Molina

Molina v. Holder

Good Law
313 F. App'x 941
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitFebruary 26, 2009No. 03-74663California325 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Jacqueline Molina (“Molina”) petitions for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision finding her ineligible for benefits under the class action settlement in Barahona-Gomez v. Ashcroft, 243 F.Supp.2d 1029 (N.D.Cal.2002) (“Bara- hona-Gomez ”). The parties are familiar with the facts of this case, which we repeat here only to the extent necessary to explain our decision. We have jurisdiction to review the BIA’s determination of eligibility for benefits under the Barahona-Gomez settlement, and review de novo. Sotelo v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 968, 970 (9th Cir.2005).

In a case similar to Molina’s, we held that the terms of the Barahona-Gomez settlement are ambiguous. Navarro v. Mukasey, 518 F.3d 729, 734 (9th Cir.2008). We resolved that ambiguity in favor of coverage under the settlement agreement. Id. at 736 .

Here, the Immigration Judge (“IJ”) rescheduled Molina’s merits hearing on her application for suspension of deportation on February 27, 1997. The IJ set a new a hearing date of October 24, 1997. As in Navarro , the IJ here 1) “scheduled a merits hearing” on a suspension application between February 13, 1997 and April 1, 1997 and 2) continued the…

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