Case ID: f-appx_616/html/0285-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Gurdeep SINGH and Bhagwant Singh, Petitioners, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 13-71171.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    
      Submitted Sept. 3, 2015.
    
    Filed Sept. 8, 2015.
    Inna Lipkin, Esquire, Counsel, Law Offices of Inna Lipkin, Redwood City, CA, for Petitioners.
    Andrea Gevas, Aaron Nelson, Trial, Lisa Damiano, Trial, OIL, DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel ICE, Office of the Chief Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
    Before: McKEOWN, GOULD, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

We deny Petitioners’ petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) denial of their motion to reopen on two grounds:

1. The BIA did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Petitioners failed to present evidence showing that equitable tolling was warranted. Petitioners argue that, because their former counsel failed to submit a brief in support of their appeal to the BIA, they merit equitable tolling. However, Petitioners knew of this failure when the BIA issued its order, because the BIA noted that counsel failed to submit a brief. Further, Petitioners were aware that this failure was ineffective assistance of counsel no later than October 24, 2012, when new counsel filed their notice of appeal to this court.

Although we recognize equitable tolling in cases involving ineffective assistance by an attorney or representative, coupled with fraudulent or erroneous conduct, Petitioners did not present evidence of (a) why they were prevented from timely filing or (b) how they acted with “due diligence in discovering the deception, fraud, or error.” Iturribarria v. INS, 321 F.3d 889, 897-98 (9th Cir.2003). Petitioners merely argued that they acted with due diligence and “filed within 90 days of [their] learning of [their] former attorney’s ineffective assistance of counsel.” These allegations alone are not sufficient to establish equitable tolling.

2. In the alternative, the BIA concluded that, even if the motion were timely filed, the information in the motion failed to establish that Petitioners were prejudiced. Id, at 899 (“To show a deprivation of due process caused by ineffective assistance of counsel, the alien must show that counsel’s ineffective performance prejudiced her.”). The BIA noted “the Notice of Appeal itself included sufficiently specific arguments to explain the basis for [Petitioners’] appeal,” and Petitioners had “not indicated what additional arguments should have been presented during the course of their appeal.” Further, the BIA addressed the adverse credibility claims raised in the Notice of Appeal and which would have been briefed by counsel. Thus, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in determining that Petitioners suffered no prejudice.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.
     
      
      . Petitioners also challenged prior counsel's failure to submit proof that they paid bonds for voluntary departure. They concede that, because they appealed the BIA’s decision, they are no longer eligible for voluntary departure. Thus, they cannot establish prejudice as to this claim.
     
      
      . Petitioners argue for the first time on appeal that they may have obtained a different outcome had their counsel made cogent arguments to give explicit examples of their credibility (which examples are raised in each of their underlying appeals). Because these arguments were not presented to the BIA, we lack jurisdiction to address these unexhausted claims. See Alvarado, 759 F.3d at 1128.
     
      
      . Petitioners present new arguments in their opening brief to establish their diligence. However, these arguments were not presented to the BIA. Thus, we lack jurisdiction, because they are unexhausted. See Alvarado v. Holder, 759 F.3d 1121, 1128 (9th Cir.2014).