Court Opinion

ID: 4238593
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-23 20:04:47.017901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:53.886072
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/23/18

                           CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

                COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                    DIVISION ONE

                               STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                      D072121

        Plaintiff and Respondent,

        v.                                       (Super. Ct. No. SCN197963)

MODESTO PEREZ,

        Defendant and Appellant.

        APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Harry M.

Elias, Judge. Affirmed.

        Nina Bonyak, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

        Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Michael Pulos and Adrian R.

Contreras, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

        In August 2005, Modesto Perez pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine for

sale (Health & Saf. Code, §11378). Over six months later, Perez was deported to Mexico

based on his conviction.
         On January 1, 2017, Penal Code1 section 1473.7 became effective. That statute

allows a person no longer imprisoned or restrained to move to vacate a conviction or

sentence for one of two reasons, including that "[t]he conviction or sentence is legally

invalid due to a prejudicial error damaging the moving party's ability to meaningfully

understand, defend against, or knowingly accept the actual or potential adverse

immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere." (§ 1473.7,

subd. (a)(1).) Perez subsequently filed a motion to vacate his conviction under section

1473.7. The superior court denied Perez's motion.

         Perez appeals, contending the court erred in denying his motion. The People

counter, arguing the statute does not apply retroactively and, even if it did, Perez's motion

was untimely and the record shows that he had sufficient knowledge of the immigration

consequences of his plea.

         We determine that section 1473.7 does apply to Perez. However, we conclude

Perez has not shown he is entitled to relief under that statute. As such, we affirm the

order.

                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

                                         Guilty Plea

         The operative complaint charged Perez with possession of methamphetamine for

sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378), among other crimes. Perez ultimately pled guilty to

that charge at a hearing on August 10, 2005. The superior court noted that Perez

1        Statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
                                              2
appeared to be very emotional and asked if the hearing should be postponed. As part of

its inquiry, the court asked why Perez was upset: "Okay. Is this the case -- since we're

using the interpreter, is this a case where Mr. Perez is a citizen of another country and

afraid this will result in his --"

       Perez's counsel responded, "I am sure that's a concern, when speaking in terms of

totality. Sure. That's one thing. I explained it to my client. That is an issue. That will

follow through after his sentence is up."

       The court then offered to postpone the hearing if Perez was "too emotional to go

ahead with" it. Perez did not indicate that he wanted to continue the hearing to a later

time. The court then asked what Perez wanted to do and explained the immigration

consequences if Perez pled guilty:

           "What would you like to do? Would you like to go ahead and plead
           guilty, knowing that you are going to serve 365 days in custody, and
           also knowing if you violated probation you could get up to three
           years in prison? [¶] Since I saw there was an immigration hold on
           your papers, you have to know that if you plead guilty, this will
           result in your deportation from this country. This country will refuse
           to let you back in, and this country will refuse to allow you to
           become a citizen. This is controlled by the federal government, not
           this court. Those are the things that will happen to you if you plead
           guilty. [¶] What would you like to do, go to trial or plead guilty?"

       Before deciding to plead guilty, Perez asked the court about the consequences of

going to trial and when trial would occur. After the court answered Perez's questions,

Perez conferred with his attorney for a few minutes before he decided to plead guilty.

       Upon Perez indicating that he wished to plead guilty, the court questioned Perez

about the plea form Perez submitted. The court asked Perez whether he reviewed the

                                              3
form very carefully with his attorney and the court interpreter. Perez responded in the

affirmative. The court specifically asked Perez if the interpreter explained "everything to

[him] on these forms line by line?" The court then inquired whether Perez understood

everything he was told about the form and if his answers on the form were correct.

Again, Perez responded in the affirmative.

       After the court explained to Perez that he would be waiving certain constitutional

rights, Perez pled guilty to the offense of possession of methamphetamine for sale.

       Perez's plea form appears in the record. As pertinent here, the form states, "I

understand that if I am not a U.S. Citizen, this plea of Guilty/No Contest may result in my

removal/deportation, exclusion from admission to the U.S. and denial of naturalization.

Additionally, if this plea is to an 'Aggravated Felony' listed on the back of this form, then

I will be deported, excluded from admission to the U.S., and denied naturalization."

Perez's initials appear in the box next to that statement.

