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

United States v. Lanza-Paz

United States v. Lanza-Paz
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided October 25, 2006 · Jolly, Demoss, Stewart
203 F. App'x 623

United States v. Lanza-Paz

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Erlin Rolando Lanza-Paz (Lanza) appeals following his guilty plea conviction for illegal reentry after deportation. Lan-za 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. *624 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000).

Lanza’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 Lanza 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. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Lanza 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Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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