Santa Maria v. Holder

FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAY 19 2010
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
NAPOLEON BALDEMOR SANTA No. 05-76699
MARIA,
Agency No. A044-949-027
Petitioner,
v. MEMORANDUM*
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Argued and Submitted April 8, 2010
Pasadena, California
Before: FRIEDMAN,** D.W. NELSON, REINHARDT,Circuit Judges.
Napoleon Baldemor Santa Maria petitions for review of the Board of
Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”) decision adopting an immigration judge’s (“IJ”)
determination that Santa Maria was not eligible to apply for a discretionary waiver
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The Honorable Daniel M. Friedman, United States Circuit Judge for
the Federal Circuit, sitting by designation.
of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8
U.S.C. § 1252(a).
When the BIA cites Matter of Burbano, 20 I. & N. Dec. 872, 874 (BIA
1994), and does not disagree with any part of the IJ’s decision, we review the IJ’s
opinion as if it were that of the BIA. Samayoa-Martinez v. Holder, 558 F.3d 897,
899 (9th Cir. 2009). We review questions of law de novo, except to the extent that
deference is owed to the BIA’s interpretation of its governing statutes and
regulations. See Barrios v. Holder, 581 F.3d 849, 854 (9th Cir. 2009.).
Section 1227(a)(1)(H)(i) relief is available only to an alien who “is the
spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States.” Santa Maria’s
mother is a deceased United States citizen. We recently held that an individual
whose mother is a United States citizen continues to be the son of a citizen of the
United States, as that phrase is used in 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i), after his
mother’s death. Federiso v. Holder, No. 08-74792, (9th Cir. May 19, 2010).
Federiso puts to rest any dispute as to whether Santa Maria is the son of a citizen
of the United States per § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i). Santa Maria is therefore eligible to
apply for § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i) relief, and the IJ and BIA erred by concluding
otherwise.
PETITION GRANTED; REMANDED.
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