       On the back of the plea form, felony possession of any controlled substance is

listed as an aggravated felony.

       The form also contained the following statement, signed by Perez's attorney:

          "I, the attorney for the defendant in the above-entitled case,
          personally read and explained to the defendant the entire contents of
          this plea form and any addendum thereto. I discussed all charges
          and possible defenses with the defendant, and the consequences of
          this plea, including any immigration consequences. I personally
          observed the defendant fill in and initial each item, or read and initial
          each item to acknowledge his/her understanding and waivers. I
          observed the defendant date and sign this form and any addendum. I
          concur in the defendant's plea and waiver of constitutional rights."

                                              4
Additionally, the form contained a statement signed by the interpreter:

          "I, the sworn Spanish language interpreter in this proceeding, truly
          translated for the defendant the entire contents of this form and any
          attached addendum. The defendant indicated understanding of the
          contents of this form and any addendum and then initialed the form
          and any addendum."

                                   The Motion to Vacate

       On February 21, 2017, Perez filed a motion to vacate conviction based on section

1473.7. In his motion, Perez argued that (1) his counsel violated the duty to investigate

and accurately advise him about the specific immigration consequences of a plea; (2) his

counsel failed to defend against immigration consequences of a plea by attempting to

plea bargain for an immigration safe alternative disposition; and (3) Perez failed to

meaningfully understand the immigration consequences of the conviction.

       Among other material offered in support of his motion, Perez submitted multiple

self-declarations.2 In one such declaration, Perez indicated that he did not understand

what was happening at the hearing at which he pled guilty. He claimed that his attorney

did not explain other options or the immigration consequences if he pled guilty. Perez

further declared that he only pled guilty because he was not aware of and did not

understand all the consequences of his guilty plea. Moreover, he asserted that, despite

the presence of a Spanish interpreter, he still did not "completely comprehend what [he]

was initialing because, [he] only ha[s] an elementary education and [was] not familiar

with technical legal terms in Spanish and [he] did not have meaningful understanding of

2     The declarations were English translations of Perez's oral statements, which he
made in Spanish.
                                             5
the documents." Finally, Perez insisted that he would not have signed the plea form had

he known he would have been deported, but instead, he would have been willing to serve

a longer prison sentence to avoid deportation.

       The People opposed Perez's motion, contending the motion was untimely and

Perez understood and was advised of the immigration consequences of his plea.

       At the hearing on Perez's motion, his attorney declined the opportunity to argue

and submitted on the tentative ruling. The court then adopted its tentative and denied the

motion. In the law and motion minutes contained in the record, the court denied the

motion with the following handwritten explanation:

          "[Six months] after the [defendant's] sentencing[,] he was deported
          based on this conviction. At that point he was aware of
          consequences [and] had the option of bringing a writ of habeas
          corpus or motion to vacate purs[uant to] [section] 1016.5. This
          matter is untimely."

       Perez timely appealed.

                                      DISCUSSION

       Section 1473.7 provides: "A person no longer imprisoned or restrained may

prosecute a motion to vacate a conviction or sentence" for one of two reasons, including

that "[t]he conviction or sentence is legally invalid due to a prejudicial error damaging

the moving party's ability to meaningfully understand, defend against, or knowingly

accept the actual or potential adverse immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or

nolo contendere." (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(1).) The motion must be made with "reasonable

diligence" after the party receives notice of pending immigration proceedings or a

removal order. (§1473.7, subd. (b).) The court must hold a hearing on the motion, and if

                                             6
the moving party establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she is entitled

to relief, the court must allow the person to withdraw his or her plea. (§ 1473.7,

subd. (e).)3

       As a threshold matter, the People argue that section 1473.7 is not retroactive; thus,

it cannot apply to Perez, who pled guilty and was deported before section 1473.7 became

