MEMORANDUM **

This matter was referred to mediation. Only Romilo Maeda-Garcia and Wilfredo Maeda remain as petitioners, and Wilfredo’s claims are derivative of Romilo, his father. The petitions have been referred back to us.

We appointed counsel to represent Petitioners and this court appreciates the work of the students at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.

The government has filed a motion to dismiss and Petitioners’ counsel has filed an opposition. The motion is denied.

On the merits, the only claim is that the Immigration Judge should have granted a continuance of the original hearing. Romi-lo’s children have claimed on his behalf that his failure to appear at the hearing was excused by his having been granted advance parole by the government to visit his dying father in Guatemala. No evidence has ever been produced to support that claim and current counsel are not able to communicate with him. In the absence of any evidence of a justification for such continuance, there was no abuse of discretion in its denial. See Ahmed v. Holder, 569 F.3d 1009, 1012 (9th Cir. 2009).

The petitions are DENIED.