Okey Okpala v. Matthew Whitaker

CARL E. STEWART, Chief Judge:

Petitioner Okey Garry Okpala requests review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") affirming the immigration judge's ("IJ") deportation order. Because the BIA erred in construing 8 U.S.C. § 1227 (a)(2)(A)(iii) to apply to an individual who was a naturalized citizen at the time of conviction, we grant the petition for review and vacate the BIA's deportation order.

I

Okpala is a native of Nigeria who was admitted into the United States as a student in 1982. 1 On December 8, 1986, Okpala became a permanent resident alien based on his marriage to a…