Davtian v. Gonzales
Davtian v. Gonzales
Opinion
Margartia Davtian petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) that affirmed the determination of the immigration judge (“IJ”) denying, as untimely, her motion to reopen her deportation proceedings. Davtian argues that she is entitled to equitable tolling based on the alleged ineffective assistance of attorneys Roy Petty and Maggie Mills. Davtian also contends that the IJ breached the IJ’s duties toward her and that her proceedings are void on account of deficiencies in the order to show cause. We review the denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. INS v. Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 323-24, 112 S.Ct. 719, 116 L.Ed.2d 823 (1992).
We have not issued a published opinion squarely adopting the doctrine of equitable tolling in the context of a motion to reopen immigration proceedings. Nevertheless, even if we assume, without deciding, that such tolling is available to Dav *468 tian, she has not established that she is entitled to it.
The record does not show that Davtian has filed an appropriate complaint in relation to Petty’s alleged deficiencies. She thus has not adduced sufficient information to support her claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in relation to her deportation proceedings. See Lara v. Trominski, 216 F.3d 487, 496 (5th Cir. 2000). Further, even if Davtian had produced the pertinent documents, she would not be entitled to equitable tolling based on Petty’s performance, because his alleged deficiencies had no bearing on the timeliness vel non of her motion to reopen. Davtian’s argument that she is entitled to equitable tolling based on Petty’s performance is unavailing.
Davtian’s contention that she is entitled to equitable tolling based on Mills’s performance was raised for the first time in her petition for review. This claim is thus unexhausted, so we decline to consider it. See Ramirez-Molina v. Ziglar, 436 F.3d 508, 513 (5th Cir. 2006); Wang v. Ashcroft, 260 F.3d 448, 452-53 (5th Cir. 2001); Goonsuwan v. Ashcroft, 252 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir. 2001).
Davtian’s claims concerning the IJ’s purported breach of the IJ’s duties and the alleged deficiencies in the IJ’s order to show cause were not presented to the BIA. Accordingly, we will not consider them. See Ramirez-Molina, 436 F.3d at 513; Wang, 260 F.3d at 452-53; Goonsuwan, 252 F.3d at 387.
The petition for review is DENIED.
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.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.