Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02670/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02670-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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FILED 

NOV 082012 I 

CLERK, U.S. DISTRiCT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

BY DEPUTY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

EDUARDO HERNANDEZ-De La CRUZ, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Respondent. 

) 

) 

YcZNO. II-3272Gb 

~No. 11-2670GT 

) 

) ORDER 

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) 

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-----------------------------------) 

On November 16,2011, Petitioner, Eduardo Hernandez-De La Cruz ("Mr. Hernandez"), filed 

a Motion to Modify Sentence, presumably pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Mr. Hernandez requests 

a two level downward departure based on his status as a deportable alien, which Mr. Hernandez 

asserts "should have been considered as a mitigating factor" at his sentencing. The Court has fully 

considered this matter, including a review of Mr. Hernandez's brief filed, the authorities cited 

therein and the arguments presented. For the reasons stated below, Mr. Hernandez's Motion to 

Modify Sentence is DENIED. 

II 

II 

Case 3:11-cv-02670-GT Document 2 Filed 11/08/12 Page 1 of 3
1 First, Mr. Hernandez pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to one count ofillegal 

2 Deported Alien Found in the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b). In the 

3 written plea agreement, Mr. Hernandez explicitly waived his right to appeal andlor collaterally 

4 attack his conviction or sentence. The Ninth Circuit has long acknowledged that the terms ofa plea 

5 agreement are enforceable. See, United States v. Baramdyka, 95 F.3d 840, 843 (9th Cir. 1996), 

6 cert. denied, 117 S.Ct. 1282 (1997). Since Mr. Hernandez expressly waived his statutory right to 

7 appeal or collaterally attack his sentence in his plea agreement, Mr. Hernandez is now precluded 

8 from challenging that sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.c. § 2255. See, United States v. Abarca, 985 

9 F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that a knowing and voluntary waiver ofa statutory right 

lOis enforceable). 

11 Moreover, even ifMr. Hernandez had not expressly waived his right to appeal or collaterally 

12 attack his sentence, his petition would still fail. In essence, Mr. Hernandez argues that because of 

13 his status as a deportable alien, he is "ineligible[] for pre-release custody and minimum security 

14 confinement." Mr. Hernandez argues that the Court should grant him a two level downward 

15 departure because ofhis status. However, Mr. Hernandez's argument that the Court should depart 

16 downward because he is a deportable alien is precluded by statute and current Ninth Circuit case 

17 law. By statute, the Court may depart downward only if there are "aggravating or mitigating 

18 circumstances ... not adequately taken into consideration by the Sentencing Commission." 18 

19 U.S.c. § 3553(b). Specifically, the Ninth Circuit has held that the threat ofdeportation is not a 

20 factor that the district court may consider for sentencing purposes. United States v. Alvarez21 Cardenas, 902 F.2d 734, 737 (9th Cir. 1990).1 Accordingly, 

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26 I The Ninth Circuit decided, in an unpublished opinion, that the defendant, like Limon, was not 

entitled to a six month reduction in his sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b) because as a 27 

deportable alien he is not eligible to spend the last six months of his sentence in a half way 

28 house pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c). See United States v. Zepeda-Valles, 87 F.3d 1325 (9th 

Cir. 1996). 

2 IICR3270 

Case 3:11-cv-02670-GT Document 2 Filed 11/08/12 Page 2 of 3
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IT IS ORDERED that Mr. Hernandez's Motion to Modify Sentence is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

2~~~~J United States District Judge 

cc: AUSA Bruce Castetter Petitioner 

3 llCR3270 

Case 3:11-cv-02670-GT Document 2 Filed 11/08/12 Page 3 of 3