United States v. Dioncio Labastida

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Dioncio Labastida, 454 F. App'x 568 (9th Cir. 2011)

United States v. Dioncio Labastida

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

1. The retroactivity principle articulated in INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 326, 121 S.Ct. 2271, 150 L.Ed.2d 347 (2001), applies *569 only to prior convictions by plea bargain. See Armendariz-Montoya v. Sonchik, 291 F.3d 1116, 1121-22 (9th Cir. 2002). Because Labastida’s 1989 conviction was by jury trial, denial of relief on account of that conviction did not render his 1992 deportation order “fundamentally unfair.” 8 U.S.C. 1326(d)(3).

2. “[A] criminal conviction cannot be attacked collaterally in a deportation proceeding.” Mendez-Alcaraz v. Gonzales, 464 F.3d 842, 845 n. 14 (9th Cir. 2006). Accordingly, Labastida’s allegations about his prior criminal proceedings, if true, were not a “plausible ground for relief from deportation,” United States v. Ubaldo-Figueroa, 364 F.3d 1042, 1050 (9th Cir. 2004) (internal quotation marks omitted), and so couldn’t render his deportation orders fundamentally unfair.

3. “[Fjamily ties and responsibilities are not ordinarily relevant in determining whether a departure [from the applicable Guidelines range] may be warranted.” U.S.S.G. § 5H1.6. Labastida’s adult children living in the United States do not present an exceptional case, so the district judge didn’t abuse his discretion in denying a downward departure. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007).

AFFIRMED.

**

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

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Dioncio Villanueva LABASTIDA, AKA Dionicio Villanueva-Labastida, Defendant—Appellant
Status
Unpublished