effective.4 To this end, the People compare section 1473.7 with sections 1016.5,

3       In full, section 1473.7, states: "(a) A person no longer imprisoned or restrained
may prosecute a motion to vacate a conviction or sentence for either of the following
reasons: [¶] (1) The conviction or sentence is legally invalid due to a prejudicial error
damaging the moving party's ability to meaningfully understand, defend against, or
knowingly accept the actual or potential adverse immigration consequences of a plea of
guilty or nolo contendere. [¶] (2) Newly discovered evidence of actual innocence exists
that requires vacation of the conviction or sentence as a matter of law or in the interests
of justice. [¶] (b) A motion pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be filed
with reasonable diligence after the later of the following: [¶] (1) The date the moving
party receives a notice to appear in immigration court or other notice from immigration
authorities that asserts the conviction or sentence as a basis for removal. [¶] (2) The date
a removal order against the moving party, based on the existence of the conviction or
sentence, becomes final. [¶] (c) A motion pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a)
shall be filed without undue delay from the date the moving party discovered, or could
have discovered with the exercise of due diligence, the evidence that provides a basis for
relief under this section. [¶] (d) All motions shall be entitled to a hearing. At the request
of the moving party, the court may hold the hearing without the personal presence of the
moving party if counsel for the moving party is present and the court finds good cause as
to why the moving party cannot be present. [¶] (e) When ruling on the motion: [¶] (1)
The court shall grant the motion to vacate the conviction or sentence if the moving party
establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, the existence of any of the grounds for
relief specified in subdivision (a). [¶] (2) In granting or denying the motion, the court
shall specify the basis for its conclusion. [¶] (3) If the court grants the motion to vacate a
conviction or sentence obtained through a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court
shall allow the moving party to withdraw the plea. [¶] (f) An order granting or denying
the motion is appealable under subdivision (b) of Section 1237 as an order after judgment
affecting the substantial rights of a party."

4      Perez does not address retroactivity whatsoever.
                                              7
1203.4a, and 1473.6. They contend that those sections indicate that the Legislature

understands how to explicitly state when a statute applies retroactively. Because section

1473.7 does not contain analogous language, the People maintain the Legislature did not

intend it to apply retroactively. We find the specific language of sections 1016.5,

1203.4a, and 1473.6 not helpful to our analysis here.

       Section 1016.5, subdivision (c) specifically states that the statute is not retroactive:

"With respect to pleas accepted prior to January 1, 1978, it is not the intent of the

Legislature that a court's failure to provide the advisement required by subdivision (a) of

Section 1016.5 should require the vacation of judgment and withdrawal of the plea or

constitute grounds for finding a prior conviction invalid. Nothing in this section,

however, shall be deemed to inhibit a court, in the sound exercise of its discretion, from

vacating a judgment and permitting a defendant to withdraw a plea." Section 1203.4a,

which requires a trial court to dismiss misdemeanor or infraction convictions in certain

circumstances (People v. Sanders (2012) 55 Cal.4th 731, 741), specifically states it

applies to convictions occurring before and after the statute's effective date, (§ 1203.4a,

subd. (d)). And section 1473.6 allows a defendant to move to vacate a judgment based

on newly discovered evidence of fraud, false testimony, or misconduct by a government

official in connection with the underlying case. (§ 1473.6, subd. (a)(1), (2), & (3).) That

statute includes a time limit by which a defendant can seek relief under the statute. (See

§ 1473.6, subd. (d) [within one year of the date the new evidence was or reasonably could

have been discovered or the effective date of the statute, whichever is later].) These

statutes do not indicate that the Legislature uses a specific type of language when

                                              8
decreeing a statute is retroactive. Indeed, the statutes underscore the opposite conclusion.

The Legislature uses no uniform language, but instead, offers clarification as it sees fit.

       For example, it is not surprising that the Legislature would expressly include a

provision stating that section 1016.5 is not retroactive because it created a new

requirement for a superior court to provide defendants with a specific warning before it

accepted a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. (See § 1016.5, subd. (a).)5 The Legislature

did not want to give a defendant a new mechanism by which to challenge a conviction

based on a requirement that did not exist at the time the defendant was convicted. Thus,

it explicitly stated that the statute was not to be applied retroactively. In comparison, for

section 1203.4a, a statute requiring the superior court to take a certain action, the

Legislature expressly designated that section applied retroactively. (§ 1203.4a,

subd. (d).) Showing an additional drafting style, the Legislature did not declare

specifically whether section 1473.6 is retroactive, but instead, provided a cut off by

which a motion under that statute must be brought. (§ 1473.6, subd. (d)(1) & (2).)6

Thus, to the extent the three statutes relied upon by the People provide any guidance here,

5      Section 1016.5, subdivision (a) provides: "Prior to acceptance of a plea of guilty
or nolo contendere to any offense punishable as a crime under state law, except offenses
designated as infractions under state law, the court shall administer the following
advisement on the record to the defendant: [¶] If you are not a citizen, you are hereby
advised that conviction of the offense for which you have been charged may have the
consequences of deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of
naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States."

