Mendoza-Ortiz

MEMORANDUM *

Reynaldo Mendoza-Ortiz (“Mendoza-Ortiz”) petitions for review of two BIA decisions: (1) denying his motion to reopen as time barred; and (2) affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of a continuance to allow Mendoza-Ortiz to submit fingerprints for a background check. We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. Avagyan v. Holder, 646 F.3d 672, 674 (9th Cir.2011). “The BIA abuses its discretion when its decision is arbitrary, irrational, or contrary to law.” Id. at 678 (internal quotation marks omitted). We also review an IJ’s denial of a continuance for abuse of discretion. Ma lilia v. Holder, 632 F.3d 598, 602 (9th Cir.2011); Cui v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 1289, 1290 (9th Cir.2008).

Mendoza-Ortiz has been a lawful permanent resident since 1989. He was placed in removal proceedings following a conviction for violation of California Penal Code § 273.5(a). Mendoza-Ortiz was represented by counsel in the removal proceedings. Mendoza-Ortiz conceded removability and applied for cancellation of removal.

The IJ advised Mendoza-Ortiz that he had to obtain a “fingerprint INS check” prior to the merits hearing on his application for cancellation…

concurring:

I concur in the Memorandum, but write separately to note that our conclusion that the BIA abused its discretion in denying the motion to reopen is premised on Avagyan v. Holder, 646 F.3d 672 (9th Cir. 2011), which was not on the books when the BIA decided Mendoza-Ortiz’s motion to reopen.

I also write to express my empathy with the IJ, who explained to the alien exactly what he needed to do as far as the fingerprints were concerned, only to be undermined by the alien’s own lawyer. The lawyer’s conduct here was inexcusable, but the client’s reliance on his lawyer was not. Under these circumstances, the alien should have been given another chance to properly submit his fingerprints. See Cui v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 1289 (9th Cir.2008), decided after this matter was before the IJ.

background check. Mendoza-Ortiz timely appealed to the BIA, which affirmed the

IJ on April 10, 2007. Counsel filed a timely motion to reopen on July 9, 2007,

which the BIA properly denied because it was incomplete. Mendoza-Ortiz met

with new counsel on October 24, 2007, and then again on November 9, 2007 to

review the file obtained from prior counsel. His new counsel filed a second motion

to reopen on February 7, 2008, which was denied as time and number barred.

An alien is generally limited to one motion to reopen, which must be filed

within ninety days of a final administrative order of removal.

8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). We have “long afforded

equitable tolling of deadlines and numerical limitations to aliens who are prevented

3 from timely or adequately filing due to ineffective assistance of counsel.”

Avagyan, 646 F.3d at 682. Tolling will often continue until “the alien obtains a

complete record of his immigration proceedings and is able to review that

information with competent counsel.” Id. at 679. The time for Mendoza-Ortiz to

file his motion to reopen was equitably tolled until November 9, 2007 and his

second motion to reopen…