Opinion ID: 3064741
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Morales, a native and citizen of Mexico, entered the United States without inspection near San Ysidro, California, in September, 1986. In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) served a Notice to Appear (“NTA”) on Morales, alleging that he was subject to removal on two grounds: first, for being an alien present in the United States without being admitted or paroled, see 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(A)(i), and second, for having been convicted of a CIMT, see id. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(I). The NTA alleged that on April 10, 2003, Morales was convicted in California Superior Court “for the offense of corporal injury to spouse/ cohabitant/former cohabitant/child’s parent, a Felony, in violation of Section 273.5(a) of the California Penal Code for which the term of imprisonment was two . . . years . . . .” MORALES-GARCIA v. HOLDER 6661 At his hearing before the IJ, Morales conceded removability; however, he denied the fact of his conviction under Cal. Penal Code § 273.5. The government adduced a certified copy of an abstract of judgment and prison commitment order, showing both that Morales was convicted of the offense and that he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. According to those documents, Morales pleaded guilty to a violation of § 273.5(a), and the court imposed a low term of 2 years, doubled to 4 years, under California’s habitual offender statute, Cal. Penal Code § 667(b)-(i).1 The record also contains a copy of the criminal complaint, which alleges: On or about the 23rd day of March, 2003, in the County of El Dorado, the crime of CORPORAL INJURY TO SPOUSE/COHABITANT/FORMER COHABITANT/CHILD’S PARENT, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 273.5(a), a felony, was committed by MOISES EDUARDO MORALES, who did willfully and unlawfully inflict corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon Martha Adriana Salazar, who was cohabiting with defen- dant. The IJ sustained the factual allegations in the NTA and, based on that determination, the IJ also sustained the charge of removability on the ground that Morales had been convicted of a CIMT. At the hearing, Morales also raised the possibility that he was eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility under INA § 212(h), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h). Instead of simply requesting a § 212(h) waiver, however, Morales’ asserted that the waiver, if granted, would make him eligible for cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b). The IJ clarified this argument for the government in the following exchange: 1 The court also imposed a $500 parole restitution fine under Cal. Penal Code § 1202.45, a domestic violence fee of $200, and a $100 payment to the Women’s Shelter. 6662 MORALES-GARCIA v. HOLDER DHS: Well, I’m not sure where the respondent’s counsel is going with this in regards to the [conviction under Cal. Penal Code §] 273.5. IJ: That’s why I assume it was, that’s why I assumed you would like to brief concurrently. What he’s saying is he can tender cancellation with a 212(h) waiver . . . . Following briefing on the issue by both parties, the IJ denied Morales’ request for cancellation of removal based on a waiver of inadmissibility. The IJ then entered an order of removal. Morales timely appealed to the BIA, which dismissed the appeal in a per curiam order. On the issue of whether § 273.5(a) qualified as a CIMT, the BIA affirmed the IJ’s reliance on Grageda v. INS, 12 F.3d 919 (9th Cir. 1993), in which we held that spousal abuse under § 273.5(a) was a CIMT. Although the BIA recognized that Grageda limited its holding to spousal abuse, it held that Grageda’s reasoning applied “with equal force to abuse of a cohabitant . . . who is in a relationship of trust, and may be dependent upon the perpetrator.” The BIA also affirmed the IJ’s determination that a waiver of inadmissibility under INA § 212(h) would not render Morales eligible for cancellation of removal. Morales filed a timely petition for review of the BIA’s decision.