Court Opinion

ID: 4507877
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-02-14 21:00:40.543826+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:37.781962
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                     FEB 14 2020
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

FRANCISCO JAVIER TALAVERA                        No.   18-70751
MORAN,
                                                 Agency No. A092-734-454
                Petitioner,

 v.                                              MEMORANDUM*

WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General,

                Respondent.

                       On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                           Board of Immigration Appeals

                            Submitted February 12, 2020**
                                Pasadena, California

Before: BERZON, TALLMAN, and R. NELSON, Circuit Judges.

      Francisco Talavera Moran, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for

review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an

immigration judge’s removal order. We dismiss in part and deny in part the

petition for review.

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
      1.    We lack jurisdiction to consider Mr. Moran’s unexhausted contention

that the federal and California definitions of methamphetamine are not coextensive

such that his conviction under California Health and Safety Code § 11378 is not an

aggravated felony. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); Alvarado v. Holder, 759 F.3d 1121,

1128–29 (9th Cir. 2014).

      2.    Mr. Moran’s aggravated-felony conviction gave rise to a presumption

that his conviction was a particularly serious crime for purposes of withholding

relief. Matter of Y-L-, 23 I. & N. Dec. 270, 274 (Op. Att’y Gen. 2002).1 The

agency’s determination that Mr. Moran did not rebut that presumption—which the

Board affirmed—was not an abuse of discretion because the agency considered the

“appropriate factors” and “proper evidence” to reach its conclusion. Avendano-

Hernandez v. Lynch, 800 F.3d 1072, 1077–78 (9th Cir. 2015) (internal alterations

omitted). Mr. Moran’s conviction of a particularly serious crime therefore renders

him ineligible for withholding of removal, 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(B)(ii), and

withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture. 8 C.F.R.

§ 1208.16(d)(2).

      3.    Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that

Mr. Moran is not eligible for deferral of removal under the Convention Against

1
  On appeal, Mr. Moran does not argue that he is entitled to asylum. Any argument
that he is entitled to that relief is therefore waived. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS,
94 F.3d 1256, 1259 (9th Cir. 1996).

                                         2
Torture. Mr. Moran failed to establish it is more likely than not he will be tortured

by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Mexico.

Andrade v. Lynch, 798 F.3d 1242, 1245 (9th Cir. 2015) (per curiam).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.

                                          3