Tapuro

MEMORANDUM *

Ferdinand Lazo Tapuro (“Tapuro”), a native and citizen of the Philippines, is married to a United States citizen. He is *595 the father of two small children who are also United States citizens, and cares for a third son, his wife’s child from a previous relationship, whom he treats as his own child. Tapuro, according to his employers, is a “model employee,” who is a “valuable part of [his employer’s] company,” as well as a “good father.” Tapuro’s income supplements his wife’s part time work, allowing her to attend college classes. He has never been arrested or convicted in the United States or the Philippines.

The government does not dispute Tapuro’s work and criminal history, familial obligations, or the characterization of his employers. It does, however, contend that Tapuro is removable as determined by the Immigration Judge (“IJ”) and upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”). Given our limited role of review, we must agree.

Tapuro, when asked by a psychologist in the Philippines, admitted to using “shabu” (methamphetamine) and marijuana a few times a year during college at parties when his friends gave him the substances. Tapuro, when asked by the…