United States v. Cantu-Rodriguez

176 F. App'x 477

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 11, 2006

Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-40827 Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JAVIER CANTU-RODRIGUEZ,

Defendant-Appellant.

-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:05-CR-103-ALL --------------------

Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Javier Cantu-Rodriguez appeals following his guilty plea

conviction for illegal reentry into the United States. He 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 seeks

enforcement of the waiver provision in Cantu-Rodriguez’s plea

agreement. We decline to rule on the applicability of his waiver

provision because his constitutional challenge is foreclosed by

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 05-40827 -2-

Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998).

Although Cantu-Rodriguez 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). Cantu-Rodriguez 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. Because Cantu-Rodriguez has shown no error in the

judgment of the district court, that judgment is AFFIRMED.