U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2006

United States v. Esquivel-Huerta

United States v. Esquivel-Huerta
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided June 21, 2006 · Stewart, Dennis, Owen
185 F. App'x 382

United States v. Esquivel-Huerta

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Olegario Esquivel-Huerta appeals his guilty plea conviction and sentence for being unlawfully present in the United States after deportation following an aggravated *383 felony conviction. He argues that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (2) are unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), and he contends that his challenge is not barred by the appeal-waiver provision in his plea agreement. The Government seeks enforcement of the waiver provision. We assume, arguendo only, that the waiver does not bar the instant appeal.

Esquivel-Huerta’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although Esquivel-Huerta contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly 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. Garzo-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Esquivel-Huerta 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.

AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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