U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2007

Varela-Salmeron v. Gonzales

Varela-Salmeron v. Gonzales
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided June 6, 2007 · Pregerson, Reinhardt, Tashima
236 F. App'x 298

Varela-Salmeron v. Gonzales

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Andres Varela-Salmeron and Olga Lidia Lagunas-Bautista, natives and citizens of Mexico, petition pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision affirming without opinion an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying their applications for cancellation of removal. We grant the petition for review and remand.

An intervening change in the law requires remand. Based on the record before us, we cannot determine whether Laguna-Bautista’s two previous returns to Mexico were border turnarounds or uninformed voluntary departures, or knowing acceptances of administrative voluntary departure. See Ibarra-Flores v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 614, 619 (9th Cir. 2006) (concluding that “before it may be found that a presence-breaking voluntary departure occurred, the record must contain some evidence that the alien was informed of and accepted its terms”) (internal quotations and citation omitted) (emphasis in original); Tapia v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 997, 1002-04 (9th Cir. 2005).

In light of our decision to remand the case as to Lagunas-Bautista, we also re*299mand the case as to Varela-Salmeron. In the initial hearing, the IJ assessed hardship to Petitioners’ U.S. citizen son based on the assumption that he would return to Mexico with both parents. If on remand the IJ were to grant Lagunas-Bautista cancellation of removal, and she were to remain in the United States, that would alter the hardship determination as to Varela-Salmeron’s application. We therefore remand for further proceedings regarding both Petitioners’ applications.

PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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