Khodabakhshian v. Immigration & Naturalization Service
Khodabakhshian v. Immigration & Naturalization Service
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Haitook Khodabakhshian, a native and citizen of Iran, petitions for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismissing his appeal from the Immigration Judge’s order removing him from the United States to Iran on the grounds that he was deportable as charged for having overstayed the termination of his asylum status in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B); that he was an alien convicted of an aggravated felony and therefore ineligible for asylum, cancellation of removal, withholding of deportation, and voluntary departure under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(2)(B)(i), 1229b(a)(3), 1229b(b)(l)(C), and 1231(b)(3)(B)(ii); and that there was no immediate relief available to him pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1182(h)(2) and 1255(a)(3) in the form of
Section 306 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)
His only claim is that removal is forbidden by Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Torture Convention). The Immigration and Naturalization Service issued an interim rule to establish procedures for raising a claim under the Torture Convention after the briefing in this case was completed. See 64 Fed.Reg. 8478 (Feb. 19, 1999). Whether Khodabakhshian is entitled to relief under the Torture Convention is an issue that must first be brought to the attention of the BIA. Accordingly, we dismiss the petition but we will stay the mandate for 90 days to give Khodabakhshian an opportunity to move the BIA to reopen proceedings to consider the applicability of Article 3 of the Torture Convention. See Ortiz v. INS, 179 F.3d 1148, 1153 (9th Cir. 1999).
The petition is DISMISSED.
In order to afford Khodabakhshian the opportunity to seek a stay of deportation from the BIA pending resolution of his motion to reopen, we stay our mandate for 90 days. See Bu Roe v. INS, 771 F.2d 1328, 1335 (9th Cir. 1985).
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. Section 306 of IIRIRA amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), § 242(a)(2)(C), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Haitook KHODABAKHSHIAN v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
- Status
- Published