Espinal-Cruz v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Espinal-Cruz v. Holder, 532 F. App'x 9 (2d Cir. 2013)
Cabranes, Christopher, Droney, Jose, Lohier, Raymond

Espinal-Cruz v. Holder

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioners, natives and citizens of Honduras, seek review of the October 27, 2011, decision of the BIA denying their motion to reopen. In re Carmen Suyapa Espinal-Cruz, et al, Nos. A099 668 207/08/09 (BIA Oct. 27, 2011). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

The BIA’s denial of Petitioners’ motion to reopen as untimely was not an abuse of discretion. See Kaur v. BIA, 413 F.3d 232, 238 (2d Cir. 2005) (per curiam). An alien may file one motion to reopen no later than 90 days after the date on which the final administrative decision has been rendered in the proceedings sought to be reopened. 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). There is no dispute that Petitioners’ 2011 motion was untimely, as the final administrative decision was issued in 2009. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). However, the time and number limitations do not apply to a motion to reopen if it is “based on changed circumstances arising in the country of nationality or in the country to which deportation has been ordered, if such evidence is material and was not available and could not have been discovered or presented at the previous hearing.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii); see also 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii). Here, there is no er *10 ror in the BIA’s conclusion that Petitioners failed to demonstrate materially changed country conditions in Honduras that would excuse the untimely filing of the motion to reopen.

As the BIA noted, Petitioners’ motion to reopen reiterated their initial asylum claim, and included evidence purporting to show that conditions in Honduras have worsened and gang violence has increased. However, even if gang violence has increased in Honduras, this evidence is not material to Petitioners’ claim because it does not establish a nexus between the feared harm and a protected ground. See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101(a)(42), 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii); Ucelo-Gomez v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 70, 73-74 (2d Cir. 2007).

Petitioners also argue that their due process right was violated because the BIA failed to consider all of the evidence in the record. However, aliens filing untimely motions to reopen have no due process right in the proceedings. See Yuen Jin v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 143, 156-57 (2d Cir. 2008) (“We hold that an alien who has already filed one asylum application, been adjudicated removable and ordered deported, and who has nevertheless remained in the country illegally for several years, does not have a liberty or property interest in a discretionary grant of asylum.”). Regardless, Petitioners do not establish that the BIA failed to consider record evidence, as the BIA dedicated a full paragraph in its decision to discussing the evidence submitted with the motion to reopen. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 336 n. 17 (2d Cir. 2006) (“we presume that [the agency] has taken into account all of the evidence before [it], unless the record compellingly suggests otherwise”).

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 of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).

Reference

Full Case Name
Carmen Suyapa ESPINAL-CRUZ, Jonathan Josue Espinal-Cruz, Darwin Eduardo Urbina-Espinal, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished