Singh v. Mukasey
Singh v. Mukasey
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Petitioner, Barjinder Singh, seeks review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) denial of his motion to reopen to adjust his status and its denial of his motion to reconsider that decision. Singh contends that the BIA abused its discretion in denying his motion to reopen as untimely without considering all of the evidence contained in the record, including his own sworn statement as well as that of his counsel, that he was entitled to equitable tolling of the filing deadline because the BIA did not timely notify him of the agency’s final decision.
We have recently held that the BIA abuses its discretion when it fails to consider affidavits of non-receipt submitted by an alien and his attorney in order to rebut the presumption of service. See Singh v. Gonzales, 494 F.3d 1170, 1172-73 (9th Cir.
The government nevertheless contends that we should deny Singh’s petition because he cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the BIA’s error. See Iturribarria v. INS, 321 F.3d 889, 901 (9th Cir. 2003). We have held that the prejudice standard is satisfied where “an alien’s rights are violated ‘in such a way as to affect potentially the outcome of their deportation proceedings.’ ” Ramirez-Alejandre v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 365, 383 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (emphasis added) (citation omitted). This standard is met here.
Singh is currently subject to a frivolousness determination that, if upheld, would render him permanently ineligible for immigration relief, including adjustment of status. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(d)(6). Although that determination is not on direct review, the record before us leaves no doubt that the frivolousness determination is patently erroneous in two respects. First, the statute requires that an alien be advised of the consequences of knowingly filing a frivolousness asylum application “[a]t the time of filing an application for asylum.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(d)(4) (emphasis added). Singh did not receive this required notice because the version of the asylum application that Singh affirmatively filed in March 1997 did not include such notice. Second, we have “long held that the BIA abuses its discretion when it fails to provide a reasoned explanation for its actions.” Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005). Here, the BIA rejected the reasons that the IJ relied on in reaching her frivolousness finding, but nevertheless summarily concluded that Singh “fabricated his claim.” The BIA’s failure to give any explanation for its action, reasoned or otherwise, is contrary to our well-established law.
Singh challenged the BIA’s frivolousness determination in his motion to reopen. On remand, the BIA may construe that portion of the motion to reopen as a motion to reconsider the frivolousness determination. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(b)(1). Although that motion was untimely, the thirty-day filing deadline for a motion to reconsider, as with a motion to reopen, may be equitably tolled. See Mendez-Alcaraz v. Gonzales, 464 F.3d 842, 845 (9th Cir. 2006) (explaining that “the deadline [for filing a motion to reconsider] can be equitably tolled”). The BIA therefore has the authority to review the late-filed motion and to reconsider its frivolous determination. If it does so, and the frivolous determination is struck down, Singh would be able to pursue his application for adjustment of status based on the approved immigrant visa petition filed by his U.S. citizen spouse. Accordingly, we conclude that the outcome of Singh’s removal proceedings
For the reasons set forth above, we grant the petition for review and remand.
PETITION GRANTED AND 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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