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FAMILY COURT SHOULD HAVE APPOINTED PETITIONER GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD AND SHOULD HAVE MADE THE FINDINGS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO PETITION FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined petitioner should have been appointed guardian of the child and Family Court should have made the findings necessary for the child to petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS):

Upon our independent factual review of the record, we find that the subject child’s best interests would be served by the appointment of the petitioner as his guardian … . …

… [T]he subject child is under the age of 21 and unmarried, and since we have appointed the petitioner as the subject child’s guardian, the subject child is dependent on a juvenile court within the meaning of 8 USC § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i) … . Further, based upon our independent factual review, the record supports a finding that reunification of the subject child with his father is not a viable option due to parental abandonment … . Lastly, the record reflects that it would not be in the subject child’s best interests to be returned to El Salvador, his previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence … . Matter of Jose E. S. G., 2021 NY Slip Op 02294, Second Dept 4-14-21

 

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DEFENDANT DEMONSTRATED (1) HE WAS MISADVISED THAT HIS GUILTY PLEA WOULD NOT RESULT IN DEPORTATION AND (2), HAD HE BEEN PROPERLY ADVISED, A DECISION TO GO TO TRIAL WOULD HAVE BEEN RATIONAL; DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO VACATE HIS CONVICTION WAS PROPERLY GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, affirming Supreme Court’s granting of defendant’s motion to vacate his conviction, determined defendant had demonstrated at the hearing he was misadvised that the contempt charge to which he pled guilty was not a deportable offense and that he would not have pled guilty but for that misadvice:

… [T]he record supported the Supreme Court’s determination that there was a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s misadvice, the defendant would not have pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in the second degree … . While the defendant did not testify at the hearing, defense counsel and the defendant’s former immigration counsel both testified to his being focused on the immigration consequences of his plea and his determination to plead guilty only after being incorrectly advised that a conviction of criminal contempt in the second degree would not render him deportable … . …

“[A]n evaluation of whether an individual in the defendant’s position could rationally reject a plea offer and proceed to trial must take into account the particular circumstances informing the defendant’s desire to remain in the United States. Those particular circumstances must then be weighed along with other relevant factors, such as the strength of the People’s evidence, the potential sentence, and the effect of prior convictions” … . The evidence elicited at the hearing established that the defendant had resided in the United States since 1988 and had five children, all citizens of the United States, whose care and well-being were priorities for him. Under the circumstances, notwithstanding the apparent strength of the People’s case against the defendant, we cannot say that a decision to face the risks of proceeding to trial, including the exposure to a harsher sentence, would not have been rational. People v Saunders, 2021 NY Slip Op 02181, Second Dept 4-7-21

 

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ALTHOUGH THE CO-DEFENDANT WAS SO INFORMED IN DEFENDANT’S PRESENCE, DEFENDANT WAS NOT DIRECTLY INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DEPORTATION BY THE JUDGE; MATTER REMITTED TO GIVE DEFENDANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, remitting the matter to allow defendant to move to withdraw his guilty plea, determined, although the co-defendant, in defendant’s presence, was informed of the possibility of deportation based upon the plea, the defendant, who did not speak English, was not directly so informed by the judge:

During that proceeding, the court posed a question directly to “Mr. Vidalis,” asking if the codefendant understood that he could be deported if he entered a plea of guilty, to which the codefendant answered in the affirmative. The court then stated to the defendant, “Mr. Tapia; do you understand that?” The defendant answered in the affirmative. The court then individually asked the codefendant and the defendant if they had fully discussed “the immigration consequences of this case with your attorney,” to which the defendant answered in the affirmative. However, the court did not specifically instruct the defendant, who required a Spanish interpreter to understand the court and had only a sixth-grade education, that he could be deported if he entered a plea of guilty, nor did the court use the words “deported” or “deportation” in any statement posed directly to the defendant. * * *

… [W]hile the plea record demonstrates that the Supreme Court specifically advised the codefendant of the possibility that he could be deported as a consequence of his plea, the court, in addressing the defendant, simply asked, “Mr. Tapia; do you understand that?” … . In light of the defendant’s limited education and need for a Spanish interpreter to understand the court’s remarks, the court’s limited inquiry as to whether the defendant understood “that” did not ensure the defendant’s understanding that he could be deported as a consequence of his own plea, as opposed to his mere recognition that the codefendant faced deportation consequences … . People v Tapia, 2021 NY Slip Op 01274, Second Dept 3-3-21

 

