U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2013

Nicole Stracher v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Nicole Stracher v. Eric Holder, Jr.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided April 22, 2013 · Canby, Ikuta, Watford
523 F. App'x 491

Nicole Stracher v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Nicole Stracher, a native and citizen of Jamaica, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her applications for relief, and denying her motion to remand. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law, and review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009). We review for abuse of discretion the agency’s particularly serious crime determination, and the denial of a motion to remand. Arbid v. Holder, 700 F.3d 379, 383 (9th Cir. 2012) (per curiam); Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny the petition for review.

Stracher’s two convictions for possession of marijuana for sale in violation of California Health & Safety Code § 11359 are aggravated felony drug trafficking crimes as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B). See Rendon v. Mukasey, 520 F.3d 967, 975-76 (9th Cir. 2008)(possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell contains a trafficking element and is an aggravated felony). These convictions render Stracher statutorily ineligible for asylum. See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii), (b)(2)(B)®.

The agency did not abuse its discretion by determining that Stracher’s convictions are particularly serious crimes that render her ineligible for withholding of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(B)(ii); Miguel-Miguel v. Gonzales, 500 F.3d 941, 946-49 (9th Cir. 2007) (drug trafficking felonies presumptively constitute particularly serious crimes).

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Stracher failed to *493 establish that it is more likely than not that she would be tortured if she were returned to Jamaica where she failed to show any threat of torture by or with the acquiescence of Jamaican authorities. See Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1067-68.

The agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Stracher’s motion to remand to apply for special rule cancellation of removal for battered spouses because her aggravated felonies render her statutorily ineligible for that form of relief. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(2)(A)(iv); Fernandez v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 592, 599 (9th Cir. 2006).

In light of our disposition, we need not reach Straeher’s remaining contentions.

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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