Opinion
19-70510
09-17-2021
JOSE SIXTO ROJAS, AKA Ruben Tomas Gutierrez, Petitioner, v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General, Respondent.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Agency No. A208-121-558
Before: PAEZ, NGUYEN, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.
MEMORANDUM [*]
Jose Sixto Rojas, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's decision denying his application for cancellation of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law. Jiang v. Holder, 754 F.3d 733, 738 (9th Cir. 2014). We deny the petition for review.
The agency properly denied cancellation of removal, where Sixto Rojas failed to meet his burden of proof to establish that his conviction under California Health & Safety Code section 11550(a) is not a controlled substance violation that renders him ineligible for relief. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(C); Pereida v. Wilkinson, 141 S.Ct. 754, 760 (2021) (applicant for removal relief bears the burden of establishing eligibility for such relief, including that the applicant has not been convicted of certain disqualifying offenses); Lopez v. Sessions, 901 F.3d 1071, 1075 (9th Cir. 2018) (Federal First Offender Act treatment "only applies to first time drug offenders convicted of simple possession of a controlled substance").
The temporary stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the mandate.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
[*] This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.