Safe Havens



 
 

§ 7.98 (B)

 
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(B)  Physical Contact.  Lack of physical contact does not bar a finding of “sexual abuse of a minor.”  The Ninth Circuit in Baron-Medina included as “sexual abuse of a minor” an act with a child under 14 that does not involve touching between the two parties but does involve lewd intent.  The BIA defined indecent exposure, with no contact, as sexual abuse of a minor in Rodriguez-Rodriguez.

Under this rule, even offenses such as the California misdemeanor “annoying or molesting a child”[828] may be held to be an aggravated felony.

 

Actual physical contact, including penetration of or contact with the genitals will be sufficient to constitute sexual abuse under both the federal statutes and common-sense definition.[829]


[828] California Penal Code § 647.6(a).

[829] Lara-Ruiz v. INS, 241 F.3d 934 (7th Cir. 2001) (contact of the genitals); Guerrero-Perez v. INS, 256 F.3d 546 (7th Cir. 2001) (penetration).

 

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