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ROJAS v. GARLAND (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-09-17No. No. 19-70510

Summary

Holding. The petition for review is denied, and the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision dismissing Rojas's appeal is affirmed.

Jose Sixto Rojas, a Mexican citizen, sought review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision that upheld an immigration judge's denial of his application for cancellation of removal. Rojas had been convicted under California Health & Safety Code section 11550(a) and argued this conviction should not disqualify him from relief. The court found that Rojas failed to meet his burden of proving that his conviction does not constitute a controlled substance violation, which is a categorical bar to cancellation of removal eligibility. Under applicable law, an applicant seeking removal relief must affirmatively establish eligibility, including demonstrating the absence of disqualifying convictions.

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

Key issues

  • Whether a conviction under California Health & Safety Code section 11550(a) constitutes a controlled substance violation barring cancellation of removal
  • Allocation of burden of proof in establishing eligibility for cancellation of removal
  • Application of the Federal First Offender Act to drug possession convictions

Procedural posture

Rojas petitioned for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision affirming the immigration judge's denial of his cancellation of removal application.

Authorities cited

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Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Jose Sixto Rojas, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judges decision denying his application for cancellation of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law. Jiang v. Holder, 754 F.3d 733, 738 (9th Cir. 2014). We deny the petition for review.

The agency properly denied cancellation of removal, where Sixto Rojas failed to meet his burden of proof to establish that his conviction under California Health & Safety Code section 11550(a) is not a controlled substance violation that renders him ineligible for relief. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(C); Pereida v. Wilkinson, ––– U.S. ––––, 141 S. Ct. 754, 760, 209 L.Ed.2d 47 (2021) (applicant for removal relief bears the burden of establishing eligibility for such relief, including that the applicant has not been convicted of certain disqualifying offenses); Lopez v. Sessions, 901 F.3d 1071, 1075 (9th Cir. 2018) (Federal First Offender Act treatment “only applies to first time drug offenders convicted of simple possession of a controlled substance”).

The temporary stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the mandate.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.