Opinion ID: 776967
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jurisdictional Parameters

Text: 5 We review questions of subject matter jurisdiction de novo. Jairath v. Dyer, 154 F.3d 1280, 1281-82 (11th Cir.1998). On petition for review of a final order of removal, we review the BIA's statutory interpretation de novo, and will defer to the BIA's interpretation if it is reasonable. See Le v. United States Attorney General, 196 F.3d 1352, 1353-54 (11th Cir.1999). INA § 242(a)(2)(C), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1), vest the courts of appeals with the authority to consider petitions challenging final orders commanding the removal of aliens from the United States. Yet, under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C), our jurisdiction to review final orders of removal is very limited. Moore v. Ashcroft, 251 F.3d 919, 922-23 (11th Cir.2001). Section 1252(a)(2)(C) provides in pertinent part: 6 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court shall have jurisdiction to review any final order of removal against an alien who is removable by reason of having committed [certain enumerated criminal offenses]. 7 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C). 8 Thus, because judicial review is limited by statutory conditions, we retain jurisdiction to determine only whether these conditions exist. See Bahar v. Ashcroft, 264 F.3d 1309, 1311 (11th Cir.2001). We have held that under the plain language of § 1252(a)(2)(C), a court is permitted to review only the threshold issues of whether Petitioner is (1) an alien; (2) who is removable; (3) based on having committed a disqualifying offense. Galindo-Del Valle v. Attorney General, 213 F.3d 594, 597 (11th Cir.2000). There is no dispute that Petitioner satisfies each of these three requirements. Petitioner is a citizen of Honduras who entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident. He was convicted of an aggravated felony and sentenced to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year, and was found to be removable by evidence which was clear and convincing. See Oral Decision of the Immigration Judge, Jule 4, 1998. 5 Thus, because we conclude that Petitioner is an alien removable by reason of having committed an aggravated felony, § 1252(a)(2)(C) strips us of jurisdiction to review his final order of removal. See Moore v. Ashcroft, 251 F.3d 919, 923 (11th Cir.2000). In effect, our jurisdiction for review of Brooks' petition has disappeared. See id; see also Calcano-Martinez v. INS, 533 U.S. 348, 121 S.Ct. 2268, 2269-70, 150 L.Ed.2d 392 (2001) (stating court of appeals lacks jurisdiction to review criminal aliens' direct appeals from BIA decisions applying repeal of § 212(c) relief retroactively). However, we are not foreclosed from consideration of Brooks' Petition if he has raised substantial constitutional issues. See Calcano-Martinez, 121 S.Ct. at 2270 n. 2 (2001) (stating, courts of appeals retain jurisdiction to review `substantial constitutional challenges' raised by aliens who come within the strictures of § 1252(a)(2)(C)); Oguejiofor v. Attorney General, 277 F.3d 1305, 1308-1309 (11th Cir.2002) (citing Richardson v. Reno, 180 F.3d 1311, 1316 n. 5 (11th Cir.1999)). However, because we find no merit in Petitioner's Sixth Amendment claim, nor his Equal Protection claim, we therefore conclude we do not have jurisdiction to review Brooks' petition. See e.g. Oguejiofor, 277 F.3d at 1309 (finding that lack of merit in Petitioner's constitutional challenges divested Court of jurisdiction from direct appeal of BIA).