Wednesday, June 18, 2025

U.S. v. Sanchez (9th Cir. - June 18, 2025)

There are some immigration cases where the petitioner is fairly sympathetic. Other cases tug less on one's heartstrings.

Here, Eliel Nunez Sanchez was brought to the United States by his parents without inspection when he was a child. So he's an undocumented alien, which typically puts him somewhat on the "sympathetic" side of the equation.

Then, when he is 20 years old, he's "convicted of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) while armed and was sentenced to nine months in jail." Somewhat less sympathy there. 

Then, four years later, he's "arrested for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) for sale" and deported to Mexico. Again, as a repeat offender, albeit for a drug crime, somewhat less sympathy.

Then, "between 2010 and 2019, Nunez illegally reentered the United States eight times and was deported seven times." Well, shucks. I totally understand why he'd want to remain in the United States. But there's not a ton of tugging on the heartstrings here.

Finally, "in February 2020, a grand jury in the Central District of California charged Nunez with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been subject to an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal" and sentenced to two years in prison. He appeals the conviction, but loses both below and in the Ninth Circuit.

Maybe he'll stay in Mexico at this point. Perhaps not. Time will tell.