No. 25-5962

Ismael Adan Ortiz-Rodriguez v. United States

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-10-27
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-procedure aggravated-felony due-process expedited-removal immigration-law statutory-interpretation
Key Terms:
DueProcess Immigration
Latest Conference: 2026-02-27
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether an alien wrongly subject to expedited removal due to mischaracterization of prior conviction meets statutory requirements for challenging removal when misled by official form

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

A noncitizen, unlawfully present in the United States, may be deported through an expedited removal if an immigration officer finds that the noncitizen was convicted of a crime categorized as an aggravated felony. Often, the full process that such a noncitizen receives is an immigration official presenting him with a form that waives his rights to challenge the expedited removal. That form, I-851, informs him that he can contest the removal if he is a United States citizen, lawfully admitted permanent resident, or did not commit the crime alleged. The form does not inform him of his ability to challenge the aggravated felony finding. This case presents a question that has divided the circuits: Whether an alien wrongly subject to an expedited removal—due to a mischaracterization of his prior conviction as an aggravated felony—meets the requirements of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(d) by showing that he was misled by the form and would not have otherwise been subject to an expedited removal.

Docket Entries

2026-02-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026.
2026-02-11
Reply of Ismael Ortiz-Rodriguez submitted.
2026-01-28
Brief of United States in opposition submitted.
2026-01-28
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2025-12-10
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 26, 2026.
2025-12-09
Motion of United States for an extension of time submitted.
2025-12-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 26, 2025 to January 26, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-21
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 26, 2025.
2025-11-20
Motion of United States for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-20
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 26, 2025 to December 26, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-10-21
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 26, 2025)

Attorneys

Ismael Ortiz-Rodriguez
Shane O'NealO'Neal Law, Petitioner
Shane O'NealO'Neal Law, Petitioner
Shane O'NealO'Neal Law, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent