Zairen Zhu v. Gonzales
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Zairen Zhu, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) dismissing his appeal of an immigration judge’s order denying his motion to reopen removal proceedings conducted in absentia. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review the denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion, see Celis-Castellano v. Ashcroft, 298 F.3d 888, 890-91 (9th Cir.2002), and we deny the petition for review.
Zhu, who is represented by counsel, does not challenge the BIA’s determination that Zhu’s “vague description of his brief illness” did not establish exceptional circumstances excusing his failure to appear at his removal hearing. Accordingly, he has waived his right to challenge this determination. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259 (9th Cir.1996) (holding that issues which are not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived).
We do not consider Zhu’s contentions regarding nonpayment of the filing fee, because Zhu’s failure to establish that his absence was due to exceptional circumstances is dispositive. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i).