Opinion
Cr.No. 06-2123GT, Cv. No. 07-0648GT.
October 9, 2007
ORDER
On April 9, 2007, Petitioner, Manuel Jose Vargas-Soto ("Mr. Vargas"), filed a Motion to Modify Sentence, presumably pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Mr. Vargas requests a two level downward departure based on his status as a deportable alien, which Mr. Vargas asserts "should have been considered as a mitigating factor" at his sentencing. The Court has fully considered this matter, including a review of Mr. Vargas's brief filed, the authorities cited therein and the arguments presented. For the reasons stated below, Mr. Vargas's Motion to Modify Sentence is DENIED.
First, Mr. Vargas pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to two counts of illegal entry by an alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325. In the written plea agreement, Mr. Vargas explicitly waived his right to appeal and/or collaterally attack his conviction or sentence. The Ninth Circuit has long acknowledged that the terms of a plea agreement are enforceable. See, United States v. Baramdyka, 95 F.3d 840, 843 (9th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 117 S.Ct. 1282 (1997). Since Mr. Vargas expressly waived his statutory right to appeal or collaterally attack his sentence in his plea agreement, Mr. Vargas is now precluded from challenging that sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See, United States v. Abarca, 985 F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that a knowing and voluntary waiver of a statutory right is enforceable).
Moreover, even if Mr. Vargas had not expressly waived his right to appeal or collaterally attack his sentence, his petition would still fail. In essence, Mr. Vargas argues that because of his status as a deportable alien, he is "ineligible for pre-release custody and minimum security confinement." Mr. Vargas argues that the Court should grant him a two level downward departure because of his status. However, Mr. Vargas's argument that the Court should depart downward because he is a deportable alien is precluded by statute and current Ninth Circuit case law. By statute, the Court may depart downward only if there are "aggravating or mitigating circumstances . . . not adequately taken into consideration by the Sentencing Commission." 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b). Specifically, the Ninth Circuit has held that the threat of deportation is not a factor that the district court may consider for sentencing purposes. United States v. Alvarez-Cardenas, 902 F.2d 734, 737 (9th Cir. 1990). Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Mr. Vargas's Motion to Modify Sentence is DENIED.
The Ninth Circuit decided, in an unpublished opinion, that the defendant, like Limon, was not entitled to a six month reduction in his sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b) because as a deportable alien he is not eligible to spend the last six months of his sentence in a halfway house pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c). See United States v. Zepeda-Valles, 87 F.3d 1325 (9th Cir. 1996).