No. 20-6464

Benito Moreno-Rodriguez v. United States

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2020-11-27
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: collateral-attack due-process illegal-reentry immigration-court immigration-law jurisdictional-challenge notice-to-appear removal-order removal-proceedings statutory-interpretation
Latest Conference: 2021-01-08
Question Presented (from Petition)

Benito Moreno-Rodriguez, like many noncitizen defendants, was ordered removed by an immigration judge after being served a document titled "notice to appear" that did not tell Mr. Moreno when to appear for removal proceedings. The statute requires that noncitizens facing removal proceedings be served a notice to appear with a hearing time. 8 U.S.C. § 1229(a)(1)(G)(i). Mr. Moreno was convicted of illegal reentry based on that putative removal order. The questions presented are:

1. Did the immigration court lack authority to remove Mr. Moreno because he was not served a notice to appear that had a hearing time?

2. In an illegal reentry prosecution, can the defendant attack the jurisdictional basis for a removal order outside the 8 U.S.C. § 1326(d) requirements for a collateral attack? If not, is § 1326(d) unconstitutional?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Did the immigration court lack authority to remove Mr. Moreno because he was not served a notice to appear that had a hearing time?

Docket Entries

2021-01-11
Petition DENIED.
2020-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/8/2021.
2020-12-16
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2020-11-23
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 28, 2020)

Attorneys

Benito Moreno-Rodriguez
Kristin L. DavidsonFederal Public Defender, Petitioner
United States
Jeffrey B. WallActing Solicitor General, Respondent