Case Name: Gennady KUDISHEV, aka Gennadi Kudishev, aka Gennady Gavrilets, aka Gennadiy Andreyevich Gavrilets, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2016-05-03
Citations: 648 F. App'x 71
Docket Number: No. 15-580
Parties: Gennady KUDISHEV, aka Gennadi Kudishev, aka Gennady Gavrilets, aka Gennadiy Andreyevich Gavrilets, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: REENARAGGI, RICHARD C. WESLEY and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 648
Pages: 71–73

Head Matter:
Gennady KUDISHEV, aka Gennadi Kudishev, aka Gennady Gavrilets, aka Gennadiy Andreyevich Gavrilets, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 15-580.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
May 3, 2016.
Regis Fernandez, Esq., Newark, NJ, for Petitioner.
Benjamin C, Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Mary Jane Candaux, Assistant Director, Matthew A. Connelly, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, WA, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: REENARAGGI, RICHARD C. WESLEY and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Gennady Kudishev, a native of Uzbekistan and citizen of the Russian Federation, seeks review of a February 19, 2015 decision of the BIA denying his motion to reopen. In re Gennady Kudishev, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Feb. 19, 2015). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
We review the BIA's denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion, "mindful that motions to reopen 'are disfavored.' " Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir.2006) (quoting INS v. Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 322-23, 112 S.Ct. 719, 116 L.Ed.2d 823 (1992)). An alien seeking to reopen proceedings may move to reopen no later than 90 days after the final administrative decision is rendered. 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). This limitations period may be equitably tolled to accommodate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. See Rashid v. Mukasey, 533 F.3d 127, 130 (2d Cir.2008). To decide whether a claim warrants equitable tolling, we engage in a two-step inquiry: first, we determine "whether and when the ineffective assistance '[was], or should have been, discovered by a reasonable person in the situation.' Then, petitioner bears the burden of proving that he has exercised due diligence in the period between discovering the ineffectiveness of his representation and filing the motion to reopen." Jian Hua Wang v. BIA, 508 F.3d 710, 715 (2d Cir.2007) (quoting Iavorski v. INS, 232 F.3d 124, 134 (2d Cir.2000)). The petitioner must demonstrate "due diligence" in pursuing a claim "during the entire period he . seeks to toll." Rashid, 533 F.3d at 132.
Kudishev's petition fails this inquiry. In denying his motion to reopen, the BIA reasoned that Kudishev knew, or should have known, during his removal proceedings "of the possibility of removal to Russia and that his prior counsel waived an application for asylum." App'x 3. That conclusion is supported by the record. It was clear throughout the immigration court proceedings that Russia was a possi ble country of removal. During a November 2005 hearing, Kudishev declined to designate a country of removal, and the Government designated Uzbekistan with an alternative to the Russian Federation. It was also clear that Kudishev waived any application for asylum, withholding of removal, and United Nations Convention Against Torture ("CAT") relief. At the November 2005 hearing, the immigration judge ("IJ") warned that if Kudishev failed to submit the application form, then the IJ would assume he waived the application. At a February 2006 hearing, Kudishev's attorney confirmed that Kudishev waived the application. And at a December 2008 hearing, the IJ asked Kudishev, "What if you had to go to Russia, the Federation, not Uzbekistan?" Admin. Record 562. Having just described his lack of business connections in Uzbekistan, Kudishev responded: "I think Russia is even more dire condition. It's even worse' than, than over there. Because in Russia they would, they would just fire people, throw them out to the street with no prospects of getting any work ever." Id. Thus, given the opportunity to voice a fear of physical harm upon returning to Russia, Kudishev did not, thereby confirming his prior waiver. Finally, the IJ's December 2010 written decision ordered Kudishev removed to Russia and listed his applications for relief, which did not include CAT relief. On this record, the BIA acted within its discretion in determining that Kudishev did not exercise due diligence between when he should have discovered the purported ineffectiveness (at the latest, in December 2010) and when he filed his motion to reopen (in January 2015). See Jian Hua Wang, 508 F.3d at 715.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, the stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED. 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).