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

United States v. Hernandez-Romero

United States v. Hernandez-Romero
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided August 28, 2006 · Davis, Per Curiam, Smith, Wiener
196 F. App'x 284

United States v. Hernandez-Romero

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Juan Blanco-Hernandez appeals his conviction and the 75-month sentence imposed following entry of his guilty plea to one count of being found illegally in the United States subsequent to deportation and a conviction for an aggravated felony. Blanco-Hernandez contends that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional. Because the Government does not seek to enforce Blanco-Hernandez’s appeal waiver, it is not binding. See United States v. Story, 439 F.3d 226, 231 (5th Cir. 2006).

Blanco-Hernandez’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 Blanco-Hernandez contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that AlmendarezTorres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Blanco-Hernandez 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 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Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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