Coronel-Ortiz v. Gonzales
Coronel-Ortiz v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
In No. 03-70187, Maria Coronel-Ortiz petitions for review of the summary af-firmance by the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) of the decision of an immigration judge (“IJ”) denying her application for cancellation of removal. In No. 05-75802, Coronel-Ortiz petitions for review of the BIA’s denial of her motion to reopen her removal proceedings. We sua sponte granted rehearing in No. 03-70187, withdrew the previously-filed memorandum disposition, and consolidated these cases. No. 03-70187:
The IJ did not err by finding Coronel-Ortiz statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal. The statute is clear that the relative must qualify at the time the IJ adjudicates the application. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b) (“removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to [her] spouse, parent or child who is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence”) (emphasis added); see also Molina-Estrada v. INS, 293 F.3d 1089, 1093-94 (9th Cir. 2002).
Nor did the IJ abuse its discretion by failing to grant an open-ended continuance so that the immigration authorities could adjudicate her husband’s application under the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act of 2000. Coronel-Ortiz did not actually request a continuance, or provide the IJ with any evidence to support her assertion that her husband was indeed eligible for an adjustment of status.
Coronel-Ortiz’s contention that the BIA improperly streamlined her case is foreclosed by Falcon Carriche v. Ashcroft, 350 F.3d 845, 855 (9th Cir. 2003). No. 05-75802:
Coronel-Ortiz also argues that the BIA should have sua sponte reopened her case, but we lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen sua sponte. Ekimian v. INS, 303 F.3d 1153, 1159 (9th Cir. 2002). We are therefore compelled to dismiss this portion of her appeal.
Finally, Coronel-Ortiz argues that the BIA’s standard for granting sua sponte motions to reopen — “exceptional situations” — is unconstitutionally vague and denied her due process. However, CoronelOrtiz does not have a protectable property or liberty interest in discretionary relief from removal, which would be necessary to support a due process argument. See Tovar-Landin v. Ashcroft, 361 F.3d 1164, 1167 (9th Cir. 2004) (no fundamental due process and equal protection right to discretionary relief from removal).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in 03-70187.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part and DISMISSED in part in 05-75802.
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.
. We realize that her husband was eventually able to adjust his status in 2003; however, we must review the record at the time of the IJ’s decision.
. INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919, 957-58, 103 S.Ct. 2764, 77 L.Ed.2d 317 (1983), relied on by Coronel-Ortiz, is inapposite because it involved the Legislative Branch’s authority to veto the decision to deport an alien.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.