George Godinho v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

George Godinho, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order denying his motion to reopen removal proceedings based on ineffective assistance of counsel. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen. Lin v. Ashcroft, 377 F.3d 1014, 1023 (9th Cir.2004). We review de novo claims of due process violations, including the ineffective assistance of counsel, and review for substantial evidence findings of fact regarding counsel’s performance. Id. We deny the petition for review.

The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Godinho’s motion for failure to establish that his prior attorneys were ineffective where the record does not compel the conclusion that Godinho’s prior attorneys were aware that the alleged persecution by the police was the result of religious animus or that his prior attorneys failed to investigate and prepare his case. See Lin, 377 F.3d at 1023 (petitioner must establish that counsel’s performance prevented him from reasonably presenting his case).

Godinho’s contention that the BIA failed to employ the proper two-pronged…