Opinion
No. 07-70284.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed January 4, 2010.
Howard Dawson, Esquire, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner.
Kathryn Deangelis, U.S. Department of Justice, Ronald E. Lefevre, Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Terri Jane Scadron, Assistant Director, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A095-500-710.
Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
MEMORANDUM
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Miriam Loera Aquino, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order summarily affirming an immigration judge's ("IJ") decision denying her motion to reopen removal proceedings conducted in absentia. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, Salta v. INS, 314 F.3d 1076, 1078 (9th Cir. 2002), we grant the petition for review and remand for further proceedings.
The IJ denied Loera Aquino's motion to reopen based on failure to receive the hearing notice primarily because she had not initiated removal proceedings and had not appeared at any previous hearings. See Salta, 314 F.3d at 1079. The IJ therefore found that her sworn declaration did not suffice to overcome the presumption of effective service of her hearing notice. At the time of its decision, the agency did not have the benefit of our decision in Sembiring v. Gonzales, 499 F.3d 981, 988-90 (9th Cir. 2007) (holding that alien's statement overcame presumption of effective service where no prior hearings scheduled, and alien had no motivation to avoid hearing). We therefore remand for reconsideration of Loera Aquino's motion to reopen.
The government shall bear the costs for this petition for review.
PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED.