[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________ FILED
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-13960 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
Non-Argument Calendar MAY 12, 2011
________________________ JOHN LEY
CLERK
Agency No. A077-023-599
JESUS PENA LARA,
a.k.a. Jose Luis Perez,
Petitioner,
versus
U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondent.
________________________
Petition for Review of a Decision of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
________________________
(May 12, 2011)
Before TJOFLAT, CARNES and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Jesus Pena Lara seeks review of the final order of the Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA) affirming the immigration judge’s (IJ’s) finding that Lara was
removable for making a false claim to United States citizenship pursuant to 8
U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C)(ii)(I), and the IJ’s denial of Lara’s application for
withholding of removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 8 U.S.C.
§ 1231(b)(3), and relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), 8 C.F.R.
§ 208.16(c).1 After review,2 we deny the petition in part and dismiss in part.
I.
Lara contends the BIA erred by concluding Lara falsely asserted he was a
United States citizen. “We review the [BIA’s] factual determinations under the
substantial evidence test.” Forgue v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1282, 1286 (11th
Cir. 2005). We must “affirm the BIA’s decision if it is supported by reasonable,
substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole.” Al
Najjar v. Ashcroft, 257 F.3d 1262, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001) (quotations omitted).
1
In his brief before this Court, Lara cites exclusively to his application for relief under
the INA and makes no argument for relief under CAT. Because Lara failed to offer argument
regarding the denial of CAT relief in his brief before this Court, Lara has abandoned his CAT
claim. See Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005) (stating if a
petitioner “fails to offer argument on an issue, that issue is abandoned”).
2
We review the BIA’s decision as the final judgment, unless the BIA has expressly
adopted the IJ’s decision. Ruiz v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 762, 765 (11th Cir. 2007). Because the
BIA wrote its own opinion in this case, we review only the BIA’s opinion.
2
Accordingly, “[t]o conclude the BIA’s decision should be reversed, we must find
that the record not only supports the conclusion, but compels it.” Ruiz, 479 F.3d
762, 765 (11th Cir. 2007) (quotation omitted).
Although Lara contends the record established he did not make a false claim
to U.S. citizenship, the record contains ample evidence—including Lara’s own
sworn statement— showing that Lara presented the passport at inspection in an
attempt to enter the United States. Furthermore, Lara’s due process argument
lacks merit because, as the BIA noted, Lara was removable regardless of whether
he “presented” the U.S. passport for admission. Because Lara conceded
removability based on the alternative ground that he was an arriving alien without
a valid entry document, any alleged procedural error was harmless and Lara
cannot show that any constitutional due process violation caused substantial
prejudice. See De Sandoval v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 440 F.3d 1276, 1285 (11th Cir.
2006) (“To establish a procedural due process violation, an alien must show the
government’s asserted error caused [him] substantial prejudice.”). Accordingly,
we deny the petition for review with respect to Lara’s challenge to the fraud
charge under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C)(ii)(I).
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II.
Second, Lara asserts the BIA erred by denying his application for
withholding of removal because he testified he suffered past persecution on
account of his disagreement with the Cuban government. We review de novo
whether we enjoy subject matter jurisdiction over a petition for review.
Amaya-Artunduaga v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 463 F.3d 1247, 1251 (11th Cir. 2006). “A
court may review a final order of removal only if . . . the alien has exhausted all
administrative remedies available to the alien as of right.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d).
Thus, “we lack jurisdiction to consider a claim raised in a petition for review
unless the petitioner has exhausted his administrative remedies with respect
thereto.” Amaya-Artunduaga, 463 F.3d at 1251.
In his brief before the BIA, Lara argued exclusively for relief under CAT.
Lara’s brief neither mentioned nor applied the standards for withholding of
removal under the INA. Because Lara failed to exhaust his remedies with respect
to his claim for withholding of removal under the INA, we lack jurisdiction to
review this claim. Accordingly, to the extent Lara seeks review of his claim for
withholding of removal under the INA, we dismiss the petition for lack of
jurisdiction.
PETITION DISMISSED IN PART, and DENIED IN PART.
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