Christian Lopez v. Jefferson Sessions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Christian Lopez v. Jefferson Sessions, 706 F. App'x 903 (9th Cir. 2017)
Wallace, Silverman, Bybee

Christian Lopez v. Jefferson Sessions

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Christian Samuel Lopez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision finding her ineligible for asylum and withholding of removal, and denying relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the agency’s particularly serious crime determination. Avendano-Hernandez v. Lynch, 800 F.3d 1072, 1077 (9th Cir. 2015). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

The agency did not abuse its discretion in determining that Lopez’s conviction for driving under the influence with blood alcohol of 0.08 percent or more and causing bodily injury to another person with two or more prior convictions pursuant to Cal. Vehicle Code § 23153(b), and hit and run causing death or injury in violation of Cal. Vehicle Code § 20001(a), was a particularly serious crime, where Lopez declined the opportunity to offer additional testimony or evidence regarding the circumstances of her conviction, and the agency weighed the correct factors. See id.) Anaya-Ortiz v. Holder, 594 F.3d 673, 678 (9th Cir. 2010) (all reliable information may be considered in making a particularly serious crime determination).

Lopez waived any challenge to the agen: c/s CAT determination. See Corro-Barragan v. Holder, 718 F.3d 1174, 1177 n.5 (9th Cir. 2013) (failure to contest issue in opening brief resulted in waiver).

We lack jurisdiction to consider Lopez’s unexhausted contentions that her prior counsel was ineffective and that she had insufficient opportunity to present evidence regarding her conviction. See Tijani v. Holder, 628 F.3d 1071, 1080 (9th Cir. 2010) (no jurisdiction to review legal claims not presented in an alien’s administrative proceedings before the BIA).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
Christian Samuel LOPEZ, AKA Diego Araujo, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished