United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT February 23, 2006

Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-40543 Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JOEL MENDEZ-GONZALEZ,

Defendant-Appellant.

-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 7:04-CR-820-ALL --------------------

Before GARZA, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Joel Mendez-Gonzalez (Mendez) appeals his guilty-plea

conviction and sentence for illegal reentry following

deportation. On appeal, Mendez argues that the “felony” and

“aggravated felony” provisions of

(b) are

unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey,

(2000). Mendez’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by

Almendarez-Torres v. United States,

(1998).

Although Mendez contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 05-40543 -2-

decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule

Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, we have repeatedly

rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres

remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez,

(5th Cir.), cert. denied,

(2005). Mendez

properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of

Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to

preserve it for further review.

The judgment of the district court is thus AFFIRMED.