FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION DEC 21 2009
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U.S . CO UR T OF AP PE A LS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 09-50324
Plaintiff - Appellee, D.C. No. 3:08-cr-02965-BEN-1
v.
MEMORANDUM *
JUAN VASALLO-MARTINEZ,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of California
Roger T. Benitez, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted December 8, 2009
Pasadena, California
Before: REINHARDT, TROTT and WARDLAW, Circuit Judges.
Juan Vasallo-Martinez ('Vasallo'), a native and citizen of Mexico, entered a
conditional guilty plea to a one-count indictment for violation of 8 U.S.C. y 1326,
unlawful reentry after removal. He appeals the denial of his motion to dismiss the
indictment on the grounds that although his due process rights were violated in the
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
stipulated removal proceeding underlying the indictment, he suffered no prejudice.
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. y 1291, and we review de novo the
denial of the motion to dismiss on due process grounds. U.S. v. Pallares-Galan,
359 F.3d 1088 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing U.S. v. Muro-Inclan, 249 F.3d 1180, 1182
(9th Cir. 2001)).
The district court found, and the government does not contest, that Vasallo's
due process rights were violated when, as an uncounseled alien, an Immigration
Judge determined that his stipulation to removal under 8 U.S.C. y 1229(a)(5) was
'µnowing, voluntary, and intelligent.' 8 C.F.R. y 1003.25(b). Nor does the
government dispute the district court's determination that Vasallo was statutorily
eligible for pre-hearing voluntary departure, as he was neither an aggravated felon
nor involved in terrorist activities. The only issue in dispute is whether the district
court correctly found that Vasallo failed to demonstrate that he had a 'plausible
ground[] for relief.' U.S. v. Gonzales-Valerio, 342 F.3d 1051, 1054 (9th Cir.
2003).
We disagree with the district court's conclusion that it was not liµely or
plausible that the IJ would have exercised his discretion to grant Vasallo fast-tracµ
voluntary departure. The district court erroneously focused exclusively on
Vasallo's four convictions for Driving Under the Influence ('DUI') and three
Page 2 of 5
unrelated misdemeanors in analyzing plausibility. IJs may also consider
'countervailing equities such as long residence here, close family ties in the United
States, or humanitarian needs.' In re Thomas, 21 I. & N. Dec. 20, 23 (BIA 1995).
Vasallo did not have an aggravated felony conviction. The BIA has on
several occasions affirmed the grant of voluntary departure or remanded for the IJ
to consider voluntary departure relief to aliens with criminal histories similar to
Vasallo's. See, e.g. In re Gonzales-Figeroa, A29013696, 2005 WL 3833024 (BIA
Feb. 10, 2006) (affirming grant of voluntary departure where petitioner had four
convictions for assault, one conviction for resisting arrest, and numerous arrests);
In re Pineda-Castellanos, A77212443, 2005 WL 3833024 (BIA Nov, 16, 2005)
(affirming grant of voluntary departure where criminal history included six
criminal convictions including battery, drunµenness, and driving under the
influence); see also In re Vallalonga Mante, A44809425, 2007 WL 1676929 (BIA
May 18, 2007) (remanding to IJ to weigh merits of voluntary departure where
petitioner was convicted of sexual battery); In re Guillermo Ramirez, A 90797718,
2005 WL 698425 (BIA Mar. 8, 2005) (remanding to IJ to consider voluntary
departure where petitioner committed robbery, identity theft, use of false name,
and was arrested for DUI); In re Hernandez-Barreto, A92297631, 2004 WL
2943517 (BIA Oct. 29, 2004) (remanding case to IJ to weigh merits of voluntary
Page 3 of 5
departure where petitioner was convicted for domestic violence, possession of
controlled substance, and DUI); In re Reyes-Jimenez, A97341646, 2004 WL
2418597 (BIA Oct. 4, 2004) (remanding to IJ to allow petitioner to apply for
voluntary departure where petitioner was convicted of DUI, burglary, and
disorderly conduct).
Nor did the district court factor into its analysis the numerous countervailing
equities that would weigh in favor of granting relief. Vasallo entered the United
States as a young child, and lived in the United States for at least 21 years before
his deportation by stipulated removal. Although he was abandoned by his mother
at a young age, Vasallo graduated from high school and earned an Associate's
Degree in Automotive Technology. He has worµed as an auto technician for 17
years, and has owned his own automotive business. The only family Vasallo has
resides in the United States. Vasallo and his wife, a U.S. citizen, have been married
for 6 years. He has a U.S. citizen child who was 3 years old at the time of his
removal. He has attended the same church for almost 20 years.
Based on our review of analogous cases and the numerous factors weighing
in favor of relief, we conclude that Vasallo had plausible grounds for relief and
was therefore prejudiced because the IJ failed to inform him of that relief, and
Page 4 of 5
nonetheless concluded that his stipulation to removal was 'µnowing, voluntary,
and intelligent.'
REVERSED; REMANDED.
Page 5 of 5
FILED
United States v. Vasallo-Martinez, No. 09-50324 DEC 21 2009
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
TROTT, Circuit Judge, dissenting: U.S . CO UR T OF AP PE A LS
I respectfully disagree with my colleagues. Given Vasallo-Martinez's
egregious criminal record and his manifest danger to any community in which he
lives, I conclude that he did not have a plausible ground for relief and thus suffered
no prejudice from the error in his removal proceeding. I would affirm.