Opinion ID: 3053246
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Previous Continuances

Text: When evaluating the denial of a continuance, we also consider the length and number of continuances that have previously been granted in the case. Here, the proceedings had been ongoing for about two years. On March 19, 2002, Karapetyan requested a ninety-day continuance to supplement his asylum application. On June 13, 2002, Karapetyan requested another continuance to submit additional documents. On February 13, 2003, Karapetyan requested a continuance to submit additional documentation explaining that country conditions had recently changed. On May 8, 2003, the merits hearing was continued, by mutual agreement, to September 2, 2003. The record does not indicate why the merits hearing did not take place on September 2, 2003 as scheduled. On March 24, 2004, Karapetyan’s counsel withdrew. On April 16, 2004, Karapetyan did not appear for the merits hearing because he had suffered debilitating injuries from a car accident two weeks earlier, and the matter was reset for June 10, 2004. The merits hearing was eventually held on June 10, 2004, and the IJ denied Karapetyan’s motion for a short continuance to submit fingerprints after the hearing concluded. Although Karapetyan’s case had been continued previously, the interest in administrative efficiency cannot justify the pretermission of Karapetyan’s claims where the other factors we have addressed — the importance of the evidence excluded, the reasonableness of the petitioner’s conduct, and the inconvenience to the immigration court — all militate strongly in Karapetyan’s favor. Accordingly, we conclude that the IJ abused her discretion when she denied Karapetyan’s motion for a continuance. 12898 KARAPETYAN v. MUKASEY B. The IJ’s Denial of the Continuance was Improper to the Extent the Decision was Based on an Erroneous Assessment of the Underlying Claim The IJ indicated that the denial of the continuance was based on her assessment of Karapetyan’s eligibility for relief. The IJ suggested that she might reconsider the denial of the continuance based on her assessment of the underlying claim. She stated, “All right, we’ll [take] the testimony today and if for any reason, it looks like a continuance might be required, we’ll consider that at the end of the testimony.” In her oral decision, following the merits hearing, the IJ revisited the issue and denied the motion for a continuance because “after hearing [Karapetyan’s] claim,” the IJ determined that he “does not appear eligible for asylum in any event.” [25] In light of the legal errors committed by the IJ during her evaluation of Karapetyan’s claim for asylum, we find the IJ’s denial of a continuance is improper to the extent that the decision was based on the IJ’s flawed analysis of Karapetyan’s claims for relief.