Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50699/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50699-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 463
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause of Action: 

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-50699

Summary Calendar 

LEONARDO GUTIERREZ, 

Petitioner-Appellant 

v. 

JOHN F. KELLY, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY; JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS, III, U. S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, 

Respondents-Appellees 

Appeal from the United States District Court 

for the Western District of Texas 

USDC No. 5:15-CV-414

Before KING, DENNIS, and COSTA, Circuit Judges. 

PER CURIAM:*

Leonardo Gutierrez appeals the district court’s dismissal for lack of

jurisdiction of his petition for declaratory judgment wherein he sought a 

declaration that exceptional circumstances justified reopening his removal 

proceedings and an order directing the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to 

reopen the proceedings and consider his application for relief from removal on 

 

* 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.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

March 2, 2017

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 15-50699 Document: 00513894571 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/02/2017
No. 15-50699

2 

the merits. Gutierrez also moves for a stay of removal. The Government moves 

for summary affirmance or, in the alternative, an extension of time to file a 

brief. 

Regardless of Gutierrez’s characterization of his petition, it was an 

attempt to collaterally attack a final order of removal by attacking the BIA’s 

refusal to exercise its sua sponte authority to reopen the proceedings. As such,

the district court correctly determined that it lacked jurisdiction to consider 

the petition. See Lopez–Dubon v. Holder, 609 F.3d 642, 647 (5th Cir. 2010); 

Rosales v. Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement, 426 F.3d 733, 735-

36 (5th Cir. 2005). 

 The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is DENIED, the 

alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED as 

unnecessary, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Gutierrez’s 

motion for a stay of removal is DENIED. 

Gutierrez has made several previous attempts to collaterally attack the 

final order of removal. Accordingly, Gutierrez is WARNED that frivolous, 

repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings will invite the imposition of sanctions, 

including dismissal, monetary sanctions, and restrictions on his ability to file 

pleadings in this court and any court subject to this court’s jurisdiction. 

 Case: 15-50699 Document: 00513894571 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/02/2017