HODEL v. AGUIRRE

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

ALESIA, District Judge.

Before the court is petitioner, Anton Hodel's ("Hodel"), petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241.2 For the following reasons, the court denies Hodel's petition for habeas corpus.

I. BACKGROUND

Hodel is a native and citizen of Austria who was admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 1956. In April 1995, Hodel pleaded guilty and was convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. In July 1996, upon completion of his sentence, Hodel was transferred into the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") pursuant to a detainer lodged by the INS in 1995. On December 9,1997, an Immigration Judge ("IJ") ordered Hodel removed based upon the conviction. The IJ denied Hodel's request for relief from removal under § 212(c) (" § 212(c)") of the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA") on the basis that § 212(c) relief was not available. Hodel appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") and the BIA dismissed his appeal on June 15, 1998. Hodel did not file an appeal of the BIA ruling with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Thus, his removal order became final as of June 15,1998.

On September 24, 1998, Hodel filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. On February 24, 1999, his petition was dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. On February 13, 2003, respondents sent Hodel a notification requiring him to report for his deportation on March 11, 2003. Hodel complied with this request and is currently in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement pursuant to § 241 of the INA("§ 241").

On or about March 6, 2003, Hodel filed a motion to reopen and requested a stay of deportation with the BIA based on the Supreme Court decision INS v. St Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 121 S.Ct. 2271, 150 L.Ed.2d 347 (2001), which held relief under § 212(c) is available to individuals who pleaded guilty and were convicted before the effective date of the Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. On March 25, 2003, the BIA issued a stay of removal pending its consideration of the motion to reopen. On March 31, 2003, Hodel filed this petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (" § 2241"), claiming that § 241 violates his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment, and requesting his immediate release from detention.

First, respondents argue this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because 8 U.S.C. § 1252(g) (" § 1252(g)") precludes review and Hodel has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. Second, respondents claim Hodel's challenge to his detention is not ripe for judicial review under the statutory scheme of the INA. The court will address each of respondents' arguments in turn.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

1. Section 1252(g)

Respondents argue this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Specifically, respondents assert this case is barred by § 1252(g) as it involves a decision of the Attorney General to execute a removal order. Section 1252(g) provides:

8 U.S.C. § 1252(g). The Supreme Court narrowed the scope of § 1252(g) by finding it applies only to three discrete actions, the Attorney General's decision to "commence proceedings, adjudicate cases, or execute removal orders." Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Comm., 525 U.S. 471, 482, 119 S.Ct. 936, 142 L.Ed.2d 940 (1999).

This case is in a unique procedural posture as Hodel is subject to a final order of removal, but has been granted a stay of deportation by the BIA pending consideration of his motion to reopen. Thus, Hodel is not asking the court to block a decision to "commence proceedings, adjudicate cases, or execute removal orders." Instead, Hodel's petition concerns his detention while his motion to reopen is pending, which is beyond the scope of § 1252(g). See Parra v. Ferryman, 172 F.3d 954, 957 (7th Cir.1999) (finding § 1252(g) did not preclude review of claim concerning detention while the administrative process lasts); Mow v. INS, 58 F.Supp.2d 854, 859 (N.D.Ill.1999) (finding § 1252(g) inapplicable to petitioner's challenge to detention pursuant to § 1231). Further, the Supreme Court held that § 1252(g) did not deprive federal courts of habeas jurisdiction pursuant to § 2241 to review pure questions of law. INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 314, 121 S.Ct. 2271, 150 L.Ed.2d 347 (2001). Thus, § 1252(g) does not foreclose review and the court may address the questions of law raised by Hodel. Therefore, the court has subject matter jurisdiction.3

2. Exhaustion of administrative remedies

Respondents also argue Hodel must exhaust his administrative remedies before invoking the jurisdiction of this court. Generally, parties must exhaust available administrative remedies before seeking relief from the federal courts. Yanez v. Holder, 149 F.Supp.2d 485, 489 (N.D.Ill.2001) (citing McCarthy v. Madigan, 503 U.S. 140, 144-5, 112 S.Ct. 1081, 117 L.Ed.2d 291 (1992)). However, exhaustion of administrative remedies is not required if the administrative agency lacks the competence to resolve the particular issue presented. Id. (citing McCarthy, 503 U.S. at 146-48,112 S.Ct. 1081).

In this case, Hodel raises a constitutional challenge to § 241. Administrative agencies lack the authority to deal dispositively with constitutional challenges. Singh v. Reno, 182 F.3d 504, 510 (7th Cir.1999); Castanada-Suarez v. INS, 993 F.2d 142, 144 (7th Cir.1993) (stating "due process claims are generally exempt from the exhaustion requirement because the [BIA] does not have authority to adjudicate constitutional issues."). Thus, courts have waived the exhaustion requirement of administrative remedies for petitioners who raise constitutional issues. Yanez, 149 F.Supp.2d at 489 (citing cases). Therefore, because Hodel premises his petition on his due process claim, the exhaustion requirement is waived in this case.

Neither § 1252(g) nor the exhaustion requirement preclude the court from exercising jurisdiction in this case. Thus, the court has subject matter jurisdiction under the basic federal habeas corpus statute, § 2241, which grants the court authority to determine whether detention is statutorily proper.4 Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 699, 121 S.Ct. 2491, 150 L.Ed.2d 653 (2001). Because the court has determined that it has subject matter jurisdiction, the court will now address Hodel's detention pursuant to § 241.

B. Section 241 of the INA

The parties agree that Hodel is being detained pursuant to § 241. Hodel challenges the application of § 241 as violative of his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. Respondents argue that Hodel's claim is not ripe for judicial review under the statutory scheme of the INA.

According to § 241, once an alien is ordered removed, the Attorney General has ninety days, known as the removal period, in which to remove the alien. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1)(A). During the removal period, aliens convicted of aggravated felonies and crimes involving controlled substances must be detained by the Attorney General. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(2). After the ninety-day removal period the Attorney General may continue to detain aliens that are removable because they have committed serious crimes or have been determined to be a risk to the community or unlikely to comply with the removal order. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(6).

Both parties rely upon Zadvydas v. Davis to support their arguments. In Zadvydas, the Supreme Court limited an alien's detention pursuant to the post-removal-period detention statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(6), to a period reasonably necessary to bring about the alien's removal and held the statute does not permit indefinite detention. Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 689, 121 S.Ct. 2491, 150 L.Ed.2d 653 (2001). The Court established a six-month period of post-removal-order detention to be presumptively reasonable. Id. at 701, 121 S.Ct. 2491.

In this case, Hodel has been in custody since March 11, 2003 and the ninety-day removal period has not yet expired.5 Under § 241(a), Hodel qualifies as an alien convicted of an aggravated felony who cannot be released under any circumstances during the ninety-day removal period. Additionally, the six-month period deemed reasonable by the Supreme Court in Zadvydas has not yet expired. Thus, no relief is available for Hodel. In sum, the court finds Hodel is not entitled to relief because his detention is required by § 241 and deemed reasonable under the Supreme Court's decision in Zadvydas.

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the court denies Hodel's petition for a writ of habeas corpus.