U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2025

United States v. Jimenez-Vinagre

United States v. Jimenez-Vinagre
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided February 20, 2025

United States v. Jimenez-Vinagre

Opinion

Case: 24-50591 Document: 44-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/20/2025

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ____________ United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit

No. 24-50591 FILED February 20, 2025 Summary Calendar ____________ Lyle W. Cayce Clerk United States of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, versus Elias Jimenez-Vinagre, Defendant—Appellant. ______________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 2:22-CR-1956-1 ______________________________ Before Davis, Smith, and Higginson, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam: * Elias Jimenez-Vinagre appeals following his conviction of illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, arguing for the first time that the statutory sentencing enhancement in § 1326(b) is unconstitutional. The Government moves for summary affirmance or, alternatively, an extension of time in

_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.

Case: 24-50591 Document: 44-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/20/2025

No. 24-50591

which to file an appellate brief. Jimenez-Vinagre takes no position on the motion but concedes that his argument is foreclosed.

As Jimenez-Vinagre concedes, his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998). See United States v. Pervis, 937 F.3d 546, 553-54 (5th Cir. 2019); see also Erlinger v. United States, 602 U.S. 821, 838 (2024) (explaining that Almendarez-Torres “persists as a narrow exception permitting judges to find only the fact of a prior conviction” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Summary affirmance is appropriate. See Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969).

Accordingly, the Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, the alternative motion for an extension of time is DENIED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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