United States v. Montoya-Robles

935 F. Supp. 1196, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11538, 1996 WL 450262
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedAugust 7, 1996
Docket2:96-cr-00064
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 935 F. Supp. 1196 (United States v. Montoya-Robles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Montoya-Robles, 935 F. Supp. 1196, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11538, 1996 WL 450262 (D. Utah 1996).

Opinion

ORDER

SAM, District Judge.

Before the court is an “Appeal From and Objection to Report and Recommendation” filed by defendant Jose Montoya-Robles. By this document, defendant objects to a Report and Recommendation signed by the magistrate judge on June 28,1996.

The court has considered the matter de novo and concludes that the Report and Recommendation is correct in every material respect and adopts it as the court’s own opinion. Accordingly, defendant’s motion to suppress is hereby DENIED.

REPORT & RECOMMENDATION

BOYCE, United States Magistrate Judge.

The defendant, Jose Montoya-Robles, has been indicted on one count of reentry of a deported alien subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony (8 U.S.C. § 1326) (File Entry # 9). The defendant has made a motion to suppress “statements of the defendant under 18 U.S.C. § 3501(a) and based on alleged violation of the Constitution of the United States” (File Entry # 16). The defendant also seeks suppression of the “fruits” of the statements. The defendant contends a statement was taken from him in violation of *1198 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Defendant contends that prior to his deportation from the United States through the port of El Paso, Texas, on various instances, defendant was interviewed by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officers relative to his citizenship and status and no Miranda warnings were given to the defendant (Defendant’s memorandum, File Entry # 17). Defendant contends that on May 1, 1994 when he was again found in the United States in Texas he was again questioned by INS agents without Miranda warnings. Defendant contends there may also have been other such questioning by INS agents. The defendant also contends that all records of defendant’s prior deportations must be suppressed (Id.).

The United States filed a response to the motion (File Entry # 23). It states that no evidence of any statements defendant made to any INS agent will be offered at trial, except for a statement made by defendant to INS Special agent Creighton West on March 26,1996. That statement was preceded by a Miranda warning and a waiver of rights was made by defendant.

The United States indicated it would offer into evidence orders to show cause, warrants of deportation, immigration judge orders, and advice of felony which relate to each of five deportations the United States contends apply to the defendant. An audio tape or transcript of defendant’s deportation hearing of September 18, 1995 will be offered in evidence. The United States also contends no Miranda warning was required to be given by INS agents interviewing the defendant for deportation (File Entry # 23).

Hearing on the motion to suppress was held on May 20, 1996. On May 30, 1996 the defendant submitted a supplemental memorandum (File Entry # 26) in which defendant contends the Miranda warning given to defendant by Agent West was defective because there was no specific statement that counsel would be appointed for the defendant “free of charge” if he could not afford counsel (Id.). The United States submitted a supplemental response asserting the Miranda warning that was given to the defendant was adequate (File Entry # 29).

The case has been referred to the magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). This report and recommendation is submitted pursuant to the reference on the defendant’s motion to suppress.

Evidence and Hearing

At hearing, counsel for the defendant Montoya-Robles indicated that some of the evidence relative to Montoya-Robles status, entry into, and deportation from the United States on more than one occasion is from Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) records. (Tr. pp. 3-4). The defendant contends the information in the records was obtained by questioning the defendant, without benefit of a Miranda warning. 1 The INS created a record entitled “record of deportable alien” during an administrative interview with the defendant (Tr. p. 4). Defendant contended potentially incriminating statements as to family history and nationality were obtained (Tr. pp. 4-5). Also, during such an interview, the legality of the defendant’s entry was asked about. Eventually this inquiry gave rise to deportation proceedings before an immigration judge. At that point the defendant was afforded an opportunity to obtain an attorney (Tr. p. 5). If a waiver of rights was obtained the defendant was deported (Tr. p. 6). Defendant contends the original administrative interviews required a Miranda warning. Defendant contends the orders and information acquired in the deportation proceedings are the fruit of prior illegal interrogation.

The United States represented that the first record of defendant’s deportation is May 27, 1993 under the name of Fausto Velasquez-Rojas (Tr. p. 16). The United States indicated it intended to introduce into evidence records from the deportation proceedings. The United States intends to offer the orders to show cause, the orders of the immigration judges, 1-294 forms which advise the alien of the potential penalties on reentry, and the warranto of deportation (Tr. p. 16). A tape of the last deportation proceeding or *1199 a transcript will be introduced (Id.). No statement of the defendant will be offered except the interview on March 26, 1996, following defendant’s last arrest. The statement was given to Special Agent Creighton West of the INS, after preinterrogation warnings (Tr. p. 17). Statements made during prior deportations will not be introduced. Consequently, no consideration as to Miranda need be given, as to those matters, except as to whether the records of the INS, including the deportation proceedings, are “tainted” by the circumstances defendant says occurred.

The United States will also seek to introduce a memorandum conviction of defendant under 8 U.S.C. § 1325 which occurred May 4, 1994 and his deportation on August 3, 1994, under the name of Miguel Zamora-Gareia (Tr. p. 18). Records of five deportations will be offered. The records to be introduced are Exhibits 2-20.

Defendant did not testify or provide any affidavits as to the absence of Miranda warnings in conjunction with any prior deportation action. His position is based only on argument.

Defendant also challenges the admissibility of the statement given to Agent Creighton West. Agent West testified at the suppression hearing.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
935 F. Supp. 1196, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11538, 1996 WL 450262, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-montoya-robles-utd-1996.