Opinion ID: 449260
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Shirley Duran's Motion to Reopen.

Text: 9 Appellant Shirley Duran argues that the Immigration Judge abused his discretion in denying her motion to reopen to apply for suspension of deportation under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1254(a)(1) (1982). 4 She contends that she is eligible for suspension of deportation and did not request this relief at her deportation hearing because the Immigration Judge failed to inform her of her right to apply for such relief. She further contends that the Immigration Judge's failure entitles her to a reopening. The immigration regulations provide that: 10 [t]he special inquiry officer shall inform the respondent of his apparent eligibility to apply for any of the benefits enumerated in this paragraph [which include suspension of deportation] and shall afford him an opportunity to make application therefor during the hearing. 11 8 C.F.R. Sec. 242.17(a) (1984). 12 In United States v. Barraza-Leon, 575 F.2d 218 (9th Cir.1978), we considered the application of this regulation to an alien's right to relief under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1254, which provides for suspension of deportation for aliens with seven years' continuous residence in the United States. Barraza, a deportable alien, argued that the Immigration Judge was required to determine whether he was eligible for suspension of deportation under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1254, even though the record was devoid of any indication that he was entitled to such relief. We rejected this argument and held that [u]ntil the respondent himself or some other person puts information before the judge that makes such eligibility 'apparent,' this duty does not come into play. Id. at 222. 13 In this case, unlike Barraza-Leon, Shirley Duran did put information before the Immigration Judge making her eligibility for suspension of deportation apparent, when it appeared from the record that she had been in the United States continuously for seven years. Yet the Immigration Judge failed to carry out the responsibility of informing Shirley of her right to apply for relief, although the record indicated that she might be eligible. The failure to notify Shirley of her right to apply for relief disadvantaged her in the subsequent administrative proceedings because she was required to assert new evidence in order to reopen her case. 14 We do not look with favor upon INS violation of its own regulations. Mendez v. INS, 563 F.2d 956, 959 (9th Cir.1977). Had the INS notified Shirley as required, she may have been able to demonstrate extreme hardship. The INS must be held to the highest standards in the performance of its duties. Sun Il Yoo v. INS, 534 F.2d 1325, 1329 (9th Cir.1976). We therefore vacate the decision denying Shirley's motion to reopen and remand with instructions to restore Shirley to such status as will enable her to apply for suspension of deportation on the same terms as an alien who received proper notice at the deportation hearing. 15 AFFIRMED IN PART VACATED IN PART, and REMANDED.