Opinion ID: 2973013
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: analysis

Text: The BIA denied Petitioners’ motion to reopen on two grounds: (1) it was untimely; and (2) it failed to show prejudice. In their brief on appeal, Petitioners do not challenge the BIA’s denial of their motion to reopen as untimely. Issues which are not raised in a petitioner’s first brief on appeal are generally considered abandoned and are not reviewable. Tanazi v. Ashcroft, No. 02-4200, 2004 WL 1770617, at  n.3 (6th Cir. Aug. 5, 2004). However, given the relationship of the two bases for the BIA’s denial of the motion to reopen, we will consider Petitioners’ arguments on the merits. A motion to reopen “shall state the new facts that will be proven at a hearing to be held if the motion is granted and shall be supported by affidavits or other evidentiary material.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(1). It “shall not be granted unless it appears to the Board that evidence sought to be offered is material and was not available and could not have been discovered or presented at the former hearing.” Id.. A motion to reopen “must be filed no later than 90 days after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered in the proceeding sought to be reopened.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). In the present case, the Board affirmed on July 31, 2003, yet Petitioners did not file their motion to reopen until February 12, 2004, nearly seven months after the decision was rendered. -4- No. 04-3973 Manukyan v. Gonzales See Ljucovic v. Gonzales, No. 03-4550, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 16782, at - (6th Cir. Aug. 8 2005). Equitable tolling can apply to an otherwise time-barred motion to reopen, see Harchenko v. INS, 379 F.3d 405, 409-10 (6th Cir. 2004), when a petitioner has received ineffective assistance of counsel.1 See Miculi v. Ashcroft, 96 Fed. Appx. 338, 339 (6th Cir. 2004). To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, an alien must satisfy the requirements set out in Matter of Lozada, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637, 640 (BIA 1988), and demonstrate that she was prejudiced by counsel’s actions or inactions. See Matter of Assaad, 23 I. & N. Dec. 553, 556 (BIA 2003). In this context, prejudice requires Petitioners to demonstrate that they were entitled to the underlying relief requested. Ljocovic, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 16782, at . “In other words, the petitioner ‘must establish that but for [counsel’s error], [petitioner] would have been entitled to continue residing in the United States.’” Id. (quoting Huicochea-Gomez, 237 F.3d at 699-700). Because Petitioners complied with the procedural requirements of Matter of Lozada, they need only demonstrate prejudice as a result of their counsel’s allegedly ineffective representation. Petitioners here fail to demonstrate prejudice. They do not argue that Namei provided ineffective assistance at the deportation hearing or in failing to timely file his brief on appeal with the BIA. Nor do they argue that the IJ’s decision denying them asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT relief was erroneous. Rather, they repeatedly claim that they relied on their attorney’s 1 “Fifth Amendment guarantees of due process extend to aliens in deportation proceedings.” Hamid v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 465, 468 (6th Cir. 2003) (quoting Huicochea-Gomez v. INS, 237 F.3d 696, 699 (6th Cir. 2001)). -5- No. 04-3973 Manukyan v. Gonzales advice not to worry about the outcome of the BIA appeal because they would be granted green cards when their daughter became a United States citizen. They claim Namei effectively advised them “to ignore any decisions of the previous courts and wait until our daughter becomes a US Citizen.” However, Petitioners were independently informed that they must voluntarily depart, both by the IJ in his oral decision and by the decision of the BIA. The BIA does not abuse its discretion in denying a motion to reopen if the movant fails to demonstrate eligibility for the underlying substantive relief sought. See INS v. Abudu, 485 U.S. 94, 104 (1988). Accordingly, it did not abuse its discretion in denying the Petitioners’ motion to reopen. The petition is DENIED. -6-