United States v. Chavez-Quiroz

United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
July 28, 2005
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-10284
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-
Appellee,
versus
MARGARITO CHAVEZ-QUIROZ,
Defendant-
Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 3:03-CR-144-ALL-M
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Before WIENER, BENAVIDES AND STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
A jury convicted Margarito Chavez-Quiroz of having illegally entered the United States
following deportation. Chavez has timely appealed his conviction and sentence.
Chavez argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. His challenge
is directed solely to the element of alienage. The dispositive issue at trial was whether Chavez’
*
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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
mother had always retained the United States citizenship she acquired at birth from her father or
whether she lost that citizenship and later naturalized by taking an oath of allegiance. It was
undisput ed at trial that Chavez’ mother was granted a certificate of citizenship that was effective
retroactively to the date of her birth. Chavez’ trial witness opined, however, that the certificate of
citizenship was erroneously issued and that immigration officials should have determined that Chavez’
mother had naturalized. The jury was free to reject the opinion of Chavez’ witness. Based on the
certificate of citizenship granted to Chavez’ mother, the fact that she never lived in the United States
until 1966, and the absence of any evidence that Chavez ever filed a naturalization application, a
rational juror could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Chavez is an alien. See Immigration
and Nationality Act (“INA”) § 301(g); United States v. Moser, 123 F.3d 813, 819 (5th Cir. 1997);
United States v. El-Zoubi, 993 F.2d 442, 445 (5th Cir. 1993).
Chavez also challenges the district court’s jury charge. He argues that the district court
should have given his proffered instruction setting forth his interpretation of a Supreme Court case.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to give the proffered instruction because
Chavez was able to argue his interpretation of the case to the jury. See United States v. Tovias-
Marroquin, 218 F.3d 455, 457. Chavez’ challenge to the district court’s instruction on the law
contained at INA § 301(g) is made on a different basis here than it was in the district court. Thus,
it is reviewed only for plain error. United States v. Daniels, 252 F.3d 411, 415 (5th Cir.
2001). There was no such error, however, because the explication of INA § 301(g) was necessary
in light of the district court’s charge as a whole. See United States v. Gray, 105 F.3d 956, 967 (5th
Cir. 1997); United States v. Allred, 867 F.2d 856, 868 (5th Cir. 1989). Nor has Chavez shown that
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the district court erred in responding to questions from the jury while deliberating. See United States
v. Mann, 161 F.3d 840, 864 (5th Cir. 1998).
Chavez challenges the district court’s denial of his request for an offense-level reduction for
acceptance of responsibility. Given the deferential standard which applies and our review of the
record, we cannot that the district court erred in denying Chavez’ request based upon its finding that
the issue of alienage in this case was a factual one. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment. (n.2); United States
v. Maldonado, 42 F.3d 906, 913 (5th Cir. 1995).
Finally, Chavez argues that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) is unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v.
New Jersey, 520 U.S. 466 (2000). He co ncedes that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-
Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998), but he raises the issue to preserve it for further
possible review.
AFFIRMED.
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