Forster v. Gonzales

Filing 920070523

Opinion

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 06-1962

ALFRED DUKE FORSTER, Petitioner, versus ALBERTO R. GONZALES, Attorney General of the United States, Respondent.

On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. (A27-862-566)

Submitted:

April 6, 2007

Decided:

May 23, 2007

Before TRAXLER, SHEDD, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.

Petition dismissed in part; denied in part by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Alfred Duke Forster, Petitioner Pro Se. James Arthur Hunolt, M. Jocelyn Lopez Wright, Lindsay L. Chichester, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM: Alfred Duke Forster, a native and citizen of Liberia, petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) affirming the immigration judge's finding that he is removable as an aggravated felon, 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii), and denying as a matter of discretion his request for a § 212(c) waiver of deportation under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(c) (1994) (repealed in 1996). Under 8 U.S.C.A. § 1252(a)(2)(C) (West 2005), "we have no jurisdiction to review a final order of removal of an alien removable for having committed an aggravated felony." Ashcroft, 301 F.3d 202, 203 (4th Cir. 2002). to review the facts that trigger the Ramtulla v.

We have jurisdiction applicability of

§ 1252(a)(2)(C)--that Forster is an alien and that he was convicted of an aggravated felony. As we find that these facts were

established below, we have jurisdiction only to review Forster's constitutional claim. 8 U.S.C.A. § 1252(a)(2)(D) (West 2005); Mbea v. Gonzales, __ F.3d __, __ n.1, 2007 WL 852346, at *1, n.1 (4th Cir. § Mar. 22, 2007) permits (No. review 05-1204) of (holding 28 U.S.C. and

1252(a)(2)(D)

constitutional

claims

questions of law, under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C)). Forster asserts that he was denied due process because the Board did not have a full transcript of his hearing before the immigration judge, after a tape malfunction rendered inaudible a

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portion of redirect and closing arguments.

This court has held

that aliens must be given "an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner, i.e., [to] receive a full and fair hearing on their claims." 321-22 (4th Cir. 2002). Rusu v. INS, 296 F.3d 316,

In order to receive relief on such a

claim, Forster must establish not only that a due process violation occurred but also that he suffered prejudice from the violation. Id. at 320. Prejudice requires that the violation was likely to Jean v. Gonzales, 435 F.3d 475,

affect the results of his hearing. 484 (4th Cir. 2006).

Here, counsel was given the opportunity to

recreate the missing portion of the record but opted instead to submit written closing arguments. As the Board found, Forster was

provided a full and fair hearing and the record was sufficient to allow a complete review. As Forster can show no prejudice from the

alleged due process violation, this claim lacks merit. Accordingly, we dismiss Forster's petition for review in part and deny it in part. We dispense with oral argument because

the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the

decisional process. PETITION DISMISSED IN PART; DENIED IN PART

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