(A)  Assault.  Even a misdemeanor assault with a one-year suspended sentence imposed may qualify as an aggravated felony crime of violence.  Therefore, even a conviction for simple assault is potentially devastating for a noncitizen who may have only committed the most minor of offenses.  Where possible, a qualifying sentence should be avoided.[199]

 

Fortunately, a number of circuits now recognize that to qualify as a crime of violence, the assault must actually involve violent force, and that a number of state assault statutes may be committed with only an unwanted or de minimis touching.  Therefore a number of minor offenses can be argued not to be crimes of violence because they do not necessarily require violent force to convict.[200]

 

There are many different levels and forms of assault, from simple assault to aggravated sexual assault on a child with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury.  Counsel must apply a categorical analysis, described in Chapter 4, supra, to determine the exact set of elements of conviction, and to argue that the immigration authorities are not allowed to look beyond this set of elements to determine, for example, whether the assault involved a spouse or a child.

[199] See § § 3.55, et seq., supra.

[200] See § 5.20, supra.

Fifth Circuit

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - FORCIBLE SEXUAL CONTACT
United States v. Rosas-Pulido , 526 F.3d 829 (5th Cir. May 2, 2008) (Minnesota conviction for unlawful sexual contact, in violation of M.S.A. 609.345(1)(c), punishing use of "force or coercion to accomplish" sexual contact is not a "forcible" sex offense for illegal re-entry sentencing purposes as the minimum conduct punishable under the statute includes a 14 year old giving a nipple twister to a classmate, an offense that does not involve forcible compulsion), citing In Re DLK, 381 N.W.2d 435, 436 (Minn. 1986) (nipple twister case).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - FIREARMS - POSSESSION OF DEADLY WEAPON IN PENAL INSTITUTION
United States v. Rodriguez-Jaimes, __ F.3d __ (5th Cir. March 09, 2007) (Texas conviction for possession of a deadly weapon in a penal institution, in violation of Texas Penal Code 46.10(a)(2) is a crime of violence for Armed Career Criminal Act sentencing purposes, since it involves a serious potential risk of physical injury). http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/5th/0640281cr0p.pdf

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
United States v. Mendoza-Sanchez, ___ F.3d ___, 2006 WL 1966655 (5th Cir. Jul. 14, 2006) (Arkansas conviction of burglary, in violation of Ark.Code Ann. 5-39-201(a), constituted enumerated offense of "burglary of a dwelling," justifying application of sentencing guideline's 16-level crime of violence enhancement; although the record of conviction did not show burglary of a dwelling, defendant admitted to district court in illegal re-entry prosecution that offense was, in fact, burglary of a dwelling).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
United States v. Sanchez-Ruedas, __ F.3d __ (5th Cir. Jun. 12, 2006) (California conviction for violation of Penal Code 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon, constitutes "aggravated assault" and is thus a crime of violence for illegal re-entry sentencing purposes). http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/5th/0540804cr0p.pdf

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - THIRD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT
United States v. Fernandez-Cusco, __ F.3d __ (5th Cir. Apr. 20, 2006) (Minnesota felony conviction for third degree sexual conduct, under Minn. Stat. 8 609.344, is not necessarily a "forcible sex offense," and therefore not categorically a crime of violence for illegal re-entry sentencing purposes).
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/5th/0540289cr0p.pdf

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - BURGLARY
United States v. Murillo-Lopez, __ F.3d __ (5th Cir. Mar. 22, 2006) (California conviction for burglary, in violation of Penal Code 459, is a crime of violence for purposes of 16-level sentence enhancement upon conviction of illegal re-entry, where defendant admitted, and did not dispute, that he was convicted of burglary of a dwelling, specifically listed as a crime of violence under U.S.S.G. 2L1.2).
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/5th/0441397cr0p.pdf

Eighth Circuit

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIMES OF VIOLENCE - ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER
United States v. Reyes-Solano, F.3d 543 F.3d 474 (8th Cir. Sept. 26, 2008) (Mississippi convictions for domestic assault and assault on a police officer were not categorically "crimes of violence" (defined as including twelve enumerated offenses (none at issue in this case), "or any other federal, state, or local law that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another."), so as to justify a four-level sentence enhancement under USSG 2L1.2(b)(1)(E) for illegal reentry after deportation, because "Absent state court records identifying the offense of conviction, from which the elements of that offense may be determined, the testimony of Reyes-Solano at sentencing is not sufficient proof that actual, attempted, or threatened use of force was an element of the offense and not merely conduct incidental to an offense whose essential elements did not include the use of force. Accordingly, on this record the four-level increase under 2L1.2(b)(1)(E) was improperly imposed.")

