Case Name: Jeromi H. BAZUAYE, aka Bradley Cain, aka Jeromi Bazuaye, aka Joromi Bazuaye, Petitioner, 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: 2014-07-30
Citations: 573 F. App'x 71
Docket Number: No. 12-3324
Parties: Jeromi H. BAZUAYE, aka Bradley Cain, aka Jeromi Bazuaye, aka Joromi Bazuaye, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, DENNY CHIN, and Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 573
Pages: 71–73

Head Matter:
Jeromi H. BAZUAYE, aka Bradley Cain, aka Jeromi Bazuaye, aka Joromi Bazuaye, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 12-3324.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
July 30, 2014.
Thomas K. Ragland, Benach Ragland LLP, Washington, D.C., for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Keith I. McManus, Senior Litigation Counsel; Matt A. Crapo, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, DENNY CHIN, and Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Jeromi H. Bazuaye, a native and citizen of Nigeria, seeks review of an August 17, 2012, order of the BIA denying his motion to reconsider and reopen. In re Jeromi H. Bazuaye, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Aug. 17, 2012). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
We review the BIA's denial of motions to reconsider and reopen for abuse of discretion. See Jin Ming Liu v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 109, 111 (2d Cir.2006); Kaur v. BIA, 413 F.3d 232, 233 (2d Cir.2005) (per curiam). "An abuse of discretion may be found . where the [BIA's] decision provides no rational explanation, inexplicably departs from established policies, is devoid of any reasoning, or contains only summary or conclusory statements; that is to say, where the Board has acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner." Ke Zhen Zhao v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 265 F.3d 83, 93 (2d Cir.2001) (internal citations omitted).
Although we lack jurisdiction to review a final order of removal against an alien, such as Bazuaye, who is removable for having been convicted of a an aggravated felony, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C), we retain jurisdiction to review constitutional claims and questions of law, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D), which are subject to de novo review, Pierre v. Holder, 588 F.3d 767, 772 (2d Cir.2009). "[W]e lack jurisdiction to review any legal argument that is so insubstantial and frivolous as to be inadequate to invoke federal-question jurisdiction." Barco-Sandoval v. Gonzales, 516 F.3d 35, 40 (2d Cir.2008) (citation omitted).
I. Motion to Reconsider
Bazuaye fails to raise a colorable constitutional claim or question of law with respect to the denial of his motion to reconsider as untimely. See Barco-Sandoval, 516 F.3d at 40; see also Ke Zhen Zhao, 265 F.3d at 93. Indeed, Bazuaye's January 2012 motion was filed more than a year after the 30-day period expired in September 2010. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(b)(2) ("A motion to reconsider a decision must be filed with the Board within 30 days after the mailing of the Board decision."); accord 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(6)(B). Although the BIA "may at any time . reconsider on its own motion any case in which it has rendered a decision," 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(a), Bazuaye fails to identify any authority in support of his contention that the filing deadline on motions to reconsider may be equitably tolled. Moreover, while we have recognized that the statutory time limitation on motions to reopen may be equitably tolled on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel or "where fraud or concealment of the existence of a claim prevents an alien from timely filing [his] motion," Rashid v. Mukasey, 533 F.3d 127, 130-31 (2d Cir.2008) (citation omitted), Bazuaye's equitable tolling argument was premised on the fact that he filed his motion after learning about the BIA's decision in Matter of J.R. Velasquez, 25 I. & N. Dec. 680 (B.I.A.2012) (establishing guidelines for the admission of evidence to prove criminal convictions in immigration proceedings). Accordingly, Bazuaye's contention that the BIA erred in failing to equitably toll the time limitation on his motion to reconsider is too "insubstantial and frivolous . to invoke federal-question jurisdiction." Barco-Sandoval, 516 F.3d at 40 (citations omitted).
II. Motion to Reopen
Bazuaye also fails to raise a color-able constitutional claim or question of law with respect to the denial of his untimely motion to reopen. See id. An alien seeking to reopen proceedings must file a motion to reopen no later than 90 days after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C); 8 C.F.R. § 1008.2(c)(2). As the BIA noted, Bazuaye's January 2012 motion was untimely because it was filed more than year after his order of removal became final in August 2010. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(47)(B)(i) (defining final order or removal). Although Bazuaye sought reopening to apply for adjustment of status on the basis of an approved visa petition, "untimely motions to reopen to pursue an application for adjustment of status . do not fall within any of the statutory or regulatory exceptions to the time limits for motions to reopen." Matter of Yauri, 25 I. & N. Dec. 103, 105 (B.I.A.2009) (citing 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii)-(iv) and 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)). Bazuaye's assertion that the BIA did not specifically address his request for reopening to apply for adjustment of status is flatly contradicted by the record and is too "insubstantial and frivolous . to invoke federal-question jurisdiction." Barco-Sandoval, 516 F.3d at 40 (citations omitted). As a result, Bazuaye has failed to raise a reviewable constitutional claim or question of law in connection with the BIA's denial of his untimely motion to reopen.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DISMISSED. As we have completed our review, the pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. The 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).