Court Opinion

ID: 9910997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-19 01:00:39.433297+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:55:24.253261
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60102      Document: 00517005120      Page: 1    Date Filed: 12/18/2023

           United States Court of Appeals
                for the Fifth Circuit                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                             Fifth Circuit

                               ____________                                FILED
                                                                   December 18, 2023
                                No. 23-60102
                                                                      Lyle W. Cayce
                               ____________                                Clerk

   Yemiel Delgado-Victorio,

                                                                    Petitioner,

                                     versus

   Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General,

                                                                  Respondent.
                   ______________________________

                  Appeal from the Board of Immigration Appeals
                            Agency No. A091 195 772
                   ______________________________

   Before Davis, Southwick, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   James C. Ho, Circuit Judge:
          Yemiel Delgado-Victorio, a native and citizen of Mexico, was ordered
   removed based on a Texas conviction for aggravated sexual assault with a
   deadly weapon. Delgado-Victorio now petitions for review of the decision of
   the Board of Immigration Appeals determining his removability and denying
   his request for continuance. We hold that aggravated sexual assault with a
   deadly weapon under Texas law is a crime of violence and thus an aggravated
   felony for purposes of federal immigration law. We accordingly deny the
   petition for review.
                                      ***
Case: 23-60102       Document: 00517005120             Page: 2      Date Filed: 12/18/2023

                                        No. 23-60102

           We review the immigration judge’s decision to the extent it influenced
   the Board. Singh v. Sessions, 880 F.3d 220, 224 (5th Cir. 2018). We review
   legal questions de novo and denials of continuance motions for abuse of
   discretion. Garcia v. Barr, 969 F.3d 129, 132 (5th Cir. 2020); Ali v. Gonzales,
   440 F.3d 678, 680 (5th Cir. 2006).
           Aliens become removable when they are convicted of an “aggravated
   felony.” 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii). An “aggravated felony” includes any
   “crime of violence . . . for which the term of imprisonment [is] at least one
   year.” 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(F). A crime of violence is defined as “an
   offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of
   physical force against the person or property of another.” 18 U.S.C. § 16(a).
   The Supreme Court has instructed that these crimes must be committed with
   a mens rea of knowledge or intent. Borden v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 1817,
   1821–22, 1825 (2021).
           The Board, relying on the immigration judge, correctly concluded that
   Delgado-Victorio’s offense constituted an aggravated felony.1 Aggravated
   sexual assault with a deadly weapon under Texas law is clearly a crime of
   violence. To be convicted, an individual must “intentionally or knowingly”
   cause unwanted sexual penetration or contact and “use[] or exhibit[] a deadly
   weapon” while doing so.           Tex. Penal Code § 22.021(a)(1)(A) &
   (2)(A)(iv). See also Patterson v. State, 769 S.W. 2d 938, 941 (Tex. Ct. Crim.
   App. 1989) (en banc) (“Thus, ‘used . . . a deadly weapon’ during the
   commission of the offense means that the deadly weapon was employed or

           _____________________
           1
              Delgado-Victorio challenges the Board’s finding that he was convicted of
   aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon. The judgment of conviction relied upon
   by the Board clearly states that he was convicted of “agg[ravated] sexual assault with a
   deadly weapon,” which falls under the subsections the Board found him convicted of
   violating.

                                              2
Case: 23-60102     Document: 00517005120          Page: 3   Date Filed: 12/18/2023

                                   No. 23-60102

   utilized in order to achieve its purpose. . . . ‘[E]xhibited a deadly weapon’
   means that the weapon was consciously shown or displayed during the
   commission of the offense.”) (some omissions in original). See also McCain
   v. State, 22 S.W. 3d 497, 502 (Tex. Ct. Crim. App. 2000) (en banc) (“a
   person ‘uses or exhibits a deadly weapon’ . . . if he employs the weapon in
   any manner that ‘facilitates the associated felony.’”). The Texas offense
   thus requires the use or attempted use of physical force, qualifying it as an
   aggravated felony. 18 U.S.C. § 16(a). By being convicted, Delgado-Victorio
   became removable. 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii).
          Delgado-Victorio’s challenge to the Board’s denial of his motion for
   continuance also lacks merit. Delgado-Victorio asserts that the Board abused
   its discretion by affirming the immigration judge’s conclusion that he lacked
   “good cause” for a continuance. But immigration judges may consider a
   wide range of factors when determining whether good cause exists. See
   Matter of L-A-B-R-, 27 I&N Dec. 405, 413, 415 (Att’y Gen. 2018). The
   immigration judge cited a number of factors, including Delgado-Victorio’s
   criminal history. We therefore decline to find an abuse of discretion.
          For the foregoing reasons, we deny Delgado-Victorio’s petition for
   review.

                                         3