Court Opinion

ID: 4194319
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-09 00:01:12.587412+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:27.093277
License: Public Domain

Case: 16-60416       Document: 00514107152         Page: 1     Date Filed: 08/08/2017

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                                                              United States Court of Appeals

                                     No. 16-60416
                                                                                       Fifth Circuit

                                                                                     FILED
                                   Summary Calendar                             August 8, 2017
                                                                                Lyle W. Cayce
CONCEPCION GONZALEZ-DE MENDOZA,                                                      Clerk

                                                  Petitioner

v.

JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS, III, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                  Respondent

                        Petition for Review of an Order of the
                           Board of Immigration Appeals
                                BIA No. A073 241 950

Before JONES, SMITH, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Concepcion Gonzalez-De Mendoza, a native and citizen of Mexico,
petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision
affirming the immigration judge’s (IJ) denial of her January 2015 motion to
reopen her removal proceedings and to rescind her removal order entered in
absentia in October 1994. An immigration court’s denial of a motion to reopen
is reviewed “under a highly deferential abuse-of-discretion standard”. Gomez-

       * Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir.
R. 47.5.4.
    Case: 16-60416     Document: 00514107152      Page: 2    Date Filed: 08/08/2017

                                  No. 16-60416

Palacios v. Holder, 560 F.3d 354, 358 (5th Cir. 2009). The factual findings are
reviewed for substantial evidence. Ojeda-Calderon v. Holder, 726 F.3d 669,
672–73 (5th Cir. 2013); Lopez-Dubon v. Holder, 609 F.3d 642, 645 (5th Cir.
2010).
      Gonzalez contends the BIA abused its discretion in denying her motion
to reopen and rescind her in absentia deportation order by finding the hearing
notice was personally served. She contends the BIA ignored an absence of
indication that she actually received notice of the rescheduled hearing on 31
October 1994.     Gonzalez also contends the BIA abused its discretion by
ignoring that she did not receive notice of the hearing by certified mail. She
further asserts the BIA abused its discretion by failing to consider the factors
outlined in Matter of M-R-A-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 665, 674 (BIA 2008).
      Under the rules applicable to immigration cases commenced prior to 30
September 1996, in absentia deportation orders may be rescinded only if the
alien files a motion to reopen within 180 days after the date of the order of
deportation, showing exceptional circumstances for her failure to appear, or at
any time files a motion to reopen demonstrating that she did not receive notice
of the hearing. 8 U.S.C. § 1252b(c)(3) (West 1993) (repealed 30 Sept. 1996); see
also Ojeda-Calderon, 726 F.3d at 673 (“Because Ojeda’s immigration
proceedings were initiated prior to the 1996 amendments to the INA, we must
apply the notice requirements set forth in former INA § 242B.”). Notice may
be by personal service or certified mail. 8 U.S.C. § 1252b(a)(2)(A) (West 1993)
(repealed) (requiring the INS to provide written notice of the deportation
hearing “in person to the alien (or, if personal service is not practicable, written
notice shall be given by certified mail to the alien or to the alien’s counsel of
record, if any)”); Ojeda-Calderon, 726 F.3d at 673.

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                                 No. 16-60416

      For a motion to reopen, we focus on whether the alien actually received
the required notice. Ojeda-Calderon, 726 F.3d at 673. The alien bears the
burden to demonstrate she did not receive notice. 8 U.S.C. § 1252b(c)(3) (West
1993); Ojeda-Calderon, 726 F.3d at 673.
      The IJ and the BIA determined Gonzalez was personally served with the
notice of hearing when she appeared in immigration court on 28 September
1994, based on the notice in the record on which the clerk noted personal
service. The IJ noted Gonzalez had not contended she was not personally
served with this hearing notice.     The BIA presumed the clerk who noted
Gonzalez was personally served on 28 September properly discharged his
duties. Substantial evidence in the record supports the finding that Gonzalez
was personally served with the notice of hearing. See Lopez-Dubon, 