Martinez

Martinez v. Immigration & Naturalization Service

Good Law
7 F. App'x 605
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMarch 22, 2001No. 99-70716; INS No. A72-681-245California277 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM

Uriel Martinez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions pro se for review of a final decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) dismissing his appeal of an immigration judge’s denial of his application for suspension of deportation. Pursuant to the Illegal Immigration Reform *606 and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRIRA”), the transitional rules apply, see Kalaw v. INS, 133 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.1997), and we therefore have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a), as amended by IIRIRA § 309(c), see Avetovar-Elisseva v. INS, 213 F.3d 1192, 1195 n. 4 (9th Cir.2000). We grant the petition for review.

Because the BIA did not apply the correct legal standard in determining the length of Martinez’s continuous physical presence, substantial evidence does not support the BIA’s summary conclusion that Martinez failed to meet the continuous physical presence requirement for suspension of deportation. We grant the petition for review and remand for reconsideration of Martinez’s eligibility for suspension of deportation. On remand, the BIA should provide Martinez the opportunity to support his contention regarding the length of his continuous physical…

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