Court Opinion

ID: 3030094
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:43:50.607997+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:39.609659
License: Public Domain

FILED
                              NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             DEC 08 2009

                                                                        MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                      U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

 ISAAC WILLIAMSON,                                Nos. 08-71722
                                                       08-71073
               Petitioner,
                                                  Agency No. A038-581-257
   v.

 ERIC H. HOLDER Jr., Attorney General,            MEMORANDUM *

               Respondent.

                       On Petitions for Review of Orders of the
                           Board of Immigration Appeals

                             Submitted November 17, 2009 **

Before:        ALARCÓN, TROTT, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.

        In these consolidated petitions for review, Isaac Williamson, a native and

citizen of Jamaica, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration

Appeals’ orders dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s removal order

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
            The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without
oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

IH/Research
and denying his motion to reconsider. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252.

We review de novo questions of law, Husyev v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 1172, 1177

(9th Cir. 2008), review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen,

Cano-Merida v. INS, 311 F.3d 960, 964 (9th Cir. 2002), and review for substantial

evidence the agency’s factual findings, Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182,

1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We deny the petitions for review.

        The written plea agreement in the record establishes that Williamson was

convicted of “Attempted Transportation of Marijuana for Sale” in violation of

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 13-3401, 3405, 3418, 1001, 701, 702.01, and 801.

See Parrilla v. Gonzales, 414 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir. 2005) (a written plea

agreement is a judicially noticeable document under the modified categorical

approach described in Shepard v. United States, 544 U.S. 13 (2005)). Williamson

does not challenge the agency’s conclusion that his conviction was analogous to

the federal felony of “Attempted Possession of Marijuana for Sale” and therefore

an aggravated felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B) and (U). See Lopez v.

Gonzales, 549 U.S. 47, 55 (2006). Accordingly, the agency did not err in finding

Williamson removable.

IH/Research                               2                                     08-71722
        The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Williamson’s motion to

reconsider. See United States v. Taylor, 259 F.3d 1232, 1238 (9th Cir. 2008)

(“Arizona’s definition of attempt is coextensive with the federal definition.”).

        Williamson contends the agency violated due process by refusing to rule on

his motion to terminate and disregarding the evidence he presented with his appeal.

He also alleges the immigration judge did not explain the charges and provide him

with a definition of the crime before he admitted to the factual allegations.

Contrary to Williamson’s contentions, the proceedings were not “so fundamentally

unfair that [he] was prevented from reasonably presenting his case.” Colmenar v.

INS, 210 F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). Moreover, Williamson

failed to demonstrate that the alleged violations may have affected the outcome of

the proceedings. See id. (requiring prejudice to prevail on a due process

challenge).

        Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of relief under the

Convention Against Torture because Williamson did not establish a likelihood of

torture by, at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of the Jamaican

government. See Arteaga v. Mukasey, 511 F.3d 940, 946 (9th Cir. 2007).

        Williamson’s pending motion is denied as moot.

        PETITIONS FOR REVIEW DENIED.

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