NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 10-1118
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JUAN JAIME BERRIO ECHEVERRY,
a/k/a Juan Guerrero,
a/k/a Jose Gerrero,
Petitioner
v.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
Respondent
____________________________________
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
(Agency No. A038-597-928)
Immigration Judge: Margaret R. Reichenberg
____________________________________
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
October 13, 2010
Before: BARRY, GREENAWAY, JR. and STAPLETON, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed November 2, 2010)
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OPINION
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PER CURIAM
Petitioner Juan Jaime Berrio Echeverry seeks review of a final order issued by the
Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”). We will dismiss the petition for review.
Because the parties are familiar with the background, we will summarize the facts
that are relevant to our decision. Echeverry is a native and citizen of Colombia. In 1983,
he was admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident; his last entry into the
United States was in April 2006, as a returning permanent resident. In June 2006, the
Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) initiated removal proceedings, charging
Echeverry with several grounds of removability based on offenses in his criminal record.
In relevant part, in light of his 1995 New Jersey conviction for manufacturing,
distributing, and dispensing over fifty grams of marijuana, he was charged with
removability for having been convicted of a violation of state law relating to a controlled
substance. See Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) § 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) [8 U.S.C.
§ 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II)]. Echeverry conceded removability on that charge and applied for
a waiver of removal under former INA § 212(c) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(c)]. After a hearing at
which the Immigration Judge (“IJ”) considered testimonial and documentary evidence,
the IJ denied the waiver application as a matter of discretion because the negative factors
outweighed the positive ones.1 The IJ ordered Echeverry removed to Colombia.
On December 11, 2009, the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) affirmed the
IJ’s decision and dismissed Echeverry’s appeal. The BIA noted Echeverry’s assertions
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DHS also had charged Echeverry with removability as an alien who has been an
illicit trafficker of a controlled substance, INA § 212(a)(2)(C) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(C)],
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that the IJ did not give proper weight to his testimony and did not properly consider the
hardship to Echeverry’s family. However, the BIA agreed with the IJ’s conclusion that
Echeverry’s lengthy residence in the United States, his family ties, and his employment
history do not outweigh his crimes, drug use, and probation violation, adding that his
recent driving violations reflect a lack of rehabilitation. The BIA concluded that the IJ
properly denied the application for a section 212(c) waiver in the exercise of discretion.
Echeverry filed a timely petition for review. He contends that the IJ and the BIA
erred in denying his waiver application because the positive equities in his case merited a
favorable exercise of discretion. Echeverry cites 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a) and (b) in support of
our jurisdiction to review a final order of removal. However, as noted by the respondent,
we generally do not have jurisdiction to review final orders of removal against aliens, like
Echeverry, who are removable because they were convicted of a controlled substance
offense. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C) (precluding jurisdiction where alien is removable
pursuant to INA § 212(a)(2) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)]). In addition, we also generally lack
jurisdiction to review any “decision or action of the Attorney General . . . the authority
for which is specified under [relevant provisions of the INA] to be in the discretion of the
Attorney General.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii). The decision to grant or deny relief
pursuant to former section 212(c) is specified under the statute’s terms as being
discretionary. See Liang v. INS, 206 F.3d 308, 311-12 and n.3 (3d Cir. 2000). Thus, we
but the IJ concluded that DHS did not establish Echeverry’s removability on that charge.
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are precluded from exercising jurisdiction over a petition for review of a decision to deny
section 212(c) relief except to the extent that the petition raises constitutional claims or
questions of law. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D); Papageorgiou v. Gonzales, 413 F.3d
356, 358 (3d Cir. 2005). The arguments in Echeverry’s brief are limited to his
disagreement with the agency’s discretionary determination, and he raises no
constitutional or legal issues that would invoke our jurisdiction.
For the foregoing reasons, we will dismiss the petition for review.
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