Case ID: f-appx_550/html/0066-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Armando PELAEZ-VELASQUEZ, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-216 NAC.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Jan. 17, 2014.
    Kevin E. Dehghani, Dehghani & Associates, New Haven, CT, for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Allen W. Hausman, Senior Litigation Counsel; Margaret A. O’Donnell, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: PIERRE N. LEVAL, JOSÉ A. CABRANES and B.D. PARKER, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Armando Pelaez-Velasquez (“Pelaez”), a native and citizen of Colombia, seeks review of a December 22, 2011, order of the BIA, affirming the December 8, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Philip Verrillo, which denied his motion to continue his removal proceedings. In re Armando Pelaez-Velasquez, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Dec. 22, 2011), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. Hartford Dec. 8, 2009). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the IJ’s and BIA’s opinions “for sake of completeness.” Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam) (internal quotations marks omitted). We review the agency’s denial of a continuance for abuse of discretion. See Sanusi v. Gonzales, 445 F.3d 193, 199 (2d Cir.2006); Singh v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 526 F.3d 72, 80-81 (2d Cir.2008).

Notwithstanding Pelaez’s assertions to the contrary, the agency did not abuse its discretion in denying a fifth continuance to allow his U.S.-citizen wife to pursue her appeal from the denial of her visa petition filed on Pelaez’s behalf. See Matter of Hashmi, 24 I. & N. Dec. 785 (B.I.A.2009). Specifically, the agency properly noted that: (1) the government had opposed Pelaez’s motion; (2) Pelaez’s wife’s visa petition was not prima facie approvable because it had been denied, and the BIA had recently affirmed that denial on appeal; and (3) Pelaez was not eligible to adjust status because there was not an approved visa petition filed on his behalf. Id. While Pelaez contends that the agency’s denial of his motion to continue was an abuse of discretion because the BIA’s dismissal of his wife’s visa petition appeal was later vacated pursuant to a joint stipulation entered in a subsequent district court action, our review is limited to the administrative record on which the removal order is based. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(A).

Lastly, we lack jurisdiction to review Pelaez’s contention that he merits administrative closure of his proceedings, which he failed to exhaust before the agency. See Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir.2006).

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).