United States v. Aragon-Ruiz

551 F. Supp. 2d 904, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20392, 2008 WL 706590
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedMarch 14, 2008
DocketCriminal 07-341 (DSD/JSM)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 551 F. Supp. 2d 904 (United States v. Aragon-Ruiz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Aragon-Ruiz, 551 F. Supp. 2d 904, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20392, 2008 WL 706590 (mnd 2008).

Opinion

ORDER

DAVID S. DOTY, District Judge.

This matter is before the court upon the parties’ objections to Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron’s January 29, 2008, report and recommendation. In her report, the magistrate judge recommends granting in part and denying in part defendant Ricardo Aragon-Ruiz’s motion to suppress, and denying defendant’s motions to dismiss and for court determination of prior conviction. Following a de novo review of the file and record pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), the court adopts in part the report and recommendation of the magistrate judge.

BACKGROUND

At 7:45 a.m. on September 18, 2007, eight to ten Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents and a Ramsey County Sheriffs deputy (collectively “agents”) attempted to execute a search warrant for Miguel Barrera (“Barrera”)— a known immigration fugitive and member of the “Sureño 13” gang — at a house in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The agents wore raid gear and carried handguns, and a small number also carried long-arms. Upon arriving, three agents and the deputy moved to a side door while another agent knocked on the front door. The other agents were stationed at each entrance to the house. Emerjido Dueña Carmona (“Carmona”) — a resident of the house — responded at the side door and upon questioning informed the agents that Barrera resided at the house but was not present. The agents then requested and received Carmona’s oral and written consent in Spanish to search the house. During the search, the agents encountered a juvenile male and defendant and placed them in the kitchen with Carmona for security reasons. Nobody was physically restrained at that time.

At the January 8, 2008, hearing, defendant testified that after the agents found him in his bedroom sleeping, they stated that he could leave only after he told them Barrera’s location. However, after informing the agents that Barrera was at work, he was not told that he could leave. Moreover, defendant testified that although the agents did not tell him he was under arrest, he did not think he was free to leave and thought he had to answer the agents’ questions.

Special Agent Jeffrey Benadum (“Bena-dum”) joined the three individuals and approximately three other agents in the kitchen. Benadum sat down at a table between the juvenile and defendant and *909 asked the juvenile his name, where he was from and what the “1” and “3” tattooed on his hand signified. The juvenile responded that he was from Mexico and that the tattoo referred to “Sureño 13.” Benadum then asked defendant for his name, and defendant responded with a name later determined to be false. In response to further questioning by Benadum, defendant indicated that he did not reside in the house and that he did not know his address because he had only lived there for a few days. Defendant also stated that he had a passport and visa at his house.

Around 8:00 a.m., an adult female resident of the house came downstairs and— after telling Benadum that Barrera had left with her husband earlier — asked how long the agents would be in the house because children were arriving shortly for her to babysit. Upon learning this, the agents immediately went to their vehicles with defendant and the juvenile. 1 At this time defendant was not free to leave. (Tr. at 57. 2 ) The agents then called for record checks on the names provided by defendant and the juvenile, and after receiving no information on either name, formally arrested them.

The agents placed defendant and the juvenile in a detention van, and Special Agent Patrick Edgar (“Edgar”) read them their Miranda rights in English and Spanish. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Edgar proceeded to ask defendant several biographical questions and inquired whether he was in the United States lawfully. At no time did defendant object to the questioning or request an attorney.

After being questioned in the van, defendant was transported to an ICE office in Bloomington, Minnesota, and fingerprinted upon arrival. With the fingerprints, Edgar determined defendant’s true identity and immigration history. Defendant had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to the expedited procedures set forth in 8 U.S.C. § 1228(b) because of a May 7, 2003, conviction in Minnesota state court of aiding and abetting second degree assault in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.222, subdiv. 1.

Defendant remained detained at the ICE office and was later questioned by Special Agents Frank Hunter (“Hunter”) and Rocha in the early afternoon. Hunter and Rocha individually advised defendant of his Miranda rights in English and Spanish. Defendant responded to all of the questions in English during the ten to fifteen minute session, and at no time did he object to the questioning or request an attorney.

The government filed a complaint on September 25, 2007, and on October 1, 2007, defendant was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and(b)(2), and 6 U.S.C. §§ 202(3), (4) and 557. On October 2, 2007, defendant moved to suppress all of his statements, admissions and physical evidence — including his fingerprints. Further, on October 24, 2007, defendant moved to dismiss the proceedings because defendant’s earlier removal was legally invalid and moved for a court determination of the status of defendant’s second degree assault conviction. The magistrate judge held a hearing on January 8, 2008, to address the motions.

*910 On January 29, 2008, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation granting in part and denying in part defendant’s motion to suppress and denying defendant’s other two motions. With respect to the motion to suppress, the magistrate judge recommends suppressing defendant’s statements made in the house and the van but not at the ICE office. In addition, the magistrate judge recommends suppressing defendant’s fingerprints.

On January 31, 2008, the United States filed a motion to compel defendant’s fingerprint exemplars, which the court granted on February 1, 2008. Defendant moved for reconsideration of the court’s order on February 1, 2008, and on February 4, 2008, moved to suppress defendant’s fingerprint exemplars. The parties’ objections to the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation followed.

DISCUSSION

I. Motions to Dismiss and for Determination of Prior Conviction

The magistrate judge recommends denying defendant’s motion to dismiss. The magistrate judge thoroughly addressed defendant’s motion and concluded that 8 U.S.C. § 1326

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Bluebook (online)
551 F. Supp. 2d 904, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20392, 2008 WL 706590, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-aragon-ruiz-mnd-2008.