U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2006

Oyejola v. Gonzales

Oyejola v. Gonzales
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided May 8, 2006 · Wilkinson, Gregory, Shedd
179 F. App'x 190

Oyejola v. Gonzales

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Victoria Oyejola petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) denying her motion to reconsider its prior order affirming the immigration judge’s denial of a § 212(h) waiver of criminal activity. Oyejola’s motion to reconsider sought only to submit an addendum to the psychologist’s report and to *191 challenge the immigration judge’s consideration of her prior asylum testimony in assessing her application for adjustment of status. However, on appeal, Oyejola seeks to challenge the Board’s prior order affirming the immigration judge’s denial of the § 212(h) waiver.

Oyejola may not challenge in this appeal the Board’s order affirming the decision of the immigration judge denying the § 212(h) waiver, as she did not file a timely petition for review from that order. A petitioner has thirty days to file a petition for review. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1) (2000). This time period is “jurisdictional in nature and must be construed with strict fidelity to [its] terms.” Stone v. INS, 514 U.S. 386, 405, 115 S.Ct. 1537, 131 L.Ed.2d 465 (1995). The filing of a motion to reconsider does not toll the thirty-day period for seeking review of the underlying order. Id. at 394, 115 S.Ct. 1537. Accordingly, because Oyejola did not file a petition for review within thirty days of the Board’s order affirming the immigration judge’s denial of the § 212(h) waiver, this court’s review is limited to the Board’s denial of the motion to reconsider. As Oyejola makes no argument regarding that disposition, we conclude that she has abandoned all claims that could properly be raised in the appeal before us. See Yousefi v. INS, 260 F.3d 318, 326 (4th Cir. 2001) (holding failure to challenge denial of withholding of removal and relief under Convention Against Torture in opening brief constitutes abandonment of those claims); Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 241 n. 6 (4th Cir. 1999) (holding failure to raise specific issue in opening brief constitutes abandonment of that issue under Fed. R.App. P. 28(a)(9)(A), requiring that argument section of opening brief contain contentions, reasoning, and authority).

Accordingly, we deny the petition for review. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.