6      The time frame in which a defendant must file a motion under section 1473.6
based on newly discovered evidence is similar to the time frame under section 1473.7
based on newly discovered evidence. (Compare § 1473.6, subd. (d)(1) & (2) with
§ 1473.7, subd. (c).)
                                              9
they suggest that we need to look to the specific words and consider the purpose of

section 1473.7 in determining whether it applies to Perez. In terms of statutory

interpretation, this approach is not new. (California Teachers Assn. v. Governing Bd. of

Rialto Unified School Dist. (1997) 14 Cal.4th 627, 632-634; Kane v. Hurley (1994) 30

Cal.App.4th 859, 862; People v. Ramirez (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 559, 563.)

       Section 1473.7 contains three requirements. First, the moving party can no longer

be imprisoned or restrained. (§ 1473.7, subd. (a).) Therefore, from the beginning of the

statute, it is clear that the statute is backward looking. It requires a person seeking relief

under it to have been imprisoned or restrained at some point in the past, but not currently.

Second, the statute provides two reasons to challenge a conviction or sentence:

(a) prejudicial error damaging the moving party's ability to meaningfully understand,

defend against, or knowingly accept the actual or potential adverse immigration

consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(1)); or (b) newly

discovered evidence of actual innocence (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(2)). Here, the former reason

is at issue. Third, any motion must be timely. For a challenge like the one Perez raises

here, the statute declares that a motion must be "filed with reasonable diligence after the

later of the following: [¶] (1) [t]he date the moving party receives a notice to appear in

immigration court or other notice from immigration authorities that asserts the conviction

or sentence is a basis for removal. [¶] (2) The date a removal order against the moving

party, based on the existence of a conviction or sentence, becomes final." (§ 1473.7,

subd. (b)(1) & (2).)

                                              10
       Unlike section 1016.5, section 1473.7 does not contain an explicit subdivision

stating the statute is not to be applied retroactively. (§ 1016.5, subd. (c).) That said,

there is no specific indication in section 1473.7 that it is to be applied retroactively like

subdivision (d) of section 1203.4a. Instead, section 1473.7 is somewhat like section

1473.6 in that both statutes contain a timeliness provision. (Compare § 1473.7, subd.

(b)(1) & (2), (c) with 1473.6, subd. (d)(1) & (2).) Thus, on a plain reading of the statute,

it appears a moving party can seek relief under it if he or she satisfies the statute's three

requirements.

       The People argue that these three requirements underscore that section 1473.7 is to

be applied prospectively only. To support their position, the People offer a hypothetical

involving a defendant who pled guilty after the effective date of the statute, was placed

on probation, and six months later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

officials take him into custody and begin deportation based on the plea and conviction.

Under this scenario, the People assert the hypothetical defendant can seek relief under

section 1473.7. Further, the People argue that their hypothetical illustrates that the

application of section 1473.7 only on a prospective basis is consistent with the statute's

purpose.

       We agree with the People that they have presented a situation under which a

defendant can seek relief pursuant to section 1473.7. Nevertheless, we do not read the

statute as limiting relief as to defendants who pled guilty only after the statute's effective

date. For example, a defendant could have pled guilty, in December 2015, to a felony

that would subject him to deportation (e.g., possession of methamphetamine for sale).

                                              11
The court then sentenced that defendant to jail for 364 days with probation upon release.

The defendant served his jail time, and a few weeks after his release, ICE picked him up

and began deportation proceedings on February 13, 2017. Two weeks later, the

defendant filed a motion under section 1473.7 to vacate his conviction, claiming that he

did not meaningfully understand the immigration consequences of his guilty plea. Under

this hypothetical, we see no impediment in section 1473.7 that would prohibit the

defendant from seeking relief under that statute. The defendant is no longer in state

custody. (See § 1473.7, subd. (a).) The defendant challenged his guilty plea for one of

the two enumerated reasons in the statute. (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(1).) And the defendant

filed his motion for relief with reasonable diligence after he received notice that his

conviction is the basis for deportation proceedings. (§ 1473.7, subd. (b)(1).) Simply

based on the plain words of the statute, it is clear that there is no requirement that the

defendant had pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony after section 1473.7's effective

date. Alternatively stated, the statute's own language indicates that it can be applied

retroactively if the moving party satisfies the requirements of the statute.

