Meza v. Holder , 473 F. App'x 763 ( 2012 )


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  •                                                                            FILED
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             JUN 05 2012
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    ALFREDO FIDEL MEZA, aka Alfredo                  No. 07-73346
    Fidel Meza Chavez,
    Agency No. A092-774-974
    Petitioner,
    v.                                             MEMORANDUM *
    ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
    Respondent.
    On Petition for Review of an Order of the
    Board of Immigration Appeals
    Submitted June 1, 2012 **
    San Francisco, California
    Before: W. FLETCHER,*** CALLAHAN, and IKUTA, Circuit Judges.
    *
    This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
    except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
    **
    The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
    without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    ***
    Due to the death of Judge Pamela A. Rymer, Judge William A.
    Fletcher, United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, was drawn to replace
    her. Judge Fletcher has read the briefs and reviewed the record.
    Petitioner Alfredo Meza is ineligible for cancellation of removal under 8
    U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(C), because he has been convicted of two crimes involving
    moral turpitude, which are offenses under 
    8 U.S.C. § 1182
    (a)(2)(A)(i)(I);
    specifically, he was convicted of a theft in violation of California Penal Code
    Section 484(a), and check fraud in violation of California Penal Code Section
    476a. See Rusz v. Ashcroft, 
    376 F.3d 1182
    , 1184 (9th Cir. 2004); Burr v. INS, 
    350 F.2d 87
    , 91–92 (9th Cir. 1965). Although these convictions were subsequently
    expunged pursuant to state law, such expungement does not change their
    immigration consequences. See Murillo-Espinoza v. INS, 
    261 F.3d 771
    , 774 (9th
    Cir. 2001). Moreover, even if Meza qualified for a discretionary waiver of
    removability under 
    8 U.S.C. § 1182
    (h), such a waiver would not erase the crimes
    alleged to be grounds for removability from his record for immigration purposes.
    See Becker v. Gonzales, 
    473 F.3d 1000
    , 1003–04 (9th Cir. 2007).
    DENIED.
    2