# Crimes

Money Laundering

# Money Laundering & the Circumstance-Specific Approach

### <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Money Laundering &amp; the Circumstance-Specific Approach</span>

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); white-space: pre-wrap;">The Board of Immigration Appeals has determined that for the purpose of assessing whether an offense constitutes a money laundering aggravated felony, the circumstance-specific approach applies to the requirement that the “amount of the funds exceeded $10,000.” </span>**See Matter of Cleto Marte DOMINGUEZ REYES,**<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); white-space: pre-wrap;"> 28 I&amp;N Dec. 878 (BIA 2024).</span>

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The full text of </span>**Matter of Dominguez Reyes**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> can be found here:</span>

[](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-12/4083.pdf)[https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-12/4083.pdf](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-12/4083.pdf)

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Money Laundering is an aggravated felony when the statute has a requirement that the amount be in excess of $10,000.</span>

# Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

## <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">VTL 511(3)(a) Unlicensed Operation</span>

<p class="callout danger">****Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree in violation of section 511(3)(a)(i) of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, which prohibits a person from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs while knowing or having reason to know that his or her license is suspended, is categorically a crime involving moral turpitude.**** <u>*****Matter of Lopez-Meza*****</u>****, 22 I&amp;N Dec. 1188 (BIA 1999), followed.**** *****See Matter of Margaret VUCETIC*********, 28 I&amp;N Dec. 276 (BIA 2021)****</p>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">N.Y. Veh. &amp; Traf. Law § 511(3)(a)(i) (McKinney 2014). This provision requires a defendant to operate a motor vehicle on a public highway while under the influence of alcohol or a drug knowing or having reason to know his or her license or privilege of operating such a motor vehicle or privilege of obtaining a license to operate such a vehicle is suspended, revoked, or otherwise withdrawn. CJI2d\[NY\] Veh. &amp; Traf. Law § 511(3)(a)(i) (2020).</span>

#### <u>*****Matter of Margaret VUCETIC*****</u> ****(BIA 2021)****

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a </span>**mens rea** <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap;">element because it requires that he know that his license is revoked or suspended already. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap;">FULL DECISION: </span>[<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://www.justice.gov/eoir/file/1381766/dl?inline=</span>](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/file/1381766/dl?inline=)

# CHART

### ****RELIEF1 AGGRAVATED FELONY DEPORTABLE/ INADMISSIBLE CRIME STOP TIME, GMC and OTHER TIME REQUIREMENTS NATURALIZATION****

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(Affirmative or with Request to Terminate Removal Proceedings) INA § 310, et seq., 8 USC § 1421, et seq. </span>

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">AF is a permanent bar to GMC, and thus to naturalization, unless conviction is before 11/29/903 Not a bar per se, but removable applicants may be referred to removal proceedings Requires certain period (e.g., preceding three or five years) of good moral character. </span>

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">GMC bars include several crimesgrounds of inadmissibility plus some bars unique to GMC.4 LPR CANCELLATION For Long-Time Lawful Permanent Residents5 INA § 240A(a), 8 USC § 1129b(a) </span>

****AUTOMATIC BAR****<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>  
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(For AF convictions from before April 24, 1996, or arguably April 1, 1997, </span>**see** § 212(c) Relief,)

****NOT A BAR 7 YEARS RESIDENCE****<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> since admission in any status; periods of unlawful status since admission count toward this. 6 </span>

The 7-year clock stops at whichever comes first: being served with a qualifying NTA7 or committing an offense referred to in 212(a)(2).8 Ninth Circuit held that some convictions before 4/1/97 do not stop clock.9