Opinion ID: 2731238
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reopening of Proceedings

Text: On January 11, 2006, Guerrero entered the United States, without inspection or admission. More than a year later, on June 22, 2007, he filed an untimely motion with the BIA to reopen his proceedings.7 Guerrero contended that reopening was warranted because his Rhode Island conviction had been vacated, and he submitted the May 30, 2002 Rhode Island state court order vacating said conviction. INS did not respond to this motion. The BIA denied the motion to reopen on July 23, 2007, explaining Guerrero's Rhode Island conviction remained final for immigration purposes because it was unable to ascertain whether the [Rhode Island state] court's action was taken pursuant to a rehabilitative 6 The IJ had found that the added OSC charge for the Rhode Island conviction was sustained by clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence. 7 As of right, an alien may file a single motion to reopen within 90 days of the date of the BIA's final decision. See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1229a(c)(7)(A) & (c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2). -5- statute or to ameliorate the immigration consequences of [Guerrero]'s conviction. On March 17, 2008, Guerrero filed an untimely motion to reconsider the BIA's July 23, 2007 decision.8 Reiterating that a conviction no longer existed to support his deportability under the then-existing § 241(a)(2)(A)(iii) as an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, and that he was thus not barred from being considered for a § 212(c) waiver of inadmissibility, Guerrero submitted documentation evidencing that the criminal charge underpinning the Rhode Island conviction had been dismissed on the grounds that the State cannot sustain its burden of proof in the prosecution of this matter. INS did not respond to this motion either. Although Guerrero's motion was untimely,9 the BIA nevertheless decided to sua sponte reopen the proceedings on June 4, 2008, remanded the record back to the IJ for further consideration of Guerrero's deportability under § 241(a)(2)(A)(iii), eligibility for § 212(c) relief, and any other relief for which he may currently qualify. In doing so, the BIA explained that the evidence submitted with the motion was 8 A motion to reconsider a BIA order must be filed within 30 days of a final order of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(6)(B); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(b)(2). 9 The BIA found the motion to be untimely whether it was considered as a motion to reconsider (under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(b)) or as a motion to reopen (under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2)). -6- undisputably probative (and potentially dispositive) of whether a 'conviction' . . . exists to support [Guerrero's] deportability as an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, and by extension to preclude him from being considered for 212(c) relief. It further explained -- mistakenly -- that because Guerrero has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for over 22 years, he might be able to demonstrate eligibility for section 212(c). At a hearing on remand on May 11, 2010 before a new IJ, INS challenged Guerrero's eligibility for relief from removal, arguing that he was no longer a lawful permanent resident under 8 C.F.R. § 1001.1(p)10, and that the BIA had improperly reopened proceedings in light of his 2002 deportation. Following further briefing on the issue, the IJ issued a decision on November 22, 2010, holding that the immigration court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate Guerrero's § 212(c) waiver application or any other application for relief due to the departure bar of 8 C.F.R. § 1003.23(b)(1), which limited its jurisdiction to adjudicate 10 The term lawfully admitted for permanent residence means the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having changed. Such status terminates upon entry of a final administrative order of exclusion, deportation, removal, or rescission. 8 C.F.R. § 1001.1(p). -7- motions filed by aliens who had left the United States.11 The IJ ordered Guerrero's deportation for the third time.