Case Name: MEISHU LI, 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: 2014-03-03
Citations: 556 F. App'x 49
Docket Number: No. 12-4653
Parties: MEISHU LI, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 556
Pages: 49–50

Head Matter:
MEISHU LI, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 12-4653.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
March 3, 2014.
Theodore N. Cox, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General; William C. Peachey, Assistant Director, Daniel E. Goldman, Senior Litigation Counsel, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Meishu Li, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a November 2, 2012 decision of the BIA denying her motion to reopen her removal proceedings. In re Meishu Li, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Nov. 2, 2012). 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. See Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam). An alien seeking to reopen proceedings may file one motion to reopen no later than 90 days after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered. 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). These limitations do not apply, however, to a motion "based on changed country conditions arising in the country of nationality . if such evidence is material and was not available and would not have been discovered or presented at the previous hearing." 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii); see also 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii).
Li does not dispute that her motion was both time and number barred, but argues that the BIA erred in finding that China's increased suppression of political dissent, particularly the suppression of internet dissent, did not constitute changed country conditions. This claim lacks merit. The BIA reasonably found that Li's political activities in this country constituted changed personal circumstances, which are insufficient to excuse the untimely filing of her motion to reopen. See Wei Guang Wang v. BIA, 437 F.3d 270, 273-74 (2d Cir.2006).
Moreover, Li's contention that conditions in China have changed since her merits hearing is unpersuasive. See In re S-Y-G-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 247, 253 (BIA 2007) ("In determining whether evidence accompanying a motion to reopen demon strates a material change in country conditions that would justify reopening, [the BIA] comparéis] the evidence of country conditions submitted with the motion to those that existed at the time of the merits hearing below")- The record shows that China has suppressed political dissent, including online dissent, since well before Li's merits hearing in 2005.
Contrary to Li's contention, the BIA's treatment of her unauthenticated evidence was not an abuse of discretion. Although the BIA may err in rejecting evidence solely based on a failure to authenticate pursuant to regulations, see Cao He Lin v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 428 F.3d 391, 404-05 (2d Cir.2005), Li failed to authenticate the evidence from China in any manner. See Xiao Ji Chen v. United States Dep't of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir.2006) (the weight accorded to evidence lies largely within the agency's discretion).
Finally, given that she did not demonstrate changed country conditions, it is not necessary to address Li's claim that she established her prima facie eligibility for relief.
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).