Opinion ID: 1212676
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the bia abused its discretion when it denied karapetyan's motion to reconsider

Text: We also conclude that the BIA abused its discretion when it denied Karapetyan's motion to reconsider. The BIA asserted that it was denying the motion to reconsider because the motion failed to present new legal arguments. It stated, [w]e find no new legal argument presented nor any particular aspect of [the] case that was overlooked in our previous decision. Accordingly, the motion will be denied. There is no basis for the BIA's finding that no new legal argument was presented. A comparison of petitioner's appellate brief to the BIA and his subsequent motion for reconsideration demonstrates that although the motion for reconsideration reiterated many of the arguments that had previously been presented to the BIA, it also raised new claims. For example, it argued, for the first time, that the IJ had improperly denied Karapetyan's motion for a continuance to take fingerprints. It also argued, for the first time, that the IJ violated Karapetyan's right to procedural due process in denying the motion for a continuance. Moreover, the motion for reconsideration drew the BIA's attention to additional facts from the record and supplemental case citations. We therefore conclude that the BIA abused its discretion in denying the motion for reconsider on the grounds that the motion failed to present new arguments or aspects of the case. Nonetheless, because we are granting Karapetyan's other petition, we need not remand to the BIA on these grounds.