Opinion ID: 2977561
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Sunarto’s petition indicates that he is appealing the BIA’s February 20, 2008 denial of his motion. The substance of Sunarto’s brief, however, is largely devoted to challenging the BIA’s October 30, 2007 decision affirming the IJ’s denial of relief. Given the frequency and the severity of past incidents of persecution and the unsafe conditions in Indonesia for non-Muslims, Sunarto contends that the BIA erred when it affirmed the IJ’s denial of his application for asylum. The respondent concedes that Sunarto timely appealed the BIA’s February 20, 2008 decision inasmuch as he filed his March 30, 2008 petition for review within the thirty-day filing period. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1). To the extent that Sunarto seeks appellate review of the BIA’s October 30, 2007 decision, however, the respondent contends that his petition is untimely and not eligible for review by this Court. The respondent has the better argument. We lack appellate jurisdiction to review the BIA’s October 30, 2007 decision affirming the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the CAT. This Court has appellate jurisdiction to review only final orders of removal that have been timely appealed. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1). Petitions requesting appellate review of a BIA decision “must be filed not later than 30 days after the date of the final order of removal.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1). The statutory time limit is “both mandatory and jurisdictional.” Prekaj v. INS, 384 F.3d 265, 267(6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1258 (9th Cir. 1996)). -3- No. 08-3306 Sunarto v. Mukasey Sunarto failed to seek review of the BIA’s October 30, 2007 decision within thirty days of the issuance of that decision. Moreover, Sunarto’s filing of a motion did not toll the time period for seeking appellate review of that decision. See, e.g., Stone v. INS, 514 U.S. 386, 389-90 (1995) (holding that the timely filing of a motion to reopen or reconsider with the BIA does not toll the time period for seeking appellate court review and that the mere act of filing the motion does not render non-final the underlying BIA decision). Accordingly, to the extent that Sunarto challenges the IJ’s underlying order denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the CAT, we lack jurisdiction to consider these claims because Sunarto failed to file a timely petition for review of the order. See Prekaj, 384 F.3d at 268. Thus, we have jurisdiction to consider only the BIA’s February 20, 2008 decision declining to reopen proceedings or reconsider the case.