       Our interpretation of section 1473.7 is buttressed by the explanation of its purpose.

           "Under existing law, although persons not presently restrained of
           liberty may seek certain types of relief from the disabilities of a
           conviction, the writ of habeas corpus is generally not available to
           them. Existing law creates an explicit right for a person no longer
           unlawfully imprisoned or restrained to prosecute a motion to vacate
           a judgment based on newly obtained evidence of fraud or
           misconduct by a government official, as specified.

           "This bill would create an explicit right for a person no longer
           imprisoned or restrained to prosecute a motion to vacate a conviction
           or sentence based on a prejudicial error damaging the moving party's

                                              12
           ability to meaningfully understand, defend against, or knowingly
           accept the actual or potential adverse immigration consequences of a
           plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or based on newly discovered
           evidence of actual innocence, as specified. The bill would require a
           court to grant the motion if the moving party establishes a ground for
           relief, by a preponderance of the evidence. The bill would require a
           court granting or denying the motion to specify the basis for its
           conclusion." (Legis. Counsel's Dig., Assem. Bill No. 813 (2015-
           2016 Reg. Sess.).)

       As the People emphasize, section 1473.7 allows a defendant, who is no longer in

custody, to challenge his or her conviction based on a mistake of law regarding the

immigration consequences of a guilty plea or ineffective assistance of counsel in properly

advising the defendant of the consequences when the defendant learns of the error

postcustody. There is no requirement in the statute that the defendant had to have pled

guilty after the effective date of the statute.

       Additionally, we are not persuaded by the People's argument that retroactive

application of section 1473.7 "would open the floodgates for litigation seeking to upend

society's interest in the finality of their convictions" and allow "absurd results." In some

sense, every new right the Legislature confers on a convicted defendant that allows the

defendant to challenge a conviction potentially "opens the floodgates." That said, the

Legislature decided to bestow such a benefit under section 1473.7, and it is not our role to

question the Legislature's wisdom in this regard. Moreover, the Legislature included

certain safeguards to protect against the People's concerns. As discussed above, the

statute contains a timeliness requirement. Also, the statute requires the moving party to

prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she is entitled to relief. (§ 1473.7,

                                                  13
subd. (e)(1).) And the court has discretion to grant or deny the motion and must specify

the basis of its conclusion. (§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(2).)

       With this background in mind, we cannot say that section 1473.7 does not apply to

Perez. Nor do we see anything in the statute that warrants our proclamation that section

1473.7 can only be applied prospectively. Instead, a court needs to evaluate whether a

moving party satisfies the required elements to bring a motion under the statute. Thus,

we turn to the superior court's order denying Perez's motion.

       The superior court found that Perez's motion under section 1473.7 was untimely.

There is not much in the record to explain the court's reasoning for this conclusion.7

Although given the opportunity to do so, Perez's counsel did not offer any argument at

the hearing on Perez's motion. Instead, she submitted on the tentative, which was against

her client. In the minute order denying Perez's motion, the court decreed that the motion

was untimely, noting that (1) Perez was at least aware of the immigration consequences

of his plea when he was deported in 2006 and (2) Perez took no action until early 2017 to

challenge those consequences. Absent in the court's order is any reference to the

timeliness requirement found in section 1473.7, subdivision (b)(1) and (2). Thus, it

appears the court's untimeliness analysis was not based on the statute, but instead, on

more equitable considerations. That said, we struggle to agree with the superior court

that Perez's motion was untimely when the rights giving rise to the motion did not take

7      The People argue the court's conclusion that Perez's motion was untimely
"perhaps" underscored that the court believed that section 1473.7 could not apply
retroactively. We find no support for this assertion in the record.
                                             14
effect until January 1, 2017 and the court only appeared to consider Perez's actions before

that date.

