jurisdiction. 22 C. Whether the Court should Issue a Temporary Restraining Order 23 The legal standard for a temporary restraining order mirrors that of a preliminary 24 injunction. See Stuhlbarg Int’l Sales Co., Inc. v. John D. Brush & Co., Inc., 240 F.3d 832, 25 839 n.7 (9th Cir. 2001). A plaintiff must demonstrate that “he is likely to succeed on the 26 merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that 27 the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” 1 1. Likelihood of Success 2 As a threshold issue, a significant portion of Respondents’ argument focuses on 3 whether Primero Garcia is likely to succeed on his underlying motion to reopen. See Dkt. 4 No. 7–12. Primero Garcia’s motion to reopen, however, is not before the Court. Rather, 5 Primero Garcia’s underlying habeas petition focuses on whether he has a statutory right to 6 fully litigate his motion to reopen and whether removal while that process is pending 7 would violate the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) or due process. 8 The Court finds that Primero Garcia is likely to succeed on the merits. First, an 9 immigrant granted SIJ status is likely required to remain in the United States to maintain 10 that status. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) (defining SIJ as “an immigrant present in the 11 United States . . . .”) (emphasis added). As the Ninth Circuit recognized, individuals with 12 SIJ status “gain special benefits set by Congress” including “the permission to remain in 13 the country pending the outcome of their adjustment of status application.” Garcia v. 14 Holder, 659 F.3d 1261, 1271 (9th Cir. 2011); see also Osorio-Martinez v. Attorney 15 General United States, 893 F.3d 153, 163–64 (3d Cir. 2018) (noting that SIJ status cannot 16 be revoked except “on notice”). Removing Primero Garcia before he has an opportunity to 17 fully litigate his motion to reopen would vitiate those benefits. 18 Second, Respondents’ contention that Primero Garcia could continue to litigate his 19 motion to reopen after removal is unpersuasive. Although Respondents are correct in the 20 abstract, the facts of this case show that their position is untenable. As the Court recounted 21 above, Primero Garcia was attacked twice during the six-months he was in Guatemala. 22 There is a real risk that immediate removal would moot Primero Garcia’s motion. See 23 Sied, 2018 WL 1142202, at *9 (“if the government then deports the alien to a country 24 where he may be subject to persecution or torture, the alien may never have the 25 opportunity to be heard on his underlying motion to reopen . . .”). 26 2. Irreparable Harm 27 Primero Garcia has shown a strong likelihood that he will suffer irreparable harm in 1 Guatemala and the Court is persuaded that such attacks suggest a strong likelihood of 2 future harm absent relief. 3 Respondents contend that there is no likelihood of harm because the IJ has already 4 granted a stay. But, as the Court explained above, if Primero Garcia’s motion to reopen is 5 denied, he may be removed by ICE before he has a chance to request a further stay. And 6 given ICE’s zeal in J.L., the Court is not convinced that the ordinary administrative 7 process would give Primero Garcia sufficient time to obtain a further stay. 8 3. Balance of Equities and Public Interest1 9 The balance of equities and public interest also weigh in Primero Garcia’s favor. 10 While the Court does not doubt that preliminary relief would increase the administrative 11 burden on Respondents, the potential harm to Primero Garcia far outweighs that burden. 12 Moreover, Primero Garcia should not have been removed from the United States in the 13 first place. It is ICE’s failure to comply with this Court’s preliminary injunction that 14 kicked off these proceedings. 15 Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Primero Garcia’s motion for a temporary 16 restraining order and enjoins Respondents from removing him while he pursues 17 immigration relief. 18 D. Release from Detention 19 Primero Garcia requests that the Court order his removal from ICE custody or, in 20 the alternative, order that an IJ hold a custody redetermination hearing. Primero Garcia, 21 however, has not shown that he is entitled to immediate release. Although indefinite or 22 prolonged detention may be unconstitutional, Primero Garcia has not been detained for an 23 indefinite (see, e.g., Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678 (2001) (indefinite detention 24 unconstitutional)) or a prolonged period of time (Rodriguez v. Robbins, 804 F.3d 1060 (9th 25 Cir. 2015) (detention becomes “prolonged” at six months), overruled by Jennings v. 26 Rodriguez, 136 S. Ct. 2489 (2016)). 27 1 Accordingly, the Court will not order Primero Garcia’s immediate release. 2 || However, if Respondents intend to detain Primero Garcia for a prolonged period of time, it 3 || must hold a bond or custody redetermination hearing. 4 || IT. Conclusion 5 The Court GRANTS IN PART Primero Garcia’s motion temporary restraining 6 || order. 7 It is hereby ORDERED that Attorney General William P. Barr, Secretary Chad 8 Wolf, Field Office Director David Jennings, and Acting Director Matthew Albence, their 9 || officers, agents, employees, representatives, and all persons acting in concert or 10 || participating with them are ENJOINED AND RESTRAINED from removing Primero 11 || Garcia. This injunction and order will terminate in connection with the following events: 12 1. A final non-appealable decision vacating Primero Garcia’s June 13, 2019, 13 removal order; 14 2. Primero Garcia’s failure to (1) timely appeal to the BIA a final adverse 15 ruling from an IJ on his motion to reopen and (2) file a simultaneous motion 16 to stay removal with the BIA; 5 17 3. Primero Garcia’s failure to (1) timely petition for review before the 5 18 appropriate United States Court of Appeals a final adverse ruling from the 19 BIA on his motion to reopen and (2) file a simultaneous motion to stay 20 removal with the Court of Appeals; or 21 4. A decision on a motion to stay removal by the Court of Appeals. 22 Respondents are also ORDERED to release or provide Primero Garcia with a bond 23 || or custody redetermination hearing before an IJ within 60 days. At the hearing, 24 || Respondents must justify Primero Garcia’s continued detention by clear and convincing 25 || evidence. 26 IT IS SO ORDERED. 27 Dated: March 9, 2020 h-_———— _ NATHANAEL M. COUSINS 28 United States Magistrate Judge