Matter of Gabriel Almanza-Arenas, 24 I. & N. Dec. 771 (BIA. Apr. 13, 2009) (noncitizen who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude has been "convicted of an offense under" INA 237(a)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)(2006), and is therefore ineligible for cancellation of removal under INA 240A(b)(1)(C), regardless of his status as an arriving alien or his eligibility for a petty offense exception under INA 212(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II)).

In the light of the recent published decision by outgoing Attorney General Mukasey, Matter of Silva-Trevino 24 I. & N. Dec. 687 (A.G. November 2008), the question of what is a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) and the methodology for deciding it, is currently unsettled. The Ninth Circuits recent 7-5 en banc decision in Marmolejo-Campos v. Holder, 558 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 2009), added to this uncertainty by holding that where the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) rules on "moral turpitude" in a precedential decision, the Court will apply the doctrine of administrative deference.

Matter of MAS, 24 I. & N. Dec. 762 (BIA Mar. 19, 2009) (Immigration Judge may order an alien detained until departure as a condition of a grant of voluntary departure).

Matter of Louissaint, 24 I. & N. Dec. 754 (BIA Mar. 18, 2009) (Florida conviction of burglary of an occupied dwelling, in violation of Florida Statutes 810.02(3)(a), is categorically a conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude, because there is no "realistic probability" that it would be applied to reach conduct that does not involve moral turpitude, and the offense, as defined by its statutory elements is one in which moral turpitude necessarily inheres: "We find . . .

United States v. Mondragon-Santiago, ___ F.3d ___, 2009 WL 782894 (5th Cir. Mar. 26, 2009) ("Deferred adjudication probation in Texas does not impose a sentence of imprisonment, and thus does not involve a term of imprisonment. From this analysis we conclude that Mondragon-Santiago's four years of deferred adjudication probation under Texas law is not a term of imprisonment under 1101(a)(48)(B), and thus is not an aggravated felony under 1101(a)(43)(F).").

United States v. Ellis, ___ F.3d ___, 2009 WL 783262 (5th Cir. Mar. 26, 2009) (North Carolina conviction of attempted common law robbery, "the felonious, non-consensual taking of money or personal property from the person or presence of another by means of violence or fear," see N.C. Gen. Stat.

United States v. Ellis, ___ F.3d ___, 2009 WL 783262 (5th Cir. Mar. 26, 2009) (the Model Penal Code 5.01(1) "substantial step" definition of "attempt" is the majority view, having been adopted by 12 circuits plus 26 states, and arguably should be used to define the term for purposes of the Taylor v. United States analysis in the career offender sentence enhancement context of USSG 4B1.2).

Temporary Protected Status is barred by convictions for one felony or two misdemeanors. Therefore, a single aggravated felony conviction does not bar TPS if it is a misdemeanor, so long as it does not otherwise trigger inadmissibility, for example, as a CMT or controlled substances conviction. "The statute provides, without qualification, that administrative procedures will not prevent an alien from asserting his right to TPS in removal proceedings." In re Barrientos 24 I. & N. Dec. 100, 102 (BIA 2007).

Lopez v. Holder, ___ F.3d ___, 2009 WL 682991 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2009) (magistrate judge who heard earlier habeas petition did not have jurisdiction to hear later petition for review, without petitioner's consent, since it was a different case than the earlier proceeding).

Lopez v. Holder, ___ F.3d ___, 2009 WL 682991 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2009) (magistrate judge who heard earlier habeas petition did not have jurisdiction to hear later petition for review, without petitioner's consent, since it was a different case than the earlier proceeding).