Opinion ID: 51563
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: BIA Final Order of Removal

Text: “We review subject matter jurisdiction de novo.” Ortega v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 416 F.3d 1348, 1350 (11th Cir. 2005). By statute, an alien seeking review of a final order of the BIA must file a petition for review within 30 days of the date of the final order of removal. INA § 242(b)(1); 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1). An order of removal becomes final upon the dismissal of an appeal by the BIA. 8 C.F.R. § 1241.1(a). “Since the statutory limit for filing a petition for review in an immigration proceeding is ‘mandatory and jurisdictional,’ it is not subject to equitable tolling.” Dakane v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 399 F.3d 1269, 1272 n.3 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Stone v. INS, 514 U.S. 386, 405, 115 S. Ct. 1537, 1549, 131 L. Ed. 2d 465 (1995)). The finality of a removal order is not affected by the filing of a motion to reconsider. Stone, 514 U.S. at 405, 115 S. Ct. at 1549. 2 The BIA entered its final order of removal on September 13, 2005. Sebastian filed her petition for review on May 26, 2006, well after the expiration of the 30-day time period. Her intervening motion to reopen did not toll the deadline for filing a petition for review with this Court. See Stone, 514 U.S. at 405, 115 S. Ct. at 1549. Therefore, her petition was untimely, and we lack jurisdiction to address the merits of the BIA’s decision denying asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief. Accordingly, to the extent that Sebastian seeks review of the BIA’s final order of removal, we dismiss the petition in part.