Munoz

Munoz v. Keisler

Good Law
248 F. App'x 836
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitSeptember 27, 2007No. 05-75270California266 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

Agueda Munoz, a native and citizen of Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the United States, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order affirming without opinion an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision finding her removable because she engaged in alien smuggling. To the extent we have jurisdiction, it is pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review de novo questions of law. See Altamirano v. Gonzales, 427 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir.2005). We dismiss in part and grant in part the petition for review.

We lack jurisdiction to review Munoz’s contention that the IJ violated due process because she failed to raise that issue before the BIA and thereby failed to exhaust her administrative remedies. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir.2004) (noting that due process challenges that are “procedural in nature” must be exhausted).

The IJ’s conclusion that Munoz engaged in alien smuggling due to her “mere presence in the vehicle, without more” is contrary to the plain language of 8 U.S.C. § 1182 (a)(6)(E)(i). See Altamirano, 427 F.3d at 591 (concluding petitioner did not violate alien smuggling statute where she knew there was an illegal…

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