Dewi v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Dewi v. Holder, 470 F. App'x 54 (2d Cir. 2012)

Dewi v. Holder

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Nila Sari Dewi, a native and citizen of Indonesia, seeks review of a July 8, 2011, decision of the BIA denying her motion to reopen her removal proceedings. In re Nila Sari Dewi, No. A099 686 953 (B.I.A. July 8, 2011). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.

We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. See Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir. 2006). Because Dewi’s motion to reopen was filed more than 90 days after the BIA’s final administrative decision was rendered, she was required to show “changed country conditions arising in the country of nationality ... if such evidence is material and was not available and would not have been discovered or presented at the previous hearing.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii).

Dewi argues that her husband’s refusal to sign divorce papers constitutes a changed country condition; but as the Government correctly asserts, Dewi did not raise this argument in her motion to reopen. She sought reopening on the ground of her husband’s conversion to Islam and marriage to another woman. Because this issue is unexhausted, we will not consider it. See Lin Zhong v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 480 F.3d 104, 107 n. 1, 122-23 (2d Cir. 2007).

Further, there is no merit to Dewi’s argument that the BIA erred by giving limited weight to the statements of her family members. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir. 2006) (finding that the weight afforded to the applicant’s evidence lies largely within the discretion of the agency). These documents were unsworn and were created for the purpose of supporting Dewi’s motion. The agency’s decision to accord them limited weight was therefore not unreasonable.

Finally, the BIA reasonably found that the evidence Dewi presented to support her motion was cumulative of the evidence she presented to the IJ. Her motion described a continuation of events similar to those addressed at Dewi’s merits hearing, rather than establishing that conditions had worsened. See Matter of S-Y-G-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 247, 253 (BIA 2007) (explaining that in determining whether an applicant has established changed country conditions, the agency “compare[s] the evidence of country conditions submitted with the motion to those that existed at the time of the merits hearing below”).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule *56 of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).

Reference

Full Case Name
Nila Sari DEWI, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished