United States v. Chavez-Flores

365 F. Supp. 3d 782
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedFebruary 5, 2019
DocketEP-18-CR-03229-FM
StatusPublished

This text of 365 F. Supp. 3d 782 (United States v. Chavez-Flores) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Chavez-Flores, 365 F. Supp. 3d 782 (W.D. Tex. 2019).

Opinion

FRANK MONTALVO, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

*784Before this court are "Defendant's Motion to Dismiss" ("Motion") [ECF No. 25 ], filed January 14, 2019 by Maria Francisca Chavez-Flores ("Defendant"); and "Government's Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss the Indictment" ("Response") [ECF No. 28 ], filed January 25, 2019 by United States of America ("Government"). Based on the Motion, Response, and applicable law, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Factual History

Defendant, a citizen of El Salvador, was previously found in the United States despite not being granted entry.1 On May 30, 2007, Defendant received a Notice to Appear ("NTA"), which required her to attend a removal proceedings hearing.2 A second NTA was issued on June 28, 2007.3 Neither NTA included a time or date for the hearing.4 Instead, each NTA stated she was to appear on a date "to be set" and a time "to be set."5 Defendant subsequently received a Notice of Hearing ("NOH") informing her the proceedings would commence on October 24, 2007.6 Defendant requested moving the hearing to Arizona, and she received a second NOH setting the new hearing date to December 3, 2007.7 The Immigration Court found sufficient evidence to deport her and she was subsequently removed to El Salvador on May 14, 2010.8

On November 7, 2018, Defendant was found in the United States and charged with illegal reentry in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (" Section 1326").9

B. Parties' Arguments

Defendant now moves to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that the underlying removal order cannot support a conviction for illegal reentry under Section 1326.10 Defendant contends the NTA did not comply with Title 8 of the United States Code section 1229(a) (" Section 1229"), as it failed to include a time and date as required by the statutory language.11 Therefore, Defendant reasons a defective NTA cannot confer jurisdiction to the Immigration Court over the removal proceedings.12 According to Defendant, an underlying removal order without jurisdiction cannot sustain a Section 1326 conviction.13 As jurisdiction is not established, *785Defendant argues, she has met the Section 1326(d) requirements to collaterally attack her removal.14 Therefore, Defendant concludes she may not be convicted of illegal reentry.15

The Government argues that Defendant's collateral attack of the NTA and removal is untimely.16 The Government emphasizes that Defendant's attendance at the removal proceeding displays she did not suffer prejudice.17 Additionally, the Government reasons Pereira v. Sessions18 does not apply to Section 1326.19 Accordingly, the Immigration Court's order to remove Defendant was not fundamentally unfair under Section 1326(d)(3).20

In the alternative, the Government asserts the Immigration Court had jurisdiction over Defendant.21 8 C.F.R. 1003.15 does not require the NTA to contain the hearing's time and date.22 The Government also argues that, even if the NTA was deficient, the NOH cured any defect when it informed Defendant of the time and date of the removal hearing.23 The Government thus concludes Defendant is unable to show exhaustion of Section 1326(d) remedies, mandating the Motion be denied.24

II. DISCUSSION

A. Whether the Immigration Court Had Jurisdiction Over the Removal Proceedings

As this issue has not been addressed by either the Supreme Court or the Fifth Circuit, this court looks to the statutory language to determine what information an NTA must contain. Under Section 1229a, an immigration judge presides over proceedings for the removal of a non-citizen.25 A charging document is required to initiate proceedings.26 A charging document is defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1003.13 as one of the following: (1) a Notice to Appear; (2) a Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge; and (3) a Notice of Intention to Rescind and Request for Hearing by Alien.27 Therefore, an NTA clearly qualifies as a charging document.28 Section 1229 defines an NTA as written notice which "shall be given" to the alien or alien's counsel.29 Section 1229(a)(1) provides:

*786In removal proceedings under section 1229(a) of this title, written notice (in this section referred to as a "notice to appear") shall be given in person to the alien (or, if personal service is not practicable, through service by mail to the alien or to the alien's counsel of record, if any) specifying the following:
(G)(i) The time and place at which the proceedings will be held.
(ii) The consequences under section 1229a(b)(5) of this title of the failure, except under exceptional circumstances, to appear at such proceedings.30

In plain language, Section 1229 mandates that an NTA must include the date and time of a hearing,31 Under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.14, "Jurisdiction vests, and proceedings before an Immigration Judge commence , when a charging document is filed with the Immigration Court by the Service."32 This is critical, as 8 C.F.R. § 1003.13 clearly requires a charging document before the Immigration Court has jurisdiction over the removal proceedings.33 Thus, a proper NTA is a jurisdictional requirement for the Immigration Court.

In Pereira v. Sessions ,34

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Bluebook (online)
365 F. Supp. 3d 782, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-chavez-flores-txwd-2019.