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FAMILY COURT SHOULD HAVE MADE FINDINGS WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO APPLY FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined Family Court should have made findings which would allow the children to petition for special immigrant juvenile state (SIJS):

… [B]ased upon our independent factual review, the record supports a finding that reunification of the children with their father is not viable due to the father’s abandonment of the children …., and educational neglect of the child … . Further, the record supports a finding that it would not be in the best interests of the children to return to Guatemala, their previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence … . Matter of Briceyda M. A. X. (Hugo R. A. O.–Maria H. X. C.), 2021 NY Slip Op 00180, Second Dept 1-13-21

 

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UPWARD DEPARTURE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE DEFENDANT COMMITTED RAPE TO TAKE REVENGE UPON SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE VICTIM; THE FACT DEFENDANT HAD BEEN DEPORTED DID NOT RENDER THE APPEAL MOOT (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a brief memorandum decision, upheld the Appellate Division’s finding that the upward departure was justified because it was based on a risk factor not addressed the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) Guidelines. The court noted that the fact defendant had been deported did not render the appeal moot:

Under the circumstances presented here, we reject the People’s argument that defendant’s appeal is rendered moot by his deportation … . On the merits, we conclude that it was not an abuse of discretion for the Appellate Division to sustain the upward departure based on the People’s proof that defendant raped the victim in order to take revenge upon someone other than the victim—a risk factor not adequately captured by the Guidelines. People v Rosario, 2020 NY Slip Op 07688, CtApp 12-22-20

 

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CLAIMANT, AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WITHOUT A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DEMONSTRATED DILIGENT EFFORTS TO FIND WORK AFTER HE WAS INJURED; THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED HIS CLAIM FOR BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing the Workers’ Compensation Board’s denial of benefits to claimant, an undocumented immigrant, over a two-justice dissent, determined claimant had made a sufficient showing of diligent efforts to find work (labor market attachment) after he was injured:

… “[T]he status of an injured worker as an undocumented alien does not, in and of itself, prohibit an award of workers’ compensation benefits” … , unless the worker cannot satisfy statutory requirements … . Likewise, the Board has recognized that an injured worker’s undocumented status “does not eliminate his [or her] need to make a reasonable search for work” … . …

The evidence at the hearing established that claimant attended school through the ninth grade in his country of birth and has exclusively worked in construction, both before coming to the United States at age 23 and for the eight years thereafter, until sustaining the subject injuries while performing heavy lifting at the employer’s construction site. With respect to his attachment to the labor market, claimant submitted completed forms listing 62 businesses to which he applied for work between April and December 2018 as a prep cook, dishwasher, restaurant helper and ironing worker. He identified potential employers by walking around two boroughs of New York City two or three days per week, seeking work that would not require a Social Security number, which he lacked due to his undocumented status. He applied for both non-construction jobs, for which he lacked experience and language skills, and construction jobs, for which he had limited physical abilities due to his injuries. Potential employers informed claimant that (1) they were not hiring, (2) he lacked the requisite experience or (3) they could not hire him without a Social Security number. Claimant produced documentation establishing that he sought assistance from Workforce1, a job location service, which aided him in the preparation of a work-history rÉsumÉ in English; however, despite his willingness to use this service, Workforce1 ultimately advised him that he was unable to use its services for his job search because he lacked a Social Security number. Claimant registered at an adult learning center in order to take English language courses, but was placed on a wait list and, as of the time of the hearing, had yet to be contacted regarding an opening. Matter of Policarpio v Rally Restoration Corp., 2020 NY Slip Op 07442, Third Dept 12-10-20

 

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THE SENTENCING JUDGE DID NOT INFORM DEFENDANT OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES FOR NONCITIZENS; MATTER REMITTED TO GIVE THE DEFENDANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO VACATE HER GUILTY PLEA, DESPITE THE FACT DEFENSE COUNSEL TOLD THE JUDGE THAT DEFENDANT SAID SHE WAS A CITIZEN (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department remitted the matter to allow defendant the opportunity to move to vacate her plea of guilty based upon the sentencing court’s failure to inform the defendant of the immigration consequences for noncitizens. Defense counsel had informed the court that defendant had informed him she was a citizen:

… [D]efense counsel’s statement during the plea proceeding that the defendant had informed him that she was a citizen of the United States did not absolve the court of its obligations pursuant to Peque [22 NY3d 168]. As we explained in People v Williams, “a trial court should not ask a defendant whether he or she is a United States citizen and decide whether to advise the defendant of the plea’s deportation consequence based on the defendant’s answer. Instead, a trial court should advise all defendants pleading guilty to felonies that, if they are not United States citizens, their felony guilty plea may expose them to deportation” … .

