Bent
Bent v. Mukasey
Opinion
lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Merlinda Cortan Bent, a native and citizen of the Philippines, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) removal order. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence the agency’s finding of removability, Nakamoto v. Ashcroft, 363 F.3d 874, 882 (9th Cir.2004), and we review de novo questions of law, Vasquez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 1105, 1107 (9th Cir.2003). We deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Bent was removable for alien smuggling where the record establishes that Bent knew of her boyfriend’s alien status, attempted to drive him across the border into the United States, and provided him with her son’s birth certificate to facilitate his entry. See Urzua Covarrubias v. Gonzales, 487 F.3d 742, 748-49 (9th Cir.2007) (substantial evidence supported conclusion that petitioner engaged in alien smuggling where he knowingly provided an affirmative act of assistance to brother’s effort to enter the United States illegally); cf. Altamirano v. Gonzales, 427 F.3d 586, 595 (9th Cir.2005).