Ayala

MEMORANDUM ** .

Doroteo Ayala, a native and citizen of Mexico, has been ordered removed from this country. He petitions for review of that order, arguing that he should be granted suspension of deportation. Because such relief is no longer available, we must reject his argument and deny his petition for review.

Prior to April 1, 1997, the effective date of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), an alien placed in deportation proceedings could apply for suspension of deportation. *597 IIRIRA, however, repealed the availability of suspension of deportation and replaced it with cancellation of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b. Ayala concedes that he cannot meet the stringent eligibility requirements for cancellation of removal. Rather, he argues that he has a due process right to apply for suspension of deportation.

We reject his argument. The record indicates that the INS commenced its action against Ayala on March 3, 2000. Removal proceedings apply whenever the “alien’s proceedings commenced ... on or after April 1, 1997.... ” See Cortez-Felipe v. INS, 245 F.3d 1054, 1056 (9th Cir. 2001). We have held that application of IIRIRA “to bar the…