Jose Valdivia-Rodriguez v. Jefferson Sessions
Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
Jose Valdivia-Rodriguez petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”) order ruling that he was ineligible for cancellation of removal because he was convicted of a crime of domestic violence. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a) and deny the petition.
Valdivia-Rodriguez’s assault conviction was for a crime of violence as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 16(a) under the modified categorical approach. He pleaded guilty to subsection (A)(1) of the Arizona assault statute, which requires “causing any physical injury to another person.” Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1203(A)(1). The Arizona Criminal Code defines “[pjhysical injury” to mean “the impairment of physical condition,” Id. § 13-105(33). His argument that the assault statute does not require physi *519 cal force is therefore without merit. He relies on the hypothetical from In re Jeremiah T., 212 Ariz. 30, 126 P.3d 177, 180 (2006), used to explain the holding that (A)(3) is not a lesser-included offense within (A)(1), but does not demonstrate “a realistic probability” that the statute is applied in the manner of the hypothetical (charging someone who withheld medication under (A)(1)), see Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez, 549 U.S. 183, 193, 127 S.Ct. 815, 166 L.Ed.2d 683 (2007). The mens rea requirement was satisfied, because Valdivia-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to class 1 misdemeanor assault, which requires acting intentionally or knowingly. See Leocal v. Ashcroft, 543 U.S. 1, 9, 125 S.Ct. 377, 160 L.Ed.2d 271 (2004).
The domestic relationship requirement was also met here. In Arizona, the State may charge the defendant with domestic violence by including the letters “DV” in the charging document and need not charge the defendant specifically under section 13-3601, which is Arizona’s domestic violence statute. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3601(H). The signed plea states that Valdivia-Rodríguez was charged with and pleaded guilty to “Assault and Disorderly Conduct DV.” And the domestic relationships enumerated in section 13-3601(A) are coextensive with those listed in 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(E)(i). Fernandez-Ruiz v. Gonzales, 466 F.3d 1121, 1125 n.5 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jose VALDIVIA-RODRIGUEZ, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent
- Status
- Unpublished