Santiago Vargas-Navarro v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Santiago Vargas-Navarro, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) removal order. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review de novo questions of law. Mendoza-Mazariegos v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 1074, 1079 (9th Cir.2007). We deny the petition for review.

The BIA did not err in concluding that the IJ did not deprive Vargas-Navarro of his right to counsel. The record indicates that Vargas-Navarro knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to counsel at his removal hearing. See id. (valid waiver occurs where IJ specifically inquires whether petitioner wishes to proceed without counsel and receives a knowing and voluntary response).

Even if the circumstances of Vargas-Navarro’s apprehension constituted a violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment, the BIA correctly concluded that his admissions at his hearing provided an independent basis for his removal. See Magallanes-Damian v. INS, 783 F.2d 931 , 934 (9th Cir.1986) (even if interrogation and arrest involved violations of Fourth Amendment rights, “they would not prevent reliance by the…