Case ID: f-appx_667/html/0930-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mohammed JEWEL, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-71832
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted August 1, 2016  Pasadena, California
    FILED August 03, 2016
    Daniel Patrick Hanlon, Attorney, Han-lon Law Group, P.C., Pasadena, CA, for Petitioner.
    Sabatino F. Leo, Trial Attorney, Tracey McDonald, OIL, DOJ—U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division/Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel ICE, Office of the Chief Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
    Before: O’SCANNLAIN, RAWLINSON, and CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Mohammad Jewel, a native and citizen of Bangladesh, petitions for review of the BIA’s denial of his motion to reopen removal proceedings based on changed country conditions. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, and we deny the petition.

Jewel first argues that the BIA did not give adequate weight to his declarations, which were not sworn or otherwise made under penalty of perjury. The BIA did not abuse its discretion by giving Jewel’s declarations “minimal evidentiary weight” because the BIA was not required to give any weight to unsworn declarations. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(B) (“The motion to reopen ... shall be supported by affidavits or other evidentiary material.”); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(1) (same); United States v. Vargas-Amaya, 389 F.3d 901, 905 (9th Cir. 2004) (“ [Affidavits ... are signed under oath....”) (citing Affidavit, Black’s Laiv Dictionary (7th ed. 1999) (defining “affidavit” as a “sworn” declaration of facts)); see also INS v. Jong Ha Wang, 450 U.S. 139, 142-43, 101 S.Ct. 1027, 67 L.Ed.2d 123 (1981) (error to require a hearing on a motion to reopen where “[n]one of the allegations was sworn”).

Jewel next argues that the BIA mistakenly concluded that his claims of changed circumstances were subject to a time limitation. The BIA’s referring to the motion to reopen as “untimely” simply reflected the fact that the motion was filed more than ninety days “after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered.” See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). The BIA properly considered whether Jewel had shown changed circumstances in Bangladesh. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii). In concluding that Jewel failed to show materially changed circumstances, the BIA did not abuse its discretion.

DENIED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.