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

Heading: standards governing review

Text: Denials of motions to reopen are generally reviewed for abuse of discretion. INS v. Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 323-24, 112 S.Ct. 719, 116 L.Ed.2d 823 (1992); INS v. Abudu, 485 U.S. 94, 104-05, 108 S.Ct. 904, 99 L.Ed.2d 90 (1988). This Court defers to the Board's exercise of discretion unless it acted arbitrarily, irrationally or contrary to law. Caruncho v. INS, 68 F.3d 356, 360 (9th Cir.1995); Lainez-Ortiz v. INS, 96 F.3d 393, 395 (9th Cir.1996). The Board's determination of purely legal questions is reviewed de novo except to the extent that deference is owed to its interpretation of the governing statutes and regulations. Rodriguez-Lariz v. INS, 282 F.3d 1218, 1222 (9th Cir.2002); Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 535 (9th Cir.2004). Factual findings are reviewed for substantial evidence. Sharma v. INS, 89 F.3d 545, 547 (9th Cir.1996).