Case Name: ZE SHENG JIN, Ren Hua Li, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-11-03
Citations: 443 F. App'x 662
Docket Number: No. 10-3174-ag
Parties: ZE SHENG JIN, Ren Hua Li, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 443
Pages: 662–664

Head Matter:
ZE SHENG JIN, Ren Hua Li, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 10-3174-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Nov. 3, 2011.
Scott E. Bratton, Cleveland, OH, for Petitioners.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Carl H. McIntyre, Jr., Assistant Director; Christina J. Martin, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Ze Sheng Jin and Ren Hua Li, natives and citizens of China, seek review of a July 6, 2010, decision of the BIA denying their motion to reopen. In re Ze Sheng Jin, Ren Hua Li, Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ], [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. July 6, 2010). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case.
We review the BIA's denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir.2006). Where the BIA evaluates country conditions evidence, we review that determination for substantial evidence. Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 169 (2d Cir.2008).
Petitioners' November 2009 motion to reopen was untimely because the BIA entered a final administrative order of removal in August 2008. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). However, the time limitation does not foreclose a motion to reopen asylum proceedings that is "based on changed circumstances arising in the country of nationality or in the country to which deportation has been ordered, if such evidence is material and was not available and could not have been discovered or presented at the previous hearing." 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii); see also 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i). Petitioners argue that the BIA abused its discretion in concluding that they failed to establish such changed country conditions.
Petitioners' argue that the BIA failed to properly consider several letters they submitted from friends and family members in China, but we presume that the agency "has taken into account all of the evidence before [it] unless the record compellingly suggests otherwise". Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 338 n. 17 (2d Cir.2006) And, there is no indication that the BIA ignored any of the evidence; indeed, the BIA specifically referred to the letters in its decision, noting that, given the other evidence, they were not sufficient to indicate a change in Chinese government policy.
Petitioners argue that the BIA abused its discretion in giving more weight to the United States Department of State 2008 Human Rights Report on China than to other materials in evidence. However, the weight afforded to the applicant's evidence in immigration proceedings lies largely within the discretion of the agency. Xiao Ji Chen, 471 F.3d at 342. See also Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 400 (2d Cir.2006) (concluding that State Department reports are probative).
Nor did the BIA err in concluding that Petitioners failed to demonstrate changed country conditions for Christians in China. Based on the record evidence, the BIA reasonably concluded that the Chinese government restricted the practice of religion prior to Petitioners' 2006 merits hearing, and has continued to do so, but that the evidence did not indicate that such repression had materially worsened so as to warrant reopening of Petitioners' case. Cf. Norani v. Gonzales, 451 F.3d 292, 294-95 (2d Cir.2006) (abuse of discretion for BIA to deny motion to reopen in light of "substantial record evidence" of worsened country conditions in Iran).
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).