Rahman v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Muhammed Tawhidur Rahman, Fatima Anis, and Sajeda Anis, natives and citizens of Bangledesh, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) denial of their motion to reopen deportation proceedings. We review for abuse of discretion, Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005), and we grant the petition for review and remand for further proceedings.
The BIA erred in denying the Petitioners’ motion to reopen as untimely because a motion to reopen based on changed circumstances is exempt from time and numerical limitations. See Malty v. Ashcroft, 381 F.3d 942, 945 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii)).
The BIA also abused its discretion in denying the Petitioners’ motion to reopen for failing to establish eligibility for relief because, according to the affidavits provided with the motion, a high-ranking member of the Bangladeshi National Party seized their family property and threatened to kill the Petitioners because of their imputed political opinion and family membership. The evidence in the Petitioners’ motion to reopen is sufficient to establish prima facie eligibility for asylum and withholding of deportation. See id. at 947
PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Muhammed Tawhidur RAHMAN v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General
- Status
- Published