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OGUNBANKE v. GARLAND (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-03-22No. No. 18-72596

Summary

Holding. The court denied the petition for review in part and dismissed in part, upholding the immigration board's denial of withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture relief, while declining to address claims outside its jurisdiction.

Tayo Ogunbanke, a Nigerian citizen, sought judicial review of an immigration board decision that denied him withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture. The court examined whether Ogunbanke's fraud conviction qualified as an aggravated felony and whether he met the requirements for the relief he requested. The court upheld the immigration agency's determinations on multiple grounds, including that his conviction involved fraud exceeding the statutory threshold and that his six-year sentence rendered him ineligible for withholding of removal.

The court also addressed jurisdictional limitations that prevented it from reviewing certain claims. These included challenges to a removal order from 2000, arguments about criminal convictions and sentencing from his underlying criminal case, ineffective assistance of counsel claims not presented to the immigration agency, and requests for relief under provisions that did not apply to his circumstances. The court found that substantial evidence supported the agency's conclusion that Ogunbanke failed to demonstrate he would likely face torture by the Nigerian government if returned.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a fraud conviction with restitution exceeding $450,000 constitutes an aggravated felony under immigration law
  • Whether a six-year sentence for an aggravated felony renders an applicant ineligible for withholding of removal
  • Whether the applicant demonstrated a substantial likelihood of torture by the Nigerian government
  • Jurisdictional limits on review of reinstated removal orders and criminal conviction challenges

Procedural posture

The petitioner sought review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision affirming an immigration judge's denial of withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture relief.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Tayo Olugboyega Ogunbanke, a native and citizen of Nigeria, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judges (“IJ”) decision denying his application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo the determination that a conviction is an aggravated felony, Diego v. Sessions, 857 F.3d 1005, 1011 (9th Cir. 2017), and we review for abuse of discretion the agencys conclusion that an offense constitutes a particularly serious crime, Avendano-Hernandez v. Lynch, 800 F.3d 1072, 1077 (9th Cir. 2015). We review for substantial evidence the agencys factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We review de novo claims of due process violations in immigration proceedings. Jiang v. Holder, 754 F.3d 733, 738 (9th Cir. 2014). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

The agency did not err in concluding that Ogunbankes conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(3) was an aggravated felony, where the offense involves fraud and Ogunbanke was ordered to pay restitution in excess of $450,000. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(M)(i) (defining aggravated felony as including an offense that “involves fraud or deceit in which the loss to the victim or victims exceeds $10,000”); see also Nijhawan v. Holder, 557 U.S. 29, 40-43, 129 S.Ct. 2294, 174 L.Ed.2d 22 (2009) (concluding that “the monetary threshold applies to the specific circumstances surrounding an offenders commission of a fraud and deceit crime” and that the agency did not err by looking to sentencing-related materials to determine the amount of loss). Because Ogunbanke received a six-year sentence, the agency did not err in concluding that his offense was also a particularly serious crime that rendered him ineligible for withholding of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(B) (an applicant who has been convicted of an aggravated felony and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least five years “shall be considered to have committed a particularly serious crime”); Quijada-Aguilar v. Lynch, 799 F.3d 1303, 1305 (9th Cir. 2015) (noting that an “aggravated felony” conviction resulting in a sentence of “at least 5 years” in prison constitutes a “particularly serious crime,” rendering a non-citizen ineligible for withholding of removal). We reject as unsupported by the record Ogunbankes contention that the BIA failed to consider his arguments concerning his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(3).

Substantial evidence supports the agencys denial of deferral of removal under CAT because Ogunbanke failed to show it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Nigeria. See Garcia-Milian v. Holder, 755 F.3d 1026, 1033-35 (9th Cir. 2014) (concluding that petitioner did not establish the necessary “state action” for CAT relief). We reject as unsupported by the record Ogunbankes contention that the agency failed to consider evidence or otherwise erred in its analysis of his claim.

The agency did not err or violate Ogunbankes right to due process by not addressing his arguments concerning asylum. See Ortiz-Alfaro v. Holder, 694 F.3d 955, 956-57 (9th Cir. 2012) (explaining that, where a non-citizen subject to a reinstated removal order seeks relief, the IJ “can only consider the ․ application for withholding of removal, not asylum”). Ogunbankes contentions that the IJ or BIA otherwise violated due process fail. See Padilla-Martinez v. Holder, 770 F.3d 825, 830 (9th Cir. 2014) (requiring error to prevail on a due process claim).

We lack jurisdiction to review Ogunbankes contentions concerning the final removal order entered on May 8, 2000. See Villa-Anguiano v. Holder, 727 F.3d 873, 877 (9th Cir. 2013) (the statutory reinstatement provision “specifically bars relitigation of the merits of the reinstated removal order”).

We lack jurisdiction to review the BIAs denial of sua sponte reopening, where Ogunbanke has not raised a legal or constitutional error. See Bonilla v. Lynch, 840 F.3d 575, 588 (9th Cir. 2016) (“[T]his court has jurisdiction to review Board decisions denying sua sponte reopening for the limited purpose of reviewing the reasoning behind the decisions for legal or constitutional error.”).

Ogunbankes arguments concerning his criminal convictions, the sentences imposed, and the effectiveness of counsel during his criminal proceedings are not properly before this court. See Ramirez-Villalpando v. Holder, 645 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2011) (a collateral attack on a criminal conviction is not properly considered in a petition for review of a BIA decision).

To the extent Ogunbanke argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel during immigration proceedings, we lack jurisdiction to consider the argument. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004) (court lacks jurisdiction to review claims not presented to the agency). We also lack jurisdiction to consider his contentions concerning relief under former INA § 212(c), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(c), and adjustment of status. See id.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED, in part; DISMISSED in part.