Opinion ID: 3028506
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: USCIS’ two-year deadline for filing an I-730

Text: petition is an arbitrary exercise of agency authority, and is contrary to the spirit and purpose of asylum law. As such, it is an invalid exercise of agency authority. Petitioner’s Br. at 1-2. The argument section of Nnadika’s brief expounds on these three issues. Of course, if Nnadika is unsuccessful in his effort to get relief from the denial of the I-730 petition, the result will undoubtedly be deportation, but the arguments made point to no legal error in the final order of removal – namely, the BIA order of December 13, 1999 affirming the IJ’s denial of Nnadika’s motion to reopen. Accordingly, Nnadika’s petition for review of the order of removal must be denied as without merit. To the extent that Nnadika seeks declaratory and 11 injunctive relief directed to the denial of his I-730 petition, that claim does not fall within the REAL ID Act’s authority for transfer and should have remained with the District Court. To the extent that Nnadika is detained as a result of the denial of the I-730 petition, the claim would appear to fall within the District Court’s mandamus jurisdiction. We note, however, that the Government also argues that “under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii), review of the decision to deny the petition for asylee relative status is barred because it is a decision which is specified to be in the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General.” Respondent’s Br. at 11. Because that claim was improperly transferred under the REAL ID Act, we do not have jurisdiction over it. We leave to the District Court consideration of the Government’s argument in the first instance. Ordinarily, we would assume that the portion of the case that should not have been transferred remains in the District Court. However, the District Court’s order closed the case. To avoid any uncertainty, in an abundance of caution, we will remand that portion of the Petition/Complaint that challenges the decision with respect to the I-730 petition. By remanding, we do not suggest that we reject the Government’s argument that the issue is not subject to judicial review. We will deny the remaining portion of the Petition for Review. 12