Rafael Daniel DE LA CRUZ-JIMENEZ, Petitioner-Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee, 253 F. App'x 913

PER CURIAM: Rafael Daniel De La Cruz-Jimenez, a prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s denial of his motion for extension of time to file a certificate of appealability (“COA”). In a previous order, we granted the government’s motion to dismiss in part, but allowed Jimenez to proceed in appealing the district court’s January 25, 2006, order denying his motion to extend time to file a COA. Therefore, the only issue on appeal was whether the district court abused its discretion in denying Jimenez’s motion to extend time to file a COA.

On appeal, Jimenez does not address that issue, but rather argues the merits of his original 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion. Accordingly, Jimenez abandons the only issue on appeal and we must affirm. See United States v. Thomas, 242 F.3d 1028, 1033 (11th Cir.2001) (holding that a party abandons an issue when the party fails to raise an argument in an initial brief). AFFIRMED.