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ESTRADA GUTIERREZ v. GARLAND (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-08-26No. No. 15-73766

Summary

Holding. The petition for review was denied, and the Board of Immigration Appeals' order dismissing Estrada Gutierrez's appeal was upheld.

Salomon Estrada Gutierrez, a Mexican citizen, sought review of an immigration board decision that rejected his applications for cancellation of removal and voluntary departure. The core issue was whether his conviction under California Health & Safety Code section 11366.5(a) constituted a controlled substance violation. The court found that Estrada Gutierrez failed to prove his conviction fell outside the controlled substance category, making him ineligible for cancellation of removal and unable to establish the good moral character required for voluntary departure.

Estrada Gutierrez also argued the immigration agency violated his due process rights by declining to consider his relief applications. The court rejected this claim, noting that to succeed on a due process challenge, a petitioner must show both a rights violation and resulting prejudice. The court determined no such violations occurred.

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

Key issues

  • Whether a California Health & Safety Code § 11366.5(a) conviction qualifies as a controlled substance offense barring cancellation of removal
  • Whether an inconclusive conviction record satisfies the applicant's burden to establish relief eligibility
  • Whether denying relief applications without full consideration violates due process rights

Procedural posture

Estrada Gutierrez petitioned for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his appeal from an immigration judge's decision declining to adjudicate his applications for cancellation of removal and voluntary departure.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Salomon Estrada Gutierrez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judges decision pretermitting his applications for cancellation of removal and voluntary departure. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law and claims of due process violations in immigration proceedings. Padilla-Martinez v. Holder, 770 F.3d 825, 830 (9th Cir. 2014). We deny the petition for review.

The agency properly denied Estrada Gutierrezs applications, where Estrada Gutierrez failed to establish that his conviction under California Health & Safety Code section 11366.5(a) is not a controlled substance violation that renders him ineligible for cancellation of removal, see 8 U.S.C. §§ 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II), 1229b(b)(1)(C); Pereida v. Wilkinson, ––– U.S. ––––, 141 S. Ct. 754, 766, 209 L.Ed.2d 47 (2021) (an inconclusive conviction record is insufficient to meet applicants burden of proof to show eligibility for relief), and which precludes him from establishing good moral character for voluntary departure, see 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101(f)(3), 1229c(b)(1)(B).

Estrada Gutierrezs contention that the agency violated his right to due process in pretermitting his applications for relief fails. See Padilla-Martinez, 770 F.3d at 830 (“To prevail on a due-process claim, a petitioner must demonstrate both a violation of rights and prejudice.”).

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

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.