Coley v. Attorney General of the United States
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Wayne Anthony Coley petitions for review of a final order of removal. For the following reasons, we will deny the petition for review.
Coley, a citizen of Jamaica, was admitted into the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 1998. In May 2010, Coley pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County, to manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing cocaine of a quantity less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J. Stat. § 2C:35-5(a)(1), (b)(3). He was sentenced to a term of 297 days of imprisonment. Coley applied for post-conviction relief (“PCR”) based on Padilla v. Kentucky, — U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 1473, 176 L.Ed.2d 284 (2010), arguing that counsel did not adequately inform him of the immigration consequences of pleading guilty. His PCR petition was denied in June 2011.
Meanwhile, in September 2010, Coley was placed in removal proceedings and was charged under INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii), as an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, and INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(B)(i), as an alien convicted of
The BIA dismissed Coley’s appeal, concluding that his conviction for distributing cocaine was an aggravated felony under the Act and that the IJ did not abuse her discretion by not granting Coley a continuance while his post-conviction appeal was pending.
We have jurisdiction pursuant to INA § 242(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a). Generally, we lack jurisdiction to review a final order of removal against an alien who is removable by reason of having committed an aggravated felony, as well as certain controlled substance violations. INA § 242(a)(2)(C), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C). However, we retain jurisdiction over constitutional claims or questions of law. INA § 242(a)(2)(D), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D).
Coley argues that his conviction was not an aggravated felony because it was an offense of the third degree under New Jersey law, and he was incarcerated for only 297 days for the conviction.
Coley was convicted of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing cocaine of a quantity less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J. Stat. § 2C:35-5(a)(1), (b)(3). The analogous CSA provision to N.J. Stat. § 2C:35-5(a)(1), (b)(3) is 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), which proscribes identical conduct. See Wilson v. Ashcroft, 350 F.3d 377, 381 (3d Cir. 2003). A violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) is punishable by more than one year of imprisonment under the Act, and is therefore a felony under the CSA. 21 U.S.C. §§ 802(44), 841(b)(1)(B). Thus, the BIA properly concluded that Coley’s conviction is an aggravated felony for immigration purposes. See INA § 101(A)(43)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B).
Coley also argues that the BIA erred in affirming the IJ’s decision not to continue his case while he appealed the denial of his PCR petition, and therefore denied him his right to due process. We construe this argument as a constitutional claim, see Hoxha v. Holder, 559 F.3d 157, 163 n. 5 (3d Cir. 2009), and conclude that the BIA did not err, see Singh v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 533, 541 (3d Cir. 2006) (exercising plenary review over due process claims). “[D]ue process challenges to deportation proceedings require an initial showing of substantial prejudice.” See Khan v. Att’y Gen., 448 F.3d 226, 236 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting Anwar v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 116 F.3d 140, 144 (5th Cir. 1997)). Coley has not shown that he has been prejudiced. The validity of Coley’s conviction had not been overturned and the likelihood of success of Coley’s postconviction appeal is speculative. Moreover, the pendency of a post-conviction motion does not negate the finality of a conviction for immigration purposes. See Paredes v. Att’y Gen., 528 F.3d 196, 198-99 (3d Cir. 2008)
Accordingly, we will deny the petition for review. The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is denied as moot.
. Coley had previously been charged under INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(ii), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(ii), as an alien convicted of two crimes involving moral turpitude, as he had been convicted of assault and shoplifting. The Government, however, withdrew the charge.
. The IJ did not offer Coley a continuance while he appealed the denial of his PCR petition.
. Coley is married to a United States citizen.
. Coley states that he has an application for post-conviction relief pending in the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
.In his petition for review, Coley argued that his conviction was not a felony because his offense involved only a small amount of cocaine for no remuneration, citing Steele v. Blackman, 236 F.3d 130, 137 (3d Cir. 2001). Coley, however, has not discussed this argument in his brief, and therefore it is waived. See Bradley v. Att’y Gen., 603 F.3d 235, 243 n. 8 (3d Cir. 2010). In any event, this argument fails. In Steele, this Court concluded that the alien’s offense of distributing a small amount of marijuana for no remuneration fell under the exception under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(4). 236 F.3d at 137. This exception, however, applies only to marijuana, and Coley’s conviction involved cocaine. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(4).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Wayne Anthony COLEY v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES
- Status
- Published