Philip v. Estrada
Philip v. Estrada
Opinion
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FIFTH CIRCUIT
____________
No. 02-11046 (Summary Calender) ____________
MANASSEH ADRIEL PHILIP,
Petitioner-Appellant,
versus
ANNE M. ESTRADA, DISTRICT DIRECTOR, United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondents-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court For the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 3:98-CV-987-P
March 19, 2003
Before DAVIS, WIENER, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Manasseh Adriel Philip appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to reopen
28 U.S.C. § 2241proceedings. The district court construed Philip’s pro se motion, which was filed more than
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. two years after entry of the judgment that denied § 2241 relief, as arising under FED. R. CIV. P. 60(b).
We review a decision on a FED. R. CIV. P. 60(b) motion for an abuse of discretion. Hess v.
Cockrell,
281 F.3d 212, 215(5th Cir. 2002). Philip contends that he is entitled to relief under the
Supreme Court’s decision in INS v. St. Cyr,
533 U.S. 289, 326(2001), which held that discretionary
relief from deportation under § 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act “remains available for
aliens . . . whose convictions were obtained through plea agreements and who, notwithstanding those
convictions, would have been eligible for § 212(c) relief at the time of their plea under the law then
in effect.” Philip is correct that, under St. Cyr, he was entitled to apply for discretionary relief. The
record, however, reveals that Philip’s application for discretionary relief was, in fact, considered by
the immigration judge, who denied the request on the merits. The immigration judge concluded that
Philip had fallen “woefully short of meeting the required burden” for discretionary relief because he
had abused, and failed to economically support, his family; continued to deny responsibility for his
actions; and failed to demonstrate rehabilitation. None of the evidence of subsequent rehabilitation
now cited by Philip was before the immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals. Thus,
St. Cyr does not entitle Philip to anything he has not already received.
Philip’s remaining arguments are conclusory and without merit. Because Philip has not shown
that the district court abused its discretion in denying FED. R. CIV. P. 60(b) relief, the judgment of the
district court is AFFIRMED.
-2-
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished