Rosa Jimenez-Gudino v. Eric Holder, Jr.
Opinion
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
Rosa Maria Jimenez-Gudino (“Jimenez”) petitions for review of two orders of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”), which (1) affirmed an Immigration Judge’s denial of her motion to terminate proceedings and entry of a final order of removal, and (2) denied her motion to reconsider. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 .
The doctrine of collateral estoppel does not preclude Jimenez from litigating her derivative citizenship claim in the instant removal proceedings. A prior judicial determination cannot, by operation of collateral estoppel, deprive an individual in removal proceedings of the procedural protections guaranteed by the Immigration and Nationality Act. Title v. I.N.S., 322 F.2d 21, 24 (9th Cir.1963). Because alienage is the only disputed issue in Jimenez's removal proceedings, giving preclusive effect to the alienage determination in her prosecution for illegal reentry would deprive Jimenez of the opportunity to challenge her removability in the manner prescribed by the INA. The government concedes that, if allowed to litigate it, Jimenez has raised a genuine issue of material fact regarding her derivative citizenship claim.