Cortez-Guillen v. Holder, No. 09-72358

Alaska Coercion Conviction Is Not "Crime of Violence"

In Cortez-Guillen v. Holder, No. 09-72358, a petition for review based on petitioner's removal from the U.S. due to his commission of a "crime of violence," the court granted the petition where petitioner's Alaska "coercion" conviction did not necessarily equate with a federal "crime of violence."

As the court wrote:  "A Mexican, now a lawful permanent U.S. resident, was convicted in Alaska of criminal "coercion." We must now decide whether that state-law conviction constitutes a "crime of violence" under Federal Immigration law. If so, he is subject to removal from this country."

Related Resources

• Full Text of Cortez-Guillen v. Holder, No. 09-72358