       Further, Perez brought his motion under section 1473.7 about seven weeks after

the statute's effective date. The passage of seven weeks did not render Perez's motion

untimely, at least under the terms of section 1473.7. Accordingly, we find nothing in the

record indicating that Perez's motion was untimely. Nevertheless, our disagreement with

the superior court regarding the timeliness of the motion does not necessarily carry the

day for Perez on his appeal. Ultimately, " 'we review the ruling, not the court's reasoning

and, if the ruling was correct on any ground, we affirm.' " (People v. Zamudio (2008) 43

Cal.4th 327, 351, fn. 11.)

       On the record before us, even if we assume Perez's motion was timely, we

nonetheless conclude that Perez did not satisfy his burden of proving by a preponderance

of the evidence that he is entitled to relief under section 1473.7. Simply put, the record

belies Perez's contention that he did not meaningfully understand the immigration

consequences of his plea. Although Perez did not speak English, a Spanish interpreter

was provided for him. That interpreter stated that she translated the entire plea form for

Perez. The plea form translated for Perez, initialed and signed on Perez's behalf,

indicated that his guilty plea could result in his deportation. It also indicated that if he

pled guilty to certain enumerated crimes (such as felony possession of any controlled

substance), he would be deported. In other words, the plea form, translated by an

interpreter for Perez and explained to Perez by his attorney and the interpreter, informed

him that he would be deported if he pled guilty. Further, and more importantly, the

                                              15
superior court explicitly informed Perez that if he were to plead guilty, he would be

deported from the United States. The court was unequivocal about the immigration

consequences of a guilty plea, reiterating that the federal government would not allow

Perez to become a citizen of the United States. This was not a situation where the court

informed a defendant that there was "a high likelihood" that he would face deportation.

(United States v. Rodriguez-Vega (9th Cir. 2015) 797 F.3d 781, 791.) The court below

left no doubt. Perez would be deported if he pled guilty. This is the only evidence in the

record that is contemporaneous to Perez's guilty plea.

       Moreover, Perez does not address this unambiguous record on appeal. Instead, he

offers his own declaration, executed more than 11 years after he pled guilty, wherein he

claims his attorney never explained the immigration consequences of his guilty plea and

he did not understand he would be deported if he pled guilty. We find nothing in the

transcript of his plea hearing or Perez's plea form that offers a scintilla of support for

Perez's position here. To the contrary, the record could not have been more clear. The

court noted that Perez was emotional and asked if it was because he would be deported.

The attorney, in the presence of Perez and the interpreter, stated that Perez was upset

about being deported and indicated that he discussed the issue with Perez. The court

asked Perez if he wanted to continue the hearing. Before Perez pled guilty, the court told

Perez he would be deported if he pled guilty. And Perez's plea form, which he admitted

was explained to him by the interpreter and his attorney, reiterated that he would be

deported if he pled guilty. Considering this record, we struggle to contemplate how Perez

                                              16
could have been more indisputably informed of the immigration consequences of his

guilty plea.

       Also, to the extent that Perez is claiming his counsel was constitutionally

ineffective because he did not defend against the immigration consequences of his plea

by negotiating an immigration safe disposition, Perez offers no evidence to support his

position. There is no indication in the record that the prosecution was willing to agree to

an immigration safe disposition. Similarly, there is no suggestion that Perez's counsel did

not attempt to negotiate such a disposition. Instead, Perez merely asks us to presume he

did not do so because there were only two court hearings before the disposition. We

cannot make any such presumption. An appellant has the burden of establishing, based

on the record on appeal and based on facts, not speculation, that counsel rendered

ineffective assistance of counsel. (People v. Stephenson (1974) 10 Cal.3d 652, 661 ["The

proof of this inadequacy or ineffectiveness must be a demonstrable reality and not a

speculative matter."].)8

                                      DISPOSITION

       The order is affirmed.

8       A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel has two components—deficient
performance and prejudice resulting from it. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S.
668, 687.) To the extent that Perez claims his attorney was constitutionally ineffective in
failing to inform him of the immigration consequences of his guilty plea, we cannot
resolve that issue on the record before us. Perez's counsel represented to the court in the
presence of Perez that he had informed Perez of the immigration consequences of his
guilty plea and that Perez was upset at that hearing for that reason as well as others. In
addition, Perez's counsel signed the plea agreement, indicating that he had discussed the
immigration consequences of pleading guilty. Further, Perez told the court that he had
very carefully reviewed his plea form with his attorney and interpreter.
                                            17
                    HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

HALLER, J.

GUERRERO, J.

               18