Xiaofeng Yang v. Gonzales

MEMORANDUM **

We have reviewed the response to the court’s April 14, 2006 order to show cause, *637 and we conclude that petitioner has failed to show cause why the petition for review should not be summarily denied. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i); 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(l). Orders of removal entered against an alien in abstentia will only be rescinded upon a timely motion which “demonstrates that the failure to appear was because of exceptional circumstances. ...” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i). The statute defines “exceptional circumstances” as events such as serious illness of the alien or a close relative, “but not including less compelling circumstances.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(l).

Petitioner’s motion to reopen before the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) indicated that petitioner’s in abstentia removal order was the result of a misunderstanding between petitioner and an attorney in Louisiana concerning the nature of assistance the attorney could provide for petitioner’s removal proceedings in California. In light of this showing, the BIA did not abuse its discretion when it concluded that these were not “exceptional circumstances” and consequently denied petitioner’s motion…