Case Name: Antonio RAMOS-VALENZUELA, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2009-05-19
Citations: 325 F. App'x 594
Docket Number: No. 05-73270
Parties: Antonio RAMOS-VALENZUELA, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 325
Pages: 594–595

Head Matter:
Antonio RAMOS-VALENZUELA, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 05-73270.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted May 15, 2009.
Filed May 19, 2009.
Murray D. Hilts, Esq., Law Offices of Murray Hilts, San Diego, CA, for Petitioner.
Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Diego, CA, Ronald E. Lefevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, lia C. Deiss, USSF-Office of the U.S. Attorney, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
Before: SCHROEDER and D.W. NELSON, Circuit Judges, and MARSHALL, District Judge.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
The Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall, United States District Judge for the Central District of California, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Petitioner Antonio Ramos petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") decision affirming the Immigration Judge's ("IJ") finding that Ramos is removable as an aggravated felon and is ineligible for an INA § 212(h), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h), waiver. Ramos also petitions for review of the BIA's denial of his motion to reopen. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1), and we deny the petition.
In dismissing for lack of jurisdiction Ramos's prior petitions for review, Nos. OB-73335 & 04-74002, this court necessarily found that Ramos's conviction under California Penal Code § 273.5 constituted an aggravated felony. This determination is binding, and Ramos is precluded from re-litigating this issue. See Nunes v. Ashcroft, 375 F.3d 805, 809-10 (9th Cir.2004). Although issue preclusion may not apply where a petitioner can "identify a change in controlling law," see id. at 808, Ramos's reliance on United States v. Corona-Sanchez, 291 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir.2002) (en banc), is misplaced. Corona-Sanchez was decided prior to this court's dismissal of his previous petitions, and thus cannot qualify as a "change in controlling law."
Ramos's contention that the waiver provision of INA § 212(h), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h), violates the Equal Protection Clause is foreclosed by Taniguchi v. Schultz, which held "that a rational basis does exist for denying the § 212(h) waiver to aggravated felon LPRs but not to other aliens." 303 F.3d 950, 957 (9th Cir.2002).
DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.