Catherine Prouse v. Eric H. Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Catherine Anne Prouse, a native and citizen of Canada and a legal permanent resident of the United States, petitions for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) that Prouse’s conviction under Nev.Rev.Stat. § 453.321 for supplying methamphetamine to minors qualifies as an “aggravated felony” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Applying the modified categorical approach, we agree with the BIA that Prouse’s Nevada conviction constitutes an “aggravated felony.” See United States v. Aguila-Montes de Oca, 655 F.3d 915, 940 (9th Cir.2011) (en banc). Aggravated felonies include drug trafficking crimes. 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (a)(43)(B). A drug trafficking crime is any felony punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c)(2).

The CSA makes it a crime to “distribute” a controlled substance. 21 U.S.C. § 841 (a)(1). Prouse’s Nevada conviction for supplying methamphetamine is the equivalent of this federal crime. First, methamphetamine is a controlled substance. 21 U.S.C. § 812 (c). The distribution of any quantity of methamphetamine is punishable under the CSA. 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (b)(l)(A)(viii), (B)(viii), (C). Second,…