United States v. Arvizu-Garcia

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT March 17, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-40868 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus HUGO ALBERTO ARVIZU-GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:04-CR-184-ALL -------------------- ON REMAND FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Before KING, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* This court affirmed the conviction and sentence of Hugo Alberto Arvizu-Garcia (Arvizu) for illegal reentry. United States v. Arvizu-Garcia, No. 04-40868 (5th Cir. Dec. 17, 2004) (unpublished). The Supreme Court vacated and remanded for further consideration in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). Arvizu challenges the constitutionality of 8 * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 04-40868 -2- U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (2) and, additionally, the district court’s application of the mandatory Sentencing Guidelines. Arvizu’s constitutional challenge to § 1326(b) is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998). Although Arvizu contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 298 (2005). Arvizu properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for further review. Arvizu’s claim that the district court erred in sentencing him pursuant to the mandatory Sentencing Guidelines is barred by his valid appeal waiver. See United States v. Burns, 433 F.3d 442, 450-51 (5th Cir. 2005); United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542, 545 (2005). AFFIRMED IN PART; DISMISSED IN PART.