Castrejon

MEMORANDUM **

Basilio Magadan Castrejon, a native and citizen of Mexico, seeks review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision affirming the immigration judge’s (IJ) deportation order. Castrejon failed to appear at his deportation hearing in October 1995, and was ordered deported in absentia. In 1999, he filed a motion to reopen based on his failure to receive the Order to Show Cause (OSC). At an evidentiary hearing, the INS presented a copy of the return receipt for the OSC, signed by Jose Garcia. The IJ determined that the OSC was properly served, and stated that Castrejon had provided no evidence that the person who signed the receipt was irresponsible or a minor. The BIA upheld the IJ.

Under section 242B(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1252b(c) (1995), an order of deportation issued in absentia may only be rescinded if the alien failed to appear because of exceptional circumstances, because he did not receive proper notice of the hearing, or because he was in federal or state custody and failed to appear through no fault of his own. Adequate notice of deportation procedures under section 242B required both an OSC and a notice of the time and…