Sales v. Johnson

323 F. Supp. 3d 1131
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedApril 27, 2017
DocketCase No. 16-cv-01745 EDL (PR)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 323 F. Supp. 3d 1131 (Sales v. Johnson) 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
Sales v. Johnson, 323 F. Supp. 3d 1131 (N.D. Cal. 2017).

Opinion

ELIZABETH D. LAPORTE, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Petitioner, a native and citizen of the Philippines and lawful permanent resident of the United States, proceeding pro se , filed a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus, under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.1 Petitioner is currently in immigration custody, and is detained at the Sacramento County Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove, California. This Court found that Petitioner stated a cognizable claim for relief, and ordered Respondents to show cause why the petition should not be granted. Respondents have filed a motion *1135to dismiss and a response to the petition. Petitioner has filed an opposition and traverse, and Respondents have filed a reply. For the reasons stated below, Respondents' motion to dismiss is DENIED, and Petitioner's petition is GRANTED.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Petitioner is a native and citizen of the Philippines who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 1989. Pet. at 3. In 1995, Petitioner was convicted of second degree murder in a California state court, and sentenced to a term of 16 years to life in state prison. Id. On September 18, 2014, Petitioner was found suitable for parole and released. Id. Thereafter, Petitioner was immediately detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") agency.

On November 24, 2014, an immigration judge ("IJ") found Petitioner removable under Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA") § 237(a)(2)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii), as an alien who, after admission, was convicted of murder, which is an aggravated felony, as defined in INA § 101(a)(43)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(A). Resp., Ex. A4. The IJ also found Petitioner removable because Petitioner had been convicted of an aggravated felony/crime of violence as defined in INA § 101(a)(43)(F), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(F). Id. The IJ further found that Petitioner was not eligible for a waiver, and ordered Petitioner removed. Id.

On March 18, 2015, the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") dismissed Petitioner's appeal of the order of removal, affirmed the IJ's decision, and ordered Petitioner removed. Resp. Ex. A5. On March 23, 2015, Petitioner filed a petition for review and a motion to stay the removal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On March 25, 2015, the IJ held a bond hearing to determine whether Petitioner could be released on bond pending the Ninth Circuit's resolution of Petitioner's petition for review. Pet., Ex. I. On April 28, 2015, the IJ issued a memorandum detailing his reasons for denying bond. Resp., Ex. A6. On September 17, 2015, the BIA affirmed the IJ's decision. Id. , Ex. A7.

On September 18, 2015, the Ninth Circuit granted Petitioner's motion to stay the removal pending adjudication of the petition for review. Pet. at 5 and Ex. VIII. The petition for review before the Ninth Circuit has been fully briefed.

The IJ has since conducted two more bond hearings, the last occurring on September 14, 2016, and denied bond. Resp., Exs. A8, A10.

Petitioner filed the underlying Section 2241 petition on April 6, 2016.

DISCUSSION

A. Relevant law

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, the district court may grant a writ of habeas corpus when a petitioner is "in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). "No court may set aside any action or decision by the Attorney General ... regarding the detention or release of any alien or the grant, revocation, or denial of bond or parole." 8 U.S.C. § 1226(e). "Although [ 8 U.S.C.] § 1226(e) restricts jurisdiction in the federal courts in some respects, it does not limit habeas jurisdiction over constitutional claims or questions of law." Singh v. Holder , 638 F.3d 1196, 1202 (9th Cir. 2011). That is, "aliens may continue to bring collateral legal challenges to the Attorney General's detention authority ... through a petition for habeas corpus." Casas-Castrillon v. Dep't of Homeland Sec. , 535 F.3d 942, 946 (9th Cir. 2008).

Because the Ninth Circuit has stayed Petitioner's removal pending its review of Petitioner's petition for review, the *1136statutory authority for Petitioner's detention is 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a).2 ibr.US_Case_Law.Schema.Case_Body:v1">See

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Bluebook (online)
323 F. Supp. 3d 1131, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sales-v-johnson-cand-2017.