Opinion ID: 164545
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jurisdiction to Review Merits

Text: In his brief to this court, Petitioner asks us to consider the merits of the BIA’s November 20, 2002, denial of his applications for asylum, restriction on removal, and protection under the Convention against Torture, as well as the BIA’s denial of his motion to reopen proceedings. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1), “The petition for review [of an order of removal] must be filed not later than 30 days after the date of the final order of removal.” A failure to file a timely petition for review of the BIA’s decisions deprives us of jurisdiction. Stone v. INS, 514 U.S. 386, 406 (1995); see also Nahatchevska v. Ashcroft, 317 F.3d 1226, 1227 (10th Cir. 2003) (holding § 1252(b)(1)’s 30-day time period to petition for review to be jurisdictional under Stone). The BIA’s decision became final, and the 30-day review period began running, on November 20, 2002. See 8 C.F.R. § 1241.31 (order of deportation becomes final upon dismissal of appeal by BIA); Belay-Gebru v. INS, 327 F.3d 998, 1000 (10th Cir. 2003) (applying § 1252(b)(1)’s predecessor, 8 U.S.C. § 1105a, in holding that 30-day limitations period began to run on date of BIA’s order, despite filing of motion to reconsider); see also Onwuneme v. INS, 67 F.3d 273, 274 (10th Cir. 1995) (finding jurisdiction to review denial of motion to reopen because denial of motion constitutes final order of deportation). Petitioner -4- did not file his petition for review until May 30, 2003, well beyond the 30-day review period. Thus, we lack jurisdiction to review the merits of the BIA’s November 20, 2002, order, including both the affirmance of the IJ and the denial of the motion to reopen.