Case ID: f-appx_643/html/0342-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Shaileshkumar Arvindbhai SHAH, Petitioner v. Loretta LYNCH, U.S. Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 11-60594
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 7, 2016.
    Bruce A. Coane, Esq., Coane & Associates, P.L.L.C., Houston, TX, for Petitioner.
    Yamileth G. Davila, Trial Attorney, Brianne Whelan Cohen, Trial Attorney, Lindsay M. Corliss, Tangerlia Cox, William Clark Minick, Trial Attorney, Jem C. Sponzo, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
    Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Shaileshkumar Arvindbhai Shah, a native citizen of India, has filed a petition for review or a dismissal by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of an appeal of an immigration judge’s (IJ) denial of a motion for a continuance. Shah complains that his motion for a continuance of the removal proceedings was not considered against the factors set forth in the BIA’s decision in Matter of Hashmi, 24 I & N. Dec. 785 (BIA 2009).

The grant of a motion to continue lies within the sound discretion of the IJ, who may grant a continuance for good cause shown. Masih v. Mukasey, 536 F.3d 370, 373 (5th Cir.2008). This court reviews “a decision to grant or deny a continuance for an abuse of discretion.” Id. Although this court only has the authority to review the BIA’s decision, when, as here, the BIA affirms the IJ and relies on the reasons set forth in the IJ’s decision, this court considers the decision of the IJ to the extent that it influenced the BIA. Id.

In Hashmi, the BIA set out a list of factors to be considered in determining whether to continue removal proceedings pending a final adjudication of an 1-130 petition filed in conjunction with an adjustment application. 24 I. & N. Dec. at 790. Those factors include, but are not limited to: “(1) the [Department of Homeland Security] response to the motion; (2) whether the underlying visa petition is prima facie approvable; (3) the respondent’s statutory eligibility for adjustment of status; (4) whether the respondent’s application for adjustment merits a favorable exercise of discretion; and (5) the reason for the continuance and other procedural factors.” Id. “While all these factors may be relevant in a given case, the focus of the inquiry is the apparent ultimate likelihood of success on the adjustment application.” Id. (citation omitted).

Although Shah complains that the BIA failed to consider the Hashmi factors, it is clear that its decision was supported by the factors. The BIA cited Hashmi as the relevant law in deciding whether a continuance of the removal proceedings'was proper. The BIA explained that the IJ had properly denied Shah a continuance given that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had denied both of the 1-130 petitions filed by Shah’s wife and noted the BIA’s recent denial of the pending appeal of the second petition. This determination is in accord with Hashmi, as the likelihood of success of a pending 1-130 petition should be “the focus” of any consideration of whether good cause exists for a continuance. See Hashmi, 24 I & N. Dec. at 790. And as the Government points out, at the time that Shah sought a continuance, he was not simply awaiting an agency adjudication of his wife’s 1-130 petition; the agency had already denied the visa petition — twice—for marriage fraud.

Still, Shah faults the IJ for refusing to consider the 1-130, petition or examine the bona fides of his marriage. Though Hash-mi instructs that submission of the underlying 1-130 petition may help the IJ in evaluating “whether the respondent is the beneficiary of a prima facie approvable I-130,” there is no requirement that the IJ delve into the “bona fides” of the marriage. See 24 I. & N. Dec. at 791.

The BIA also noted that the IJ had already continued the removal proceedings at Shah’s request. And Hashmi instructs that the number and length of prior continuances, though not alone determinative, may be considered in determining whether to move the case forward. 241. & N. Dec. at 794. The BIA also considered, consistent with Hashmi the response of the Department of Homeland Security, noting that the agency was opposed to a continuance.

Based on the forgoing, Shah has not shown that the BIA abused its discretion in dismissing his appeal of the IJ’s denial of a continuance. It is clear from the record that both the IJ and the BIA considered the relevant factors set out in Hashmi As such, Shah’s petition for review is DENIED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.