MEMORANDUM **

Alberto Navarro-Valtierra (“Navarro”) appeals a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) finding him removable. In 1998, Navarro pled guilty to a drug trafficking offense in California, but that conviction was later “expunged” by a California court. Navarro contends that his expunged conviction cannot form the basis for his removal. We hold that we lack jurisdiction to hear his appeal.

The jurisdiction-stripping provision of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRI-*620RA”), codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C), precludes judicial review of “any final order of removal against an alien who is removable by reason of having committed a criminal offense covered in section 1182(a)(2) ... of this title.” Section 1182(a)(2)(A)(i), ©(II), in turn, makes inadmissible “any alien convicted of, or who admits having committed” a violation of any state law “relating to a controlled substance.” Navarro concedes that he was convicted of possession for sale or purchase for purpose of sale of a controlled substance (in his case, cocaine) in violation of California Health & Safety Code § 11351. He contends, however, that because his guilty plea was “expunged” pursuant to California Penal Code § 1203.4, it no longer counts as a “conviction” as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A). Therefore, he contends, it cannot form the basis for his removal.

Based on the legislative history of IIRI-RA, the BIA has interpreted 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A) to establish a uniform rule precluding the recognition of state rehabilitative expungements of convictions. We recently affirmed that interpretation in Murillo-Espinoza v. INS, 261 F.3d 771 (9th Cir. 2001) (upholding In re Roldan-Santoyo, Int. Dec. 3377, 1999 WL 126433 (BIA 1999) (en banc)). Based on our holding in Murillo-E spinoza, we find that Navarro stands convicted of a violation of a state law relating to a controlled substance. Accordingly, we have no jurisdiction to review the final order of removal in his case.

PETITION DENIED.