Redeemed Christian Church of God v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs.

331 F. Supp. 3d 684
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedAugust 2, 2018
DocketCivil Action No. H-17-1670
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 331 F. Supp. 3d 684 (Redeemed Christian Church of God v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Redeemed Christian Church of God v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs., 331 F. Supp. 3d 684 (S.D. Tex. 2018).

Opinion

(1) For at least the two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition have been a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States.
(2) Be coming to the United States to work in a full time (average of at least 35 hours per week) compensated position in one of the following occupations as they are defined in paragraph (m)(5) of this section:
(i) Solely in the vocation of a minister of that religious denomination;
(ii) A religious vocation either in a professional or nonprofessional capacity; or
(iii) A religious occupation either in a professional or nonprofessional capacity.
(3) Be coming to work for a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States, or a bona fide organization which is affiliated with the religious denomination in the United States.
(4) Have been working in one of the positions described in paragraph (m)(2) of this section, either abroad or in lawful immigration status in the United States, and after the age of 14 years continuously for at least the two-year period immediately preceding the filing of the petition.

8 C.F.R. § 204.5(m). The "petitioning organization"-the religious employer-must certify in the petition that it is a "bona fide religious organization" or affiliate; that "the alien has worked as a religious worker for the two years immediately preceding the filing of the application and is otherwise qualified for the position offered"; and that "the alien has been a member of the denomination for at least two years immediately preceding the filing of the application." 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(m)(7). The employer must certify that "the alien will not engage in secular employment." Id. The employer must file evidence showing that it is a religious denomination or affiliate and that the employee is religiously qualified, as well as evidence of the religious employee's compensation and prior employment." 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(m)(8)-(12).

2. Uzoma's Visa

The relevant facts are undisputed. Uzoma first came to the United States in October 2003 as a "nonimmigrant for pleasure." His authorization to stay in the United States expired in April 2004. In November 2003, the Redeemed Church of God filed an I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker on Uzoma's behalf. The I-129 was approved that same month, granting Uzoma permission to stay in the United States from November 2003 to November 2006. As part of his approval, Uzoma was authorized to work within the limits and authorized period stated in the petition. Any change in employment required a new petition.

*690In April 2006, the Redeemed Church filed an I-360 petition for a Special Immigrant Religious Worker visa for Uzoma at a USCIS office in California. USCIS denied that petition in February 2009. The Church appealed and the Administrative Appeals Office remanded in January 2010 for further action. The USCIS again denied the petition and certified the case for appeal in October 2010; the AAO denied the appeal in September 2012; and the Church moved to reopen the petition in October 2012. In May 2013, the AAO denied the motion to reopen. The Church filed suit in this court in August 2013, seeking a declaratory judgment that the petition was approvable and that Uzoma was a full-time religious worker. In May 2016, the court remanded to the AAO for further review.

In October 2016, the AAO dismissed the appeal. In November 2016, the Church appealed again. The AAO denied this appeal in May 2017. At that point, the Church filed this lawsuit seeking judicial review of the AAO's decision.

Between 2006, when the Church filed its I-360 petition for Uzoma, and the first denial in February 2009, Uzoma had an encounter with Customs and Border Patrol in Houston in March 2008. He was found with several credit cards and identification forms and documents, including the following items:

• a business card for "SiTech (Nigeria) Limited (Advanced Information Technology Connectivity)," an "IBM Business Partner," identifying Uzoma as the "Managing Director";
• a GE Money Bank Credit Card for "Joel O Uzoma" for the business "Sew Vac Direct";
• a Washington Mutual Credit Card for "Joel Onyema Uzoma" for the business "Heph Technology Services," valid through June 2010;
• a Bank of American Platinum Business Check Card for "Joel Onyema Uzoma" for the business "Cute Apparels," valid through October 2010;
• a Dell Preferred Account card for "Joel Uzoma," indicating he had been a member since November 2006;
• a copy of a Washington Mutual Incoming Wire Transfer Notice, showing that Caller Spring Nig(eria) Ltd. Transferred $6,941.94 to Hedh (sic) Technology Services on August 23, 2007, labeled "for purchase of notebook computers less charges";
• a copy of a Washington Mutual Confirmation of Domestic Wire Transfer Order, showing that Heph Technologies transferred $13,301.76 to Dell Marketing LP in September 2007, ordered by Joel Onyema Uzoma;
• a copy of a Washington Mutual Business Checking Account statement for October 2007, showing an inbound wire transfer deposit on October 22 for $1,838; deposits of $2,000 on October 1, $1,200 on October 18, and $795 on October 26; withdrawals of $1,800 on October 9, $1,900 on October 23, and a transfer withdrawal for $300;
• a copy of a Washington Mutual Incoming Wire Transfer Notice showing that Caller Spring Nig(eria) Ltd. transferred $9,975 to Heph Technology in December 2007 "for computers less charges";
• a copy of a Dell order confirmation dated December 14, 2007 showing that Joel Uzoma of Heph Technology Servicies ordered 4 computers for $3,217.20;
• a copy of a Washington Mutual Incoming Wire Transfer Notice showing *691that Caller Spring Nig(eria) Ltd. transferred $6,792 to Heph Technology Services on December 31, 2007 "for computers less charges";
• a copy of a Dell order confirmation page dated February 2008, showing that Joel Uzoma of Heph Technology Services ordered 40 computers for $31,285.56;

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Bluebook (online)
331 F. Supp. 3d 684, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/redeemed-christian-church-of-god-v-us-citizenship-immigration-servs-txsd-2018.