Opinion ID: 788980
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Motion to Reconsider Motion to Reopen Removal Proceedings

Text: 30 Finally, Ali seeks review of the BIA's denial of his request to reconsider his denied motion to reopen so that Ali could present a cancellation of removal claim. We review motions to reconsider under the highly deferential abuse of discretion standard. 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(a); Dandan v. Ashcroft, 339 F.3d 567, 575 (7th Cir.2003). A motion to reconsider shall state the reasons for the motion by specifying the errors of fact or law in the prior Board decision and shall be supported by pertinent authority. 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(b)(1). 31 Ali based his motion to reconsider on his claim that his conviction, reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, made him statutorily eligible for cancellation for removal. The BIA based its denial of Ali's motion on its Pickering decision, which holds that an alien remains convicted of a felony for immigration purposes if his conviction is vacated solely to avoid deportation or for rehabilitation purposes. As such, Ali's motion, based on his modified state conviction, would not have made him eligible for the ultimate relief he sought in his motion to reconsider, namely cancellation of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3) (rendering aliens convicted of any aggravated felony statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal). Ineligible for cancellation of removal, the BIA did not abuse its discretion when it denied Ali's motion to reconsider. 32 Ali also claims that the BIA violated his due process rights when it applied Pickering, and in doing so, parted with its precedent that allowed vacated criminal convictions to prevent removal. Generally, we cannot consider constitutional claims made on a direct review petition, unless the claims raise substantial constitutional issues. 7 Bosede, 309 F.3d at 446; Dave, 363 F.3d at 652. Even if we were to view Ali's claim as raising substantial constitutional issues which we could review to prevent bizarre miscarriages of justice, Lara-Ruiz v. I.N.S., 241 F.3d 934, 939 (7th Cir.2001), Ali has not presented a valid due process claim. To make such a claim, he would have to show that he has a liberty or property interest in the outcome of the proceedings. Dave, 363 F.3d at 653; see also Dandan, 339 F.3d at 575. However, an alien cannot have a liberty or property interest in what is discretionary relief, Dave, 363 F.3d at 653, and the denial of such relief does not implicate due process, id.; Dandan, 339 F.3d at 575-76. Ali seeks review of his denied motion to reconsider so that he can present a motion to reopen his removal proceedings and ultimately obtain cancellation of removal. Cancellation of removal, the ultimate relief he seeks, is a form of discretionary relief. Lemus-Rodriguez v. Ashcroft, 350 F.3d 652, 653 (7th Cir.2003); Gill, 335 F.3d at 575. 33 Therefore, Ali has no liberty or property interest in the relief he seeks, and we lack jurisdiction to review his due process claim. This is especially true where 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i) strips us of jurisdiction to review denials of discretionary relief, including cancellation of removal.