Jallow v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jallow v. Holder, 532 F. App'x 17 (2d Cir. 2013)

Jallow v. Holder

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Momodou Jallow, a native and citizen of The Gambia, seeks review of a September 29, 2011, order of the BIA denying his motion to reopen. In re Momodou Jallow, No. A073 596 417 (B.I.A. Sept. 29, 2011). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case. We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. See Kaur v. BIA, 413 F.3d 232, 233 (2d Cir. 2005) (per curiam). We find no abuse of discretion in this case.

Jallow contends that the time limitation on his motion should have been equitably tolled by the ineffective assistance of his former attorney, who failed to file an appeal brief before the BIA. While equitable tolling is available based on ineffective assistance, Iavorski v. INS, 232 F.3d 124, 134 (2d Cir. 2000), a petitioner must also demonstrate, inter alia, that he exercised due diligence in pursuing his case during the period in which he seeks to toll, Jin Bo Zhao v. INS, 452 F.3d 154, 158-59 (2d Cir. 2006) (per curiam). As Jallow provided no evidence that he exercised due diligence, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in declining to equitably toll the period for filing a motion to reopen.

Nor did the BIA err in finding that Jallow failed to establish changed conditions in The Gambia to excuse his untimely filing because his evidence does not show an increase in the prevalence of female genital mutilation since the time of his last hearing. See Matter of S-Y-G-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 247, 253 (BIA 2007) (“[W]e compare the evidence of country conditions submitted with the motion to those that existed at the time of the merits hearing below.”).

In addition, birth of Tallow’s children in the United States was a change in personal circumstances, not a change of conditions “arising in” The Gambia. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii); see also Wei *18 Guang Wang v. BIA, 437 F.3d 270, 273-74 (2d Cir. 2006).

Finally, we lack jurisdiction to review Jallow’s challenge to the underlying adverse credibility determination. See Kaur, 413 F.3d at 233.

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
Momodou JALLOW, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished