United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 13, 2004
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 03-60807
Summary Calendar
REYES IVAN ESPINOZA,
Petitioner,
versus
JOHN ASHCROFT, U. S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondent.
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Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
BIA No. A77 757 257
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Before JONES, BARKSDALE and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Reyes Ivan Espinoza petitions this court for review of the
Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision affirming, without
opinion, the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his
application for cancellation of removal pursuant to 8 U.S.C.
§ 1229b(b). Espinoza challenges as “arbitrary and irrational”
the IJ’s determination that he had failed to establish either the
statutory requirement of 10 years of continuous physical presence
in the United States or that his four children would suffer
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
No. 03-60807
-2-
“exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” if the family were
removed to Mexico.
Because this case involves the granting of relief under
8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b), the jurisdictional bar of 8 U.S.C.
§ 1252(a)(2)(B)(i) is implicated. See Garcia-Melendez v.
Ashcroft, 351 F.3d 657, 661 (5th Cir. 2003). The jurisdiction-
stripping provision eliminates jurisdiction over those decisions
that involve the exercise of discretion. Mireles-Valdez v.
Ashcroft, 349 F.3d 213, 216 (5th Cir. 2003). The IJ’s
determination that Espinoza’s children would not suffer an
“exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” if Espinoza were
deported to Mexico involved the exercise of discretion. Rueda v.
Ashcroft, F.3d (5th Cir. Aug. 5, 2004, No. 03-60730),
2004 WL 1747388 at *1. Therefore, this court lacks jurisdiction
to review the IJ’s determination on hardship, and Espinoza’s
petition is DISMISSED.