UNITED STATES v. ESPARZA RODRIGUEZ (2020)

Appealing his conviction under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(1) for illegally reentering the United States following removal, Joes Alberto Esparza-Rodriguez challenges the district court's order declining to dismiss his indictment. He contends that the notice to appear for his original removal proceeding was defective, his prior removals were thus invalid, and they could not be used to support his illegal reentry conviction. Additionally, Esparza-Rodriguez contends that he satisfied or is excused from satisfying the § 1326(d) requirements for collaterally attacking his removal order, such as the requirement that he show exhaustion of any administrative remedies. As Esparza-Rodriguez concedes, his arguments are foreclosed by United States v. Pedroza-Rocha, 933 F.3d 490 (5th Cir. 2019), petition for cert. filed (U.S. Nov. 6, 2019) (No. 19-6588), and Pierre-Paul v. Barr, 930 F.3d 684 (5th Cir. 2019), petition for cert. filed (U.S. Dec. 16, 2019) (No. 19-779).

In Pedroza-Rocha, 933 F.3d at 496-98, we held that the notice to appear was not deficient merely because it did not specify a date for the hearing, any such purported deficiency had not deprived the immigration court of jurisdiction, and the appellant could not collaterally attack his notice to appear without first exhausting his administrative remedies. Esparza-Rodriguez's arguments are, thus, foreclosed. See id.

Accordingly, the Government's motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, see Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. The Government's alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED as moot.

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PER CURIAM:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.