… [I]n the present case … the presentence investigation report explained that an “immigration record check” had revealed, among other things, that the defendant was not in the United States “legally.”

The defendant’s due process claim is thus properly presented on the defendant’s direct appeal, and in the absence of the warning required under Peque, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Kings County, to afford the defendant an opportunity to move to vacate her plea, and for a report by the Supreme Court thereafter … . People v Ulanov, 2020 NY Slip Op 07108, Second Dept 11-25-20

 

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DEFENDANT’S WAIVER OF APPEAL WAS INVALID; DEFENDANT’S ONE-YEAR SENTENCE, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVED, WAS REDUCED BY ONE DAY IN PART TO ADDRESS THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF A ONE-YEAR SENTENCE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, finding the waiver of appeal invalid, reduced defendant’s sentence by one day based in part on the immigration consequences of a one-year sentences:

The defendant’s purported waiver of his right to appeal was invalid because the Supreme Court’s colloquy mischaracterized the appellate rights waived as encompassing an absolute bar to the taking of a direct appeal, and failed to inform the defendant that appellate review remained available for certain issues … . Further, the written waiver form signed by the defendant was insufficient to overcome the deficiencies in the court’s explanation of the waiver of the right to appeal, since it did not contain language clarifying that appellate review remained available for certain issues … . Thus, the purported waiver does not preclude this Court from reviewing the issue of whether the defendant’s sentence was excessive … .

Although the defendant has served his sentence, the question of whether the sentence imposed should be reduced is not academic, since the sentence may have potential immigration consequences … . People v Joseph, 2020 NY Slip Op 05928, Second Dept 10-21-20

 

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THE FACT THAT PATERNITY HAD NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED DID NOT PRECLUDE MOTHER’S GUARDIANSHIP PETITION OR FINDINGS TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO PETITION FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the petition to have the child’s mother appointed guardian and to make findings necessary for the child to petition for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) should have been granted:

The Family Court should not have dismissed the guardianship petition on the ground that paternity had not been established. A natural parent may be appointed guardian of his or her own child (see Family Ct Act § 661 [a] …), and the mere fact that paternity has not been established for the putative father does not preclude the guardianship petition or the issuance of an order making specific findings enabling the subject child to petition for SIJS … . …

Here, the subject child is under the age of 21 and unmarried, and since we have found that the mother should have been appointed as the subject child’s guardian, a finding also should have been made that the child is dependent on a juvenile court within the meaning of 8 USC § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i) …. Further, based upon our independent factual review, the record supports a finding that reunification of the subject child with his father is not a viable option due to parental abandonment  …. Lastly, the record supports a finding that it would not be in the best interests of the subject child to return to Guatemala … . Matter of Mardin A. M.-I. (Reyna E. M.-I.–Mardin H.), 2020 NY Slip Op 05754, Second Dept 10-14-20

 

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THE APPELLATE COURT, OVER A TWO-JUSTICE DISSENT, REFUSED TO LOWER DEFENDANT’S SENTENCE BY ONE DAY TO AVOID DEPORTATION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, over a two-justice dissent, determined defendant’s one-year sentence for assault, which had already been served at the time of the appeal, should not be reduced by one-day to avoid the immigration consequences of the one-year sentence (deportation):

On this record, even taking into specific consideration the potential immigration consequences of the jury’s verdict and the court’s sentence thereon, and recognizing that the trial judge has the best first-hand knowledge of the case and of the defendant, it cannot be said that the definite term of imprisonment of one year was unduly was harsh or excessive, or that any reduction of one day is warranted to further the interest of justice. …

We have rejected requests for one-day sentence reductions in cases with immigration consequences where the defendants used physical force or violence in the commission of their crimes against others … . …

Here, the defendant’s conduct involved violence against two assault victims, so that a one-day sentence reduction would be an outlier measured against our existing precedents. In any event, to reduce the defendant’s sentence by one day for the purpose of circumventing the normal application of U.S. immigration laws and procedures, in an appeal involving a) physical violence, b) against duly authorized peace officers, c) working in the line of duty, d) causing permanent physical injury to one of the officers, e) and inconsistent with this Court’s prior precedents, builds a bridge that is too far for us to traverse. People v Janvier, 2020 NY Slip Op 04861, Second Dept 9-2-20

 

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