Arenas
Arenas v. Gonzales
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM *
The facts and procedural posture of the case are known to the parties, and we do not repeat them here. We find that substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of suspension of deportation where it determined that, under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRIRA”), effective April 1, 1997, Arenas failed to demonstrate seven years of physical presence in the United States. See Ram v. INS, 243 F.3d 510, 518 (9th Cir.2001). In addition, the BIA properly rejected Arenas’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim because Arenas failed to comply with Matter of Lozada, 19 I & N Dec. 637 , 1988 WL 235454 (BIA 1988), and did not show a “clear and obvious case” of ineffective assistance. See Castillo-Perez v. INS, 212 F.3d 518, 525-26 (9th Cir.2000). Lastly, we find that the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Arenas’s motion to remand to allow Arenas to apply for asylum where Arenas did not explain why she had not applied earlier, had not submitted a new application for relief containing new evidence, see 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (c)(1); Matter of Coelho, 20 I & N Dec. 464 , 1992 WL 195806 (BIA 1992), and had not provided sufficiently…