Eamma Woods v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Eamma Jean Woods petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirming the decision of an Immigration Judge (IJ) denying her application for registry and withholding of removal pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1259 and 1229a. We deny the petition for review.

An alien is inadmissible and thus ineligible for registry if she admits having committed, or admits committing acts that constitute, the essential elements of a violation of a law or regulation relating to a controlled substance. 8 U.S.C. § 1182 (a)(2)(A)(i)(II). During her removal hearing, Woods admitted that she had possessed and been under the influence of cocaine and that this violated two California criminal statutes. She argues that the admission was not validly obtained because she was not provided with a definition of the elements of the offense in a way that she could understand, and that her admission was not voluntary because she was confused. See Pazcoguin v. Radcliffe, 292 F.3d 1209, 1215-16 (9th Cir.2002). We disagree. The government’s attorney explained the pertinent statutes to Woods and provided her with a copy to read. Though there were moments during her testimony when…