U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2011

Lian Tan v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

Lian Tan v. Eric H. Holder Jr.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided February 28, 2011 · Goodwin, Kleinfeld, Graber
416 F. App'x 662

Lian Tan v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Lian Bing Tan, a native citizen of the People’s Republic of China and lawful permanent resident since 1994, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) dismissal of her appeal of an immigration judge’s (IJ) order denying her request for a waiver under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(7) and for cancellation of removal. The BIA found that Tan’s conviction for child endangerment under California Penal Code section 273a(a) was an aggravated felony, as a “crime of violence” under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(F) and 18 U.S.C. § 16(b), precluding her from cancellation of removal.

We need not reach the issue of the BIA’s application of the modified categorical approach to Tan’s conviction under California Penal Code section 273a(a), because the BIA also denied her application for cancellation of removal on the ground that, regardless, she would not receive a favorable exercise of discretion. See, e.g., Martinez-Rosas v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 926, 929-30 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing 8 U.S.C. 1229b). By statute, we lack jurisdiction over the BIA’s unfavorable discretionary decision, so Tan cannot obtain relief. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i).

Petitioner’s arguments with respect to the discretionary decision are factual in nature, although clothed as a legal argument. See Martinez-Rosas, 424 F.3d at 930. Even if we addressed her arguments on the merits, they would fail. The BIA did balance all relevant positive and negative factors as required under our case law. Kalubi v. Ashcroft, 364 F.3d 1134, 1139 (9th Cir. 2004). Additionally, we lack jurisdiction to consider Tan’s argument about the use of her statements from her bond hearing because she failed to raise it in her brief to the BIA. Abebe v. Mukasey, 554 F.3d 1203, 1208 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (per curiam), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 3272, 176 L.Ed.2d 1182 (2010).

The petition for review is therefore DENIED.

*

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided *664 by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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