Case ID: f-appx_357/html/0826-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Erik MERIDA-MAZARIEGOS, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 07-71913.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Nov. 17, 2009.
    
    Filed Nov. 30, 2009.
    
      H. Nelson Meeks, Law Office of H. Nelson Meeks, San Francisco, CA, for Petitioner.
    Holly M. Smith, John R. Cunningham, DOJ — U.S. Department of Justice Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, Ronald E. Lefevre, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
    Before: ALARCÓN, TROTT, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Erik Merida-Mazariegos, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order denying his motion to reopen based on ineffective assistance of counsel. Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen. Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 791 (9th Cir.2005). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Merida-Mazariegos’ motion to reopen as untimely because the motion was filed more than nine years after the BIA’s November 14, 1997, order dismissing his appeal. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). The BIA acted within its discretion in determining that the evidence submitted with the motion to reopen failed to establish the due diligence required to warrant tolling of the motions deadline. See Iturribarria v. INS, 321 F.3d 889, 897 (9th Cir.2003) (equitable tolling is available to a petitioner who is prevented from filing due to deception, fraud or error, and exercises due diligence in discovering such circumstances).

Contrary to Merida-Mazariegos’ contention, the BIA did not engage in an impermissible credibility determination when assessing the evidence submitted with his motion to reopen, because his testimony before the immigration judge contradicted his mother’s affidavit regarding his entry date to the United States. See Bhasin v. Gonzales, 423 F.3d 977, 987 (9th Cir.2005) (facts presented in affidavits must be accepted as true unless inherently unbelievable).

We lack jurisdiction to consider Merida-Mazariegos’ claim regarding voluntary departure because he failed to exhaust it before the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir.2004).

Merida-Mazariegos’ pending motion is denied.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.