United States v. Miguel Mendiola-Martinez
United States v. Miguel Mendiola-Martinez
Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Miguel Mendiola-Martinez appeals from his jury-trial conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(2). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Mendiola-Martinez contends that the district court erred by instructing the jury that filing an application for adjustment of immigration status does not make a defendant “legally present” for purposes of determining whether he violated 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A). This contention fails because Mendiola-Martinez’s pending 1-485 application for adjustment of status does not affect his removability, and Mendiola-Martinez points to no statute that renders his presence lawful based upon his application for adjustment of status. See United States v. Latu, 479 F.3d 1153, 1155, 1159 (9th Cir. 2007); see also United States v. Smith, 561 F.3d 934, 938-39 (9th Cir. 2009) (holding that the sufficiency of a jury instruction is subject to harmless error review).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
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