U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2009

Huerta-Lopez v. Holder

Huerta-Lopez v. Holder
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided September 28, 2009 · Clifton, Rawlinson, Silverman
333 F. App'x 237

Huerta-Lopez v. Holder

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Roberto Huerta-Lopez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order denying his motion to reopen. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen, *238and review de novo questions of law, including claims of due process violations due to ineffective assistance of counsel. Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 791-92 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny the petition for review.

During proceedings, Huerta-Lopez conceded that he lacked a qualifying relative for purposes of cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(l)(D). We agree with the BIA’s conclusion that Huerta-Lopez failed to establish that counsel did not perform with sufficient competence where Huerta-Lopez then withdrew his application for cancellation of removal and waived his right to appeal in favor of a grant of voluntary departure under 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(a). See Mohammed, 400 F.3d at 793 (to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, petitioner must first demonstrate that counsel failed to perform with sufficient competence); see also Biwot v. Gonzales, 403 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005) (waiver of right to appeal must be “considered and intelligent”).

Huerta-Lopez’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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