United States v. Reyna-Rios

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT June 20, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-41119 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus YOLANDA REYNA-RIOS, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:05-CR-53-ALL -------------------- Before STEWART, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Yolanda Reyna-Rios appeals from her guilty plea conviction for attempted illegal entry into the United States after deportation following an aggravated-felony conviction. She argues that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (2) are unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). The Government argues that the waiver provision in Reyna- Rios’s plea agreement precludes her attack on the * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 05-41119 -2- constitutionality of § 1326(b). We assume, arguendo only, that the waiver does not bar the instant appeal. Reyna-Rios’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998). Although Reyna-Rios contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, 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). Reyna-Rios properly concedes that her argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but she raises it here to preserve it for further review. AFFIRMED.