Case Name: Maria Alejandra Gomez HERNANDEZ, Petitioner, v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-08-24
Citations: 239 F. App'x 385
Docket Number: No. 07-71296
Parties: Maria Alejandra Gomez HERNANDEZ, Petitioner, v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: Before: SCHROEDER, Chief Judge, KLEINFELD and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 239
Pages: 385–386

Head Matter:
Maria Alejandra Gomez HERNANDEZ, Petitioner, v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 07-71296.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Aug. 20, 2007.
Filed Aug. 24, 2007.
Maria Alejandra Gomez Hernandez, Orange, CA, pro se.
CAC-District Counsel, Esq., Office of the District, Counsel Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles, CA, Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District, Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Anh-Thu P. Mai, Esq., DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: SCHROEDER, Chief Judge, KLEINFELD and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
This is a petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") order denying petitioner's motion to reopen removal proceedings and rescind the removal order entered in absentia.
The regulations provide that an in absentia order may be rescinded only "upon a motion to reopen filed within 180 days after the date of the order of removal if the alien demonstrates that the failure to appear was because of exceptional circumstances." See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C). "The term 'exceptional circumstances' refers to exceptional circumstances (such as battery or extreme cruelty to the alien or any child or parent of the alien, serious illness of the alien, or serious illness or death of the spouse, child, or parent of the alien, but not including less compelling circumstances) beyond the control of the alien." See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(l). Therefore, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioner's motion to reopen when petitioner's explanation for her absence did not include exceptional circumstances. See id.; Lara-Torres v. Ashcroft, 383 F.3d 968, 972 (9th Cir.2004).
Respondent's motion for summary disposition is granted because the questions raised by this petition for review are so insubstantial as not to require further argument. See United States v. Hooton, 693 F.2d 857, 858 (9th Cir.1982) (per curiam). Accordingly, this petition for review is denied.
All other pending motions are denied as moot. The temporary stay of removal confirmed by Ninth Circuit General Order 6.4(e) shall continue in effect until issuance of the mandate.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.