Court Opinion

ID: 8600232
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 21:29:56.614099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:09.938601
License: Public Domain

PER CURIAM: *
Juan Manuel Tavera-Teran (Tavera) is appealing his guilty-plea conviction of being found in the United States after previous deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b). He argues that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of § 1326(b)(1) and (2) are unconstitutional.
Tavera’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although Tavera contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ■ — ■ U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Tavera properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for further review.
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

 Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.