Leclerc v. Holder
Opinion
SUMMARY ORDER
Maxo Leclerc, a native and citizen of Haiti, seeks review of a November 30, 2010 decision of the BIA denying his motion to reconsider its April 2010 order upholding the denial of his application for a waiver of inadmissibility under former section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(c) (repealed 1996). In re Maxo Leclerc, No. A039 050 038, 2010 WL 5173985 (B.I.A. Nov. 30, 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen or reconsider for abuse of discretion. Jin Ming Liu v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 109, 111 (2d Cir. 2006) (per curiam). Generally, we lack jurisdiction to review both the discretionary denial of § 212(c) relief and final orders of removal against aliens who are removable by reason of having committed a crime of moral turpitude. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii), (a)(2)(C). Additionally, in cases in which we lack jurisdiction to review an underlying removal order, we typically lack jurisdiction to review the denial of a motion to reconsider that order as well. See Khan v. Gonzales, 495 F.3d 31, 34, 36 (2d Cir. 2007). Although we retain jurisdiction to review “constitutional claims or questions of law,” see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D), such claims must be colorable to invoke our jurisdiction. See Barco-Sandoval v. Gonzales, 516 F.3d 35, 40 (2d Cir. 2008).
Here, the jurisdictional bars under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) and (a)(2)(C) apply, as Leclerc is seeking review of the discretionary denial of section 212(c) relief and is removable by reason of having committed a crime of moral turpitude, to wit, second-degree insurance fraud. Leclerc has not restored our jurisdiction by raising a colorable constitutional claim or question of law. The Government correctly notes that Leclerc has waived any argument that the BIA’s decision violated his due process rights by failing to exhaust the argument before the BIA in his motion to reconsider. See Singh v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 526 F.3d 72, 78 (2d Cir. 2008).
Additionally, Leclerc’s primary argument — that the BIA abused its discretion in determining that his prior conviction for insurance fraud was “very serious” without *660 conducting a proper analysis or relying on controlling authority — is “so insubstantial and frivolous as to be inadequate to invoke [our] jurisdiction.” See Bareo-Sandoval, 516 F.3d at 40. Relevant authority identifying the standard that the BIA should have applied under the circumstances is conspicuously absent from Leclerc’s petition for review. Indeed, the BIA is not bound by a particular legal standard in evaluating the seriousness of an alien’s criminal history under section 212(c), and its evaluation involves the discretionary weighing of the equities presented by each case. See generally Matter of Edwards, 20 I. & N. Dec. 191, 195-96 (B.I.A. 1990). Accordingly, as Leclerc has not raised a colorable constitutional claim or question of law, we lack jurisdiction over his petition for review. See Bareo-Sandoval, 516 F.3d at 40.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction. 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 of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Maxo LECLERC, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
- Status
- Unpublished