U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2015

Dedi v. Holder

Dedi v. Holder
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · Decided August 27, 2015 · Winter, Calabresi, Pooler
615 F. App'x 28

Dedi v. Holder

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

David, Albine, and Xhulio Dedi, natives and citizens of Albania, seek review of two March 22, 2013, decisions of the BIA denying their motion to reopen. In re David Dedi No. A078 519 705 (B.I.A. Mar. 22, 2013); In re Albine Dedi, Xhulio Dedi Nos. A098 358 211, A098 358 213 (B.I.A. Mar. 22, 2013). 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, mindful of the Supreme Court’s admonition that such motions are “disfavored.” Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir. 2006) (citing INS v. Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 322-23, 112 S.Ct. 719, 116 L.Ed.2d 823 (1992)). When the BIA considers relevant evidence of country conditions in evaluating a motion to reopen, we review the BIA’s factual findings under the substantial evidence standard. See Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 169 (2d Cir. 2008).

An alien may file one motion to reopen within 90 days of the agency’s final admin *29 istrative decision. . 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A), (C)(i). It is undisputed that the Dedis’ motion was untimely and number-barred because they filed it more than five years after the agency’s final orders of removal, and they previously had moved to reopen proceedings. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A), (C)(i). However, there are no time and numerical limitations for filing a motion to reopen if it “is based on changed country conditions arising in the country of nationality or the country to which removal has been ordered, if such evidence is material and was not available and would not have been discovered or presented at the previous proceeding.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii); see also 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii).

The BIA did not err in concluding that the Dedis failed to satisfy the changed country conditions exception. Their assertion that former communists in Albania had harmed their family member and would harm them on account of their membership in the Democratic Party is essentially the same claim that they asserted in their initial asylum applications and hearings. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(7)(C)(ii); see also Matter of S-Y-G-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 247, 253 (B.I.A. 2007) (“In determining whether evidence accompanying a motion to reopen demonstrates a material change in country conditions that would justify reopening, [the BIA] compare[s] the evidence of country conditions submitted with the motion to those that existed at the time of the merits hearing below.”). Moreover, as the BIA noted, the 2011 U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Albania submitted with their motion did not demonstrate a material change in country conditions as it did not indicate that anyone targets or harms Democratic Party members. Finally, the BIA did not err in rejecting the motion as to David Dedi because he did not rebut the agency’s underlying adverse credibility determination. See Kaur v. BIA 413 F.3d 232, 234 (2d Cir. 2005) (concluding that the BIA did not err in finding petitioner’s evidence in support of reopening immaterial because it did not rebut the agency’s underlying adverse credibility determination).

Accordingly, the BIA reasonably concluded that the Dedis failed to demonstrate material changed country conditions, and it did not abuse its discretion in denying their motion to reopen as untimely and number-barred. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A), (C).

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