Mosqueda-Araujo v. Gonzales
Mosqueda-Araujo v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Juana Mosqueda-Araujo (“Mosqueda”) petitions for review of the BIA’s dismissal
Although the exclusionary rule does not generally apply in immigration proceedings, the Supreme Court has left open the possibility of using the exclusionary rule in the case of “egregious violations of Fourth Amendment or other liberties that might transgress notions of fundamental fairness and undermine the probative value of the evidence obtained.” INS v. Lopez-Mendoza, 468 U.S. 1032, 1050, 104 S.Ct. 3479, 82 L.Ed.2d 778 (1984); see also Orhorhaghe v. INS, 38 F.3d 488, 492-93 (9th Cir. 1994). Even if we were to assume that Mosqueda was seized, and that her seizure violated the Fourth Amendment, Agent Arredondo’s conduct did not constitute an “egregious” violation of the Fourth Amendment such that suppression would be required.
Mosqueda also argues that Form 1-213, which was completed by the arresting agent, must be suppressed because her interrogation at the Border Patrol station violated 8 C.F.R. § 287.3. We have held that a violation of an INS regulation invalidates a deportation proceeding only if “the regulation serves a purpose of benefit to the alien” and “the violation prejudiced interests of the alien which were protected by the regulation.” United States v. Calderon-Medina, 591 F.2d 529, 531 (9th Cir. 1979). We agree with the BIA that Mosqueda failed to establish prejudice from the violation of § 287.3 because she had already admitted her alienage and illegal status during her initial questioning on the street by the Border Patrol agent. Therefore, suppression of the Form 1-213 was not required.
Finally, even if the IJ erroneously informed Mosqueda that she would have to answer questions regarding her alienage and immigration status if she chose to testify in support of her motion to suppress Form 1-213, this error was harmless. Mosqueda’s motion to suppress Form 1-213 was not prejudiced by her failure to testify because, as we noted above, she had already admitted her alien-age and immigration status during her initial questioning. Further, there is no indication that she would have testified that Agent Arredondo’s conduct was significantly different from the way Agent Arredondo described it. That is, there is no indication that she would have described “egregious” conduct by Agent Arredondo.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Juana MOSQUEDA-ARAUJO v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published