United States v. Interian-Mata
United States v. Interian-Mata
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Santos Manuel Interian-Mata (“Interian”) appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to dismiss a charge of being found in the United States after being removed, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Specifically, Interian challenges the district court’s order finding, on remand from our earlier disposition in United States v. Interian-Mata, 118 Fed. Appx. 223 (9th Cir. 2004), that he was not prejudiced by the Immigration Judge’s failure to inform him of his eligibility for relief under § 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(c). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm the district court’s order.
Interian bears the burden of demonstrating prejudice, see United States v. Gonzalez-Valerio, 342 F.3d 1051, 1054 (9th Cir. 2003), and to meet this burden Interian must show that it was “plausible” he would have received § 212(c) relief, see id. As a result of Interian’s particular criminal history, any plausible relief is contingent on a demonstration of “unusual or outstanding equities.” See, e.g., id. at 1056-57. Such a demonstration is not always sufficient, however. Matter of Edwards, 20 I. & N. Dec. 191, 196 (BIA 1990). Taking into consideration Interian’s conviction for forcible rape and multiple convictions for drunk driving, and agreeing with the reasoning of the district court that Interian’s criminal record demonstrates a lack of rehabilitation, we agree with the government that Interian has not provided any evidence of a case in which § 212(c) relief was granted to an alien with truly comparable equities. We therefore agree with the district court that Interian has not demonstrated plausible grounds for § 212(c) relief. See Gonzalez-Valerio, 342 F.3d at 1054; cf. Matter of Edwards, 20 I. & N. Dec. 191; Matter of Buscemi, 19 I. & N. Dec. 628 (BIA 1988).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
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