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holding that petitioner could not demonstrate the prejudice necessary to establish a due process violation
Summary of this case from Glenn v. WynderOpinion
No. 06-71651.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed February 11, 2011.
Stuart I. Folinsky, Esq., Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner.
CAC-District Counsel, Esq., Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles, CA, Ronald E. Lefevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Hillel Smith Fax, DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A070-947-513.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Mohammed Jewel petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' (BIA) decision denying his second motion to reopen. Jewel's motion to reopen alleged both changed circumstances in Bangladesh relevant to his original asylum application and ineffective assistance of counsel. Jewel argues that the BIA abused its discretion by denying his motion with respect to changed circumstances and by granting only limited relief with respect to ineffective assistance of counsel. We deny the petition.
The BIA's reasoning was adequate. Substantial evidence supports the BIA's conclusion that the motion alleged "a personal argument or vendetta" that has "no nexus to a ground protected under the [Immigration and Naturalization] Act." Unlike a situation where the BIA gives no explanation, see Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005), here there was enough reasoning to permit judicial review. There is no evidence of a mixed motive and therefore the personal vendetta cannot create a fear of persecution under either the pre- or post-REAL ID Act standard. See Molina-Morales v. INS, 237 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir. 2001).
We also deny the petition with respect to due process and relief from ineffective assistance of counsel. Jewel's motion was both late and number-barred. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). He did not argue for equitable tolling. See, e.g., Socop-Gonzalez v. INS, 272 F.3d 1176, 1188-93 (9th Cir. 2001). Consequently, he was not entitled to relief. The BIA, however, sua sponte reopened Jewel's application to reinstate a period of voluntary departure but not a period to petition for review of the denial of his previous motion. Jewel cannot demonstrate the prejudice necessary to establish a due process violation, see Cruz Rendon v. Holder, 603 F.3d 1104, 1109 (9th Cir. 2010), because the BIA gave him relief greater than his entitlement.