In this unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) administratively closed proceedings in light of the approval of the respondent’s U visa application and the grant of deferred action until a U visa becomes available. The decision was written by Member Edward Grant.
Looking for IRAC’s Index of Unpublished BIA Decisions? Visit www.irac.net/unpublished/index
In this unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) administratively closed proceedings in light of the approval of the respondent’s U visa application and the grant of deferred action until a U visa becomes available. The decision was written by Member Edward Grant.
Looking for IRAC’s Index of Unpublished BIA Decisions? Visit www.irac.net/unpublished/index
In this unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) administratively closed proceedings in light of the approval of the respondent’s U visa application and the grant of deferred action until a U visa becomes available. The decision was written by Member Edward Grant.
Looking for IRAC’s Index of Unpublished BIA Decisions? Visit www.irac.net/unpublished/index
In this unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) administratively closed proceedings in light of the approval of the respondent’s U visa application and the grant of deferred action until a U visa becomes available. The decision was written by Member Edward Grant.
Looking for IRAC’s Index of Unpublished BIA Decisions? Visit www.irac.net/unpublished/index
Executive Ofce fr Imigration Review Board of Immigration Appeals Ofce of the Clerk 5107 leeburg Pike, Suite 2000 Fall Church, Vrginia 20530 The Law Ofice of Rober D. Ahlgren 33 N. LaSalle Street OHS/ICE Ofice of Chief Counsel CHI 525 West Van Buren Street Chicago, IL 60607 Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60602 Name: BARBA ARREAGA, GUSTAVO A 077-772-631 Date of this notice: 6/2/2014 Enclosed is a copy of the Boad's decision and order in the above-refrenced case. Enclosure Panel Members: Grant, Edward R. Sincerely, DO cl Donna Car Chief Clerk Trane Userteam: Docket For more unpublished BIA decisions, visit www.irac.net/unpublished I m m i g r a n t
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w w w . i r a c . n e t Cite as: Gustavo Barba Arreaga, A077 772 631 (BIA June 2, 2014) U.S. Department of Justice Executive Ofce fr Immigration Review Decision of the Board of Immigation Appeals Falls Church, Virginia 20530 File: A077 772 631 - Chicago, IL In re: GUST A VO BARA AREAGA IN RMOVAL PROCEEDINGS APPEAL Date: ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT: Julio A. Noboa, Esquire ON BEHALF OF DHS: Alexandra Kostich Assistant Chief Counsel APPLICATION: Continuance; termination JUN - 2 2014 The respondent, a native and citizen of Mexico, appeals the Immigration Judge's decision, dated July 11, 2013, which denied his motion to continue to await the adjudication of his application fr a U-visa. While the respondent's appeal was pending, the United States Citizenship ad Immigration Serices ("USCIS") approved his U-visa application and placed the respondent in defrred action until a U-visa becomes available. Under tese circumstances, we fnd it appropriate to administratively close the respondent's removal proceedings. If either pary to this case wishes to reinstate the proceedings, a written request to reinstate the proceedings may be made to the Board of Immigration Appeals ("Board"). The Board will take no fher action in the case unless a request is received fom one of the paies. The request must be submited directly to the Clerk's Offce, without fe, but with cerifcation of service on the opposing pary. Accordingly, the fllowing order will be entered. ORER: The proceedings befre the B(ard of Immigration Appeals in tis case ae administratively closed. I m m i g r a n t
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w w w . i r a c . n e t Cite as: Gustavo Barba Arreaga, A077 772 631 (BIA June 2, 2014) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW IMMIGRATION COURT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS File: A077-772-631 In the Matter of July 11, 2013 GUSTAVO BARBA ARREAGA, RESPONDENT IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS CHARGES: Section 212(a)(6)(A)(i) of the INA; Section 212(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the INA-an intending immigrant. APPLICATION: Motion to continue proceedings pursuant to 8 C.F.R. Section 1003.29. ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT: JULIO A. NOVOA, ESQUIRE 105 West Madison Street, Suite 508 Chicago, IL 60602 ON BEHALF OF OHS: ALEXANDRA KOSTICH, ESQUIRE Department of Homeland Security 525 West Van Buren, Suite 701 Chicago, IL 60607 ORAL DECISION OF THE IMMIGRATION JUDGE Respondent is an adult male, native and citizen of Mexico whose presence was discovered by the Department of Homeland Security prior to July 28 of 2011. On July 28 of 2011, the respondent was taken into the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. He was processed for removal proceedings and given a copy of his Notice to 1 I m m i g r a n t
