Case Name: YUE ZHU LIU, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-02-12
Citations: 264 F. App'x 163
Docket Number: No. 06-2816
Parties: YUE ZHU LIU, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 264
Pages: 163–165

Head Matter:
YUE ZHU LIU, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent.
No. 06-2816.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAE 34.1(a) Jan. 17, 2008.
Filed: Feb. 12, 2008.
Henry Zhang, Zhang & Associates, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Robert A. Zauzmer, Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, Lyle D. Jentzer, United States Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, BARRY and ROTH, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
SCIRICA, Chief Judge.
Liu is a native and citizen of the People's Republic of China. Her husband and two children are U.S. citizens. Liu initially sought asylum based on religious persecution. On March 19, 2004, she withdrew her application for asylum and was granted voluntary departure.
On June 15, 2004, Liu filed a motion to reopen removal proceedings before the Immigration Judge (IJ) based on her fear of forced sterilization for being in violation of China's Family Planning Policy. The IJ denied the motion in a summary order, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) summarily dismissed the appeal because Liu's attorney failed to file a brief.
On February 15, 2006, Liu filed a motion to reopen based on changed circumstances and ineffective assistance of counsel in the prior proceeding. The BIA denied the motion and Liu filed a timely petition for review. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 to review final orders of the BIA.
"A motion to reopen must establish prima facie eligibility for asylum" and requires an applicant to "produce objective evidence showing a 'reasonable likelihood' that he can establish [that he is entitled to relief]." Guo v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 556, 563 (3d Cir.2004). "[W]e review the denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion," which means, the decision will not be disturbed unless it is "arbitrary, irrational, or contrary to law." Id. at 562. We will deny Liu's petition for review.
I.
The BIA denied the motion to reopen as untimely. A motion to reopen a proceeding must be filed no later than ninety days after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered. 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(e)(2). Here, the final decision was rendered on March 30, 2005, and the motion to reopen was filed in February 2006. Furthermore, none of the exceptions apply. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3). As discussed below, during Liu's March 19, 2004 hearing, evidence of "changed circumstances" was known and it could have been presented. Further, changed personal circumstances are distinct from changed circumstances arising in the country of nationality. See Wang v. BIA, 437 F.3d 270, 274 (2d Cir.2006). Accordingly, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in finding Liu's motion untimely.
II.
Ineffective assistance of counsel can be a proper ground for reopening a deportation proceeding. Xu Yong Lu v. Ashcroft, 259 F.3d 127, 131-32 (3d Cir.2001). Liu contends that her counsel was ineffective because he did not submit a brief to the BIA. Under Matter of Lozada, 1988 WL 235454, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637 (BIA 1988), the applicant must meet three requirements and show prejudice. Zheng v. Gonzales, 422 F.3d 98, 106 (3d Cir.2005). The BIA found insufficient evidence to satisfy the second and third Lozada requirements. Furthermore, the BIA concluded Liu failed to show prejudice.
The BIA did not abuse its discretion in finding a lack of prejudice. The BIA "shall not" grant a motion to reopen "unless it appears to the Board that evidence sought to be offered is material and was not available and could not have been discovered or presented at the former hearing...." 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(1). Liu's affidavits state she was aware of her second pregnancy on March 14, 2004. Five days later, on March 19, 2004, Liu withdrew her application for asylum and the IJ granted her application for voluntary departure. Accordingly, even if Liu's counsel had submitted a brief, the BIA could not have granted the motion because the evidence Liu sought to offer was known and available at the March 19 hearing before the IJ. We need not address the BIA's additional reasons leading to the denial (lack of evidence showing Liu notified her counsel and the disciplinary authority, as required by Lozada).
III.
For the foregoing reasons, we will deny Liu's petition for review.
. The most relevant exception is 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(iii): "To apply or reapply for asylum or withholding of deportation 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."
. [First,] the alien's motion must be supported by an 'affidavit of the allegedly aggrieved [alien] attesting to the relevant facts'; [second,] 'former counsel must be informed of the allegations and allowed the opportunity to respond,' and this response should be submitted with the motion; and [third,] 'if it is asserted that prior counsel's handling of the case involved a violation of ethical or legal responsibilities, the motion should reflect whether a complaint has been filed with appropriate disciplinary authorities regarding such representation, and if not, why not.'
Zheng v. Gonzales, 422 F.3d 98, 106 (3d Cir.2005) (quoting Matter of Lozada).