Beheshti v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Daniel Beheshti, a native of Iran and a citizen of Germany, petitions for review of two separate decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”). In No. 03-74206, Beheshti petitions for review of the BIA’s decision affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and cancellation of removal. In No. 05-72434, Beheshti petitions for review of the BIA’s denial of his motion asking the BIA to reopen and reconsider its decision affirming the IJ in No. 03-74206.
On September 18, 2002, the IJ issued a revised decision concluding that Beheshti was removable under INA § 237(a)(1)(C) for failure to comply with the terms of his nonimmigrant student visa. The IJ also denied Beheshti’s applications for cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b)(2), for asylum, for withholding of removal, and for protection under the CAT. On October 23, 2003, the BIA issued a decision affirming the IJ and dismissing Beheshti’s appeal. During the pendency of his petition for review in No. 03-74206, Beheshti filed a motion to reopen and reconsider on December 14, 2004, before the BIA. Noting that his motion was untimely, the BIA declined to exercise its discretion sua sponte to reopen and reconsider Beheshti’s case and denied his motion. The petition for review in No. 05-72434 followed.
Beheshti argues in No. 03-74206 that we should grant his petition for review and remand his case to the BIA with instructions to grant him cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b)(2), as well as withholding of removal. Specifically, he argues that the BIA violated his due process rights when the BIA affirmed the denial of his application for cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b)(2) because the denial was based upon testimony by petitioner’s allegedly abusive spouse and because the BIA incorrectly applied the relevant legal standards when it found that petitioner’s removal would not result in extreme hardship.
In addition, Beheshti argues that the evidence in the record compels a contrary result from the BIA’s determination that petitioner did not demonstrate extreme mental cruelty under INA § 240A(b)(2).
Beheshti also contends that the BIA erred when it determined that petitioner did not demonstrate past persecution and denied his applications for asylum and withholding of removal.
Beheshti’s challenge to the BIA’s determination that Beheshti failed to show changed or extraordinary circumstances is a reviewable mixed question of law and fact. See id. Here, the factual basis of Beheshti’s petition is undisputed; we only review whether the BIA appropriately determined that the facts did not constitute “changed circumstances which materially affect[ed Beheshti’s] eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing an application.... ” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D); see also 8 C.F.R. § 208.4(a)(4)(I) (listing examples of “changed circumstances ... materially affecting the applicant’s eligibility for asylum”); 8 C.F.R. § 208.4(a)(5) (listing examples of “extraordinary circumstances ... directly related to the failure to meet the one-year deadline”). Here, the record does not compel the conclusion that Beheshti has shown either changed or extraordinary circumstances such that his asylum application should have been considered notwithstanding its late filing. See generally id. Accordingly, we deny the petition for review of the BIA’s order dismissing Beheshti’s application for asylum.
We also have jurisdiction to review Beheshti’s argument that substantial evidence in the record compels a finding that
In No. 05-72434, Beheshti argues that the BIA abused its discretion in denying his motion to reopen and reconsider. While we review motions to reopen and reconsider for abuse of discretion, INS v. Abudu, 485 U.S. 94, 107, 108 S.Ct. 904, 99 L.Ed.2d 90 (1988); see also Cano-Merida v. INS, 311 F.3d 960, 964 (9th Cir. 2002), we lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s decision not to reopen the proceedings sua sponte under 8 C.F.R. § 3.2(a). See Ekimian v. INS, 303 F.3d 1153, 1154 (9th Cir. 2002). Accordingly, Beheshti’s petition for review in No. 05-72434 is dismissed.
NO. 03-74206 DENIED IN PART AND DISMISSED IN PART; NO. 05-72434 DISMISSED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
. Because the parties are familiar with the facts and procedural history, we do not restate them here except as necessary to explain our disposition,
. Due process challenges to final orders of removal are reviewed de novo. See Sanchez-Cruz v. INS, 255 F.3d 775, 779 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Colmenar v. INS, 210 F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir. 2000)).
. Factual determinations regarding a petitioner’s eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or cancellation of removal under the INA are reviewed under the substantial evidence standard. That is, "administrative findings of fact are conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” INA § 242(b)(4)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see
. Beheshti has not challenged the BIA's denial of his application for relief under the CAT. Accordingly, he has waived his right to challenge the denial of such relief. See, e.g., Mendoza v. Block, 27 F.3d 1357, 1363 (9th Cir. 1994) ("Failure to raise an issue on appeal results in waiver of that issue.”); see also United States v. Kimble, 107 F.3d 712, 715 n. 2 (9th Cir. 1997).
. “Any alien” may apply for asylum, see 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(1), provided that the alien "demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the application has been filed within 1 year after the date of the alien's arrival in the United States.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B).
. An application for asylum may be considered after the one-year time period, however, "if the alien demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General either the existence of changed circumstances which materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing an application....” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D).
Concurring Opinion
concurring:
I concur in the result.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Daniel BEHESHTI, aka Seyed Mohsen Haghighi Beheshti aka Seyed Mohsen Beheshti Haghighi v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General, Daniel Beheshti, aka Seyed Mohsen Haghighi Beheshti aka Seyed Mohsen Beheshti Haghighi v. Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General
- Status
- Published