Flores
Flores v. Gonzales
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
Amando R. Flores and Maria Flores, natives and citizens of the Philippines, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order denying their applications for cancellation of removal. To the extent we have jurisdiction, it is conferred by 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review de novo claims of constitutional violations in immigration proceedings. See Ram v. INS, 243 F.3d 510, 516 (9th Cir. 2001). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.
Petitioners contend that their due process rights were violated when the IJ refused to adjudicate their case under the rules for suspension of deportation. This contention is unavailing because the agency’s decision to commence removal proceedings after April 1, 1997, meant that IIRIRA’s permanent provisions applied. See Ramirez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 872, 874-75 (9th Cir.2003); see also Vasquez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 1105, 1108 (9th Cir.2003) (holding that placing aliens in removal, rather than deportation, proceedings by itself does not amount to a due process violation).