Opinion ID: 58301
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Subsequent Criminal Case

Text: In 2006, Vasquez-Montalban was found in the United States after he was arrested in Cobb County, Georgia for driving while impaired. Vasquez-Montalban was charged with illegal reentry after removal. Vasquez-Montalban moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing that his prior 3 removal proceeding deprived him of due process. Specifically, VasquezMontalban argued that: (1) per Leocal v. Ashcroft, 543 U.S. 1, 125 S. Ct. 377 (2004),1 the IJ and the BIA had erroneously classified his Texas DWI conviction as an aggravated felony, and (2) the IJ and BIA had failed to inform him of his right to judicial review of that error. The district court denied the motion and, after a bench trial, found Vasquez-Montalban guilty and sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment. On appeal, Vasquez-Montalban argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment because he had been deprived of judicial review of the underlying removal order that concluded his DWI conviction was an aggravated felony.