Opinion ID: 1442344
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Reopen based upon Marriage and the Birth of Children

Text: In reviewing Toufighi's claims we must bear in mind that motions to reopen, like motions for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence, are disfavored. Doherty, 502 U.S. at 323, 112 S.Ct. 719 (citing Abudu, 485 U.S. at 107-08, 108 S.Ct. 904). While the Board has broad discretion in ruling on a motion to reopen, it must show proper consideration of all factors, both favorable and unfavorable, in determining whether to grant a motion to reopen. Bhasin v. Gonzales, 423 F.3d 977, 983 (9th Cir.2005). In October 2003, Toufighi sought reopening to permit him to apply for adjustment of status on the ground that he had married a United States citizen and fathered children who are also citizens. The Board declined to hear this argument for two reasons. First, as a consequence of Toufighi failing to depart as ordered in 2002, he was statutorily ineligible to apply for adjustment of status for a ten-year period. [6] See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(d)(1)(B). Second, his application, made nearly seventeen months after the final order of removal, was untimely. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). Toufighi's motion to reopen to apply for adjustment of status was properly denied regardless of whether the ten-year bar on discretionary relief for failing to voluntarily depart applies to him. If the ten-year bar under § 1229c(d)(1)(B) applies, it will not expire until 2012 and the motion here was not available to him. If § 1229c(d)(1)(B) does not apply, Toufighi was still bound by the usual ninety-day deadline for motions to reopen, which ran long before he applied for a change of status. [7] See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2); 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(I). The Board noted both grounds in its opinion. We need not determine whether the former ground is correct, because Toufighi's motion was rightly rejected on the latter ground, namely, it was barred by the usual ninety-day deadline. [8]