Case ID: f-appx_516/html/0075-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Marlos PAZ, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-2183.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    March 28, 2013.
    Elyssa N. Williams, Formica Williams, P.C., New Haven, CT, for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Holly M. Smith, Senior Litigation Counsel; Edward C. Durant, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, JOSÉ A. CABRANES, and RICHARD C. WESLEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Marios Paz, a native and citizen of Nicaragua, seeks review of an April 30, 2012 order of the BIA denying his request for a remand and affirming the April 6, 2010 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Philip Verrillo, finding him removable and ineligible for cancellation of removal. In re Marios Paz, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Apr. 30, 2012), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. Hartford Apr. 6, 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed the IJ’s decision as supplemented and modified by the BIA. See Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 522 (2d Cir.2005); Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005). To demonstrate eligibility for cancellation of removal, an alien who is not a lawful permanent resident must establish, in relevant part, that his “removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to [his] spouse, parent, or child, who is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(l)(D). The agency determined that Paz’s removal would have no such impact. Paz has shown no error in that determination.

Paz argues that the agency mischarac-terized the evidence by disregarding or minimizing the severity of his elder son’s medical condition. Our jurisdiction to review this discretionary determination is limited, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B), and although Paz’s argument can be construed as a question of law, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D); Mendez v. Holder, 566 F.3d 316, 322-23 (2d Cir.2009) (per curiam); Ilyas Khan v. Gonzales, 495 F.3d 31, 35 (2d Cir.2007), no evidence as to the severity of the condition was presented to the agency.

Paz submitted to the IJ a sheet with a list of his sons’ diagnoses, without any information about his elder son’s diagnosis, its seriousness, or what treatment or medications were prescribed. Paz offered no context for the medical records documenting his son’s appointments between 1998 and 2008, and his counsel elicited only the most basic testimony from Paz, who could not give medical testimony in any event. It was Paz’s burden to show that his removal would cause his child’s exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c) (4) (A) (i)-(ii).

Paz also argues that the IJ and the BIA failed to interpret his facts in light of In re Gonzalez Recinas, 23 I & N Dec. 467 (BIA 2002), and thus used the wrong legal standard for exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. This argument raises a question of law, but it is without merit. See Ilyas Khan, 495 F.3d at 35. In Gonzalez Reciñas, the BIA considered such factors as the health of the qualifying family members, ability of the alien to obtain employment in the home country, ability to achieve immigration status another way, and family and financial assets to ease a transition. Gonzalez Recinas, 23 I & N Dec. at 469-71. In this case, both the IJ and the BIA cited Gonzalez Reciñas in their decisions, and considered the same factors. The correct legal standard was applied.

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).