RODRIGUEZ GUZMAN v. GARLAND (2021)

MEMORANDUM **

Eduardo Rodriguez-Guzman, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's decision denying his application for cancellation of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law. Gomez-Lopez v. Ashcroft, 393 F.3d 882, 885 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny the petition for review.

The BIA did not err in concluding that Rodriguez-Guzman is statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal based on his 2001 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon under California Penal Code (“CPC”) § 245(a)(1). See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1227(a)(2)(A)(i) (setting out the requirements for a crime involving moral turpitude to constitute a deportable offense), 1229b(b)(1)(C) (listing convictions that limit eligibility for cancellation of removal). Rodriguez-Guzman's contention that his conviction is no longer disqualifying for cancellation of removal purposes under an amendment to CPC § 18.5 is foreclosed by Velasquez-Rios v. Wilkinson, 988 F.3d 1081, 1089 (9th Cir. 2021) (holding that “California's amendment to § 18.5 of the [CPC], which retroactively reduces the maximum misdemeanor sentence to 364 days for purposes of state law, cannot be applied retroactively for purposes of § 1227(a)(2)(A)(i)”). Thus, Rodriguez-Guzman's cancellation of removal claim fails.

The stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the mandate.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.