Ninth Circuit

AGGRAVATED FELONY " CRIMES OF VIOLENCE " KIDNAPPING
United States v. Marquez-Lobos, 683 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. Jun. 19, 2012) (Arizona conviction of kidnapping, under Arizona Revised Statute 13-1304, is affirmed where it categorically meets the generic definition of "crime of violence" in U.S.S.G. 2L1.2(b)(1)(A), for purposes of imposing a 16-level sentence enhancement for illegal reentry).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - ROBBERY
United States v. Becerril-Lopez, 541 F.3d 881 (9th Cir. Aug. 29, 2008) (California conviction of robbery, in violation of Penal Code 211, constituted crime of violence under USSG 2L1.2(b), because the elements of the offense meet the generic definition of "extortion," one of the enumerated crimes of violence; California Penal Code 211 is does not categorically meet the generic definition of "robbery."), distinguishing United States v. McDougherty, 920 F.2d 569, 574 (9th Cir. 1990) (holding California robbery, under Penal Code 211, constituted a crime of violence under USSG 4B1.2 commentary language as well as 18 U.S.C. 16(b), covering any felony that involved a "substantial risk" that physical force may be used "against the person or property of another", a definition broader than the definition contained in 4B1.2 alone, which identified only those crimes presenting a substantial risk of physical injury to another person (not to property).).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - EXTORTION - CRIME OF MORAL TURPITUDE - EXTORTION
United States v. Becerril-Lopez, 528 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. Jun. 12, 2008) (generic definition of extortion: "obtaining something of value from another with is consent induced by the wrongful use of force, fear, or threats."; extortion includes threats to property and non-immediate danger), citing Scheidler v. Natl Org. for Women, Inc., 537 U.S. 393, 409 (2003).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - ESCAPE
Penuliar v. Ashcroft, 528 F.3d 603 (9th Cir. Jun. 10, 2008) (California conviction for evading an officer, in violation of California Vehicle Code 2800.2(a) is not categorically an aggravated felony crime of violence for immigration purposes).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - SEXUAL ABUSE
United States v. Beltran-Munguia, 489 F.3d 1042 (9th Cir. Jun. 7, 2007) (Oregon conviction of sexual abuse in the second degree, in violation of Oregon Revised Statute 163.425, did not qualify as a "crime of violence," for purposes of 16-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii), of his sentence for illegal reentry after deportation both because the state statute does not make force - be it used, attempted, or threatened - an element of the crime, and because the crime does not constitute a "forcible sex offense" within the meaning of the applicable guideline).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - ASSAULT WITH A FIREARM
United States v. Diaz-Arguenta, __ F.3d __, 2006 WL 1320033 (9th Cir. May 16, 2006) (California conviction for assault with a firearm, in violation of California Penal Code 245(a)(2) is a crime of violence for illegal re-entry sentencing purposes, even though the offense may not qualify as an aggravated felony).

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - SHOOTING AT AN OCCUPIED MOTOR VEHICLE
United States v. Lopez-Torres, ___ F.3d ___ (9th Cir. Apr. 25, 2006) (California conviction for shooting at an occupied motor vehicle under Penal Code 246 is categorically a crime of violence for purposes of enhancement of illegal reentry sentence under USSG 2L1.2).
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0510392p.pdf

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - ESCAPE FROM HALFWAY HOUSE NOT CRIME OF VIOLENCE FOR FEDERAL ARMED CAREER OFFENDER ENHANCEMENT PURPOSES
United States v. Piccolo, 441 F.3d 1084 (9th Cir. Apr. 3, 2006) (Escape conviction under 18 U.S.C. 751(a), which includes failure to return to a non-secured halfway house, is not necessarily a crime of violence for federal armed career offender sentencing purposes). http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0410577p.pdf

Lower Courts of Ninth Circuit

CAL CRIM DEF " SAFE HAVENS " MALICIOUS WITNESS DISSUASION " CRIME OF VIOLENCE " CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE " REALISTIC PROBABILITY OF PROSECUTION
People v. Wahidi, 222 Cal.App.4th 802, 807, 166 Cal.Rptr.3d 416 (2d Dist. Dec. 30, 2013) (defendants request that victim and defendant settle their dispute by Islamic mediation, rather than a criminal case, was held to be both knowing and malicious, within the meaning of the malicious witness dissuasion statute, Penal Code 136.1(a)(2), even though the defendant did not demand the victim drop the charges or threaten any violence: There is no substantial evidence that Wahidi intended to vex, annoy, harm, or injure Khan when Wahidi approached Khan in the mosque. But the evidence does show that Wahidi intended to thwart or interfere in any manner with the orderly administration of justice by convincing Khan not to testify at the preliminary hearing the next day. Under the definition of malice in section 136, Wahidi maliciously attempted to dissuade Khan from testifying.") (emphasis added). Note. Under this decision, California law now defines Penal Code 136.1(a)(2) as including conduct such as a civilized request to resolve an issue according to religious belief and conscience that in no sense of the word involves an element of violence (18 U.S.C. 16(a) or by its nature creates a substantial risk of violence (18 U.S.C. 16(b)). This offense therefore does not constitute an aggravated felony crime of violence. In addition, the conduct here is not depraved, and does not involve an intent to vex, annoy, harm, or injure another. It should therefore not be considered a crime of moral turpitude. It includes conduct motivated solely by religious belief and conscience. This sufficiently establishes a realistic probability of prosecution under this statute for non-removable conduct to prevent a conviction for violating this statute from constituting an aggravated felony crime of violence or crime involving moral turpitude. Thanks to Daniel G. DeGriselles.

Tenth Circuit

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - CALIFORNIA ROBBERY DID NOT QUALIFY AS GENERIC ROBBERY UNDER GUIDELINES
United States v. Servin-Acosta, 534 F.3d 1362 (10th Cir. Jul. 30, 2008) (California conviction for robbery, in violation of Penal Code 211, is not categorically a generic "robbery" offense, and thus a crime of violence, under USSG 2L1.2(b), for illegal re-entry sentencing purposes; Penal Code 211 is broader than generic robbery in that it includes the use of force in escaping after the taking has occurred), agreeing with United States v. Becerril-Lopez, 528 F.3d 1133, 1140-42 (9th Cir. 2008).

Eleventh Circuit

AGGRAVATED FELONY - CRIME OF VIOLENCE - AGGRAVATED STALKING
United States v. Esquivel-Arellano, ___ F.3d ___, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 29538 (11th Cir. Nov. 30, 2006) (Georgia conviction of aggravated stalking, in violation of G.S.A. 16-5-91, prohibits a wide range of conduct and does not categorically constitute a "crime of violence" under U.S.S.G. 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii)).