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w w w . i r a c . n e t Appear which he verified receipt of by his signature and fingerprint. See Exhibit 1. The respondent was scheduled for a hearing, and on July 11 of 2013, the respondent appeared with counsel, admitted the factual allegations, conceded removability as charged, designated Mexico as the country of removal, and consequently removability has been established by clear and convincing evidence. See 8 C.F.R. Section 1240.8 (2012). The respondent, through counsel, provided this Court with various documents in support of his having filed an 1-918 petition for U non-immigrant status. The respondent had submitted various forms, including certification indicating that he was the victim of an ofense which supports the filing of a U-visa on his behalf. See Exhibit 2. On this basis, the respondent has requested additional time pursuant to the regulations in support of his motion to continue. The regulations do provide for continuances if there is "good cause." See 8 C.F.R. Section 1003.29. In considering the respondent's request for a continuance, he has also pointed out that the Board of Immigration Appeals in a case entitled Sanchez-Sosa, 25 l&N Dec. 807 (BIA 2012), supports a continuance. In reviewing Sanchez-Sosa, supra, this Judge is mindful of the Board's discussion, particularly those factors which it has cited to as factors relative to a request for a continuance, also have been discussed by the case cited by the Board in 2009 entitled Matter of Hashmi, 24 l&N Dec. 785 (BIA 2009). As the Board discussed in Sanchez-Sosa, the Hashmi factors to be considered in particular are: ( 1) the OHS' response to the motion; (2) whether the underlying visa petition is prima facie approvable; and (3) the reason for the continuance and other procedural factors. Turning to the instant case, the Deparment has expressed its opposition to the A077-772-631 2 July 11, 2013 I m m i g r a n t
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w w w . i r a c . n e t motion to continue as well as to the motion or any potential request for a voluntary departure. Apparently, the Deparment's decision is premised on the respondent's having received voluntar departure, having departed the United States pursuant to the voluntary departure and immediately having returned to the United States despite the fact that the respondent was of the clear understanding that he was not to return to the United States unless it was lawul. As the record indicates, the respondent entered the United States without being admitted or paroled as an intended immigrant. The second factor as discussed in Sanchez-Sosa is whether the underlying visa petition is prima facie approvable. Review of the documents appears to support the fact that the respondent has a signed certification which is the starting point for his non-immigrant visa. This element apparently has been met by the respondent. The third prong to be considered by the Board is Sanchez-Sosa is the reason for the continuance, as well as other procedural factors. In the instant case, the respondent simply is asking for time to have his U-visa adjudicated. The respondent initially indicated that he believed he was eligible for non-LPR cancellation of removal. Afer all, if there were other potential forms of relief that he is eligible for, those frms of relief might entitle the respondent to a full hearing separate and apart from any type of non-immigrant status requested. In the instant case, the respondent apparently is not eligible for non-LPR cancellation of removal because the respondent left the United States pursuant to a voluntary departure order entered by this Judge on about July 12 of 2001, and reentered the United States sometime in about December of 2001. As indicated previously, the Notice to Appear was personally served on the respondent on July 28 of 2011. Working backwards, the respondent needed to establish physical presence in the United States prior to July 28 of 2001. At that point, the respondent had just exited this Court before this Judge with an order of voluntary departure in hand, A077-772-631 3 July 11, 2013 I m m i g r a n t
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w w w . i r a c . n e t which had just been given to him about two weeks earlier on about July 12 of 2001. He had not departed the United States yet. Consequently, once the respondent departed the United States and reentered in December of 2001, his continuous physical presence began anew. Consequently, he lacks the ten years' physical presence in order to be statutorily eligible for non-LPR cancellation of removal pursuant to Section 240A(b)(1)(A) of the Act. Consequently, respondent's only form of relief in the instant case is a non-immigrant visa pursuant to the U classification. Given the respondent's prior Immigration violation, his knowingly having reentered the United States in violation of this Judge's order in the past, this Cour will deny the motion to continue. In the exercise of discretion, this Judge has also considered the motion to continue and has denied that motion. Alternatively, the respondent has not requested any other forms of relief. Consequently, the following order will be entered. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the respondent's motion to continue will be denied in the exercise of discretion. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the respondent be removed to and depored from the United States to Mexico on the charges contained in the Notice to Appear. Date: July 11, 2013. A077-772-631 CARLOS CUEVAS U.S. Immigration Judge 4 July 11, 2013 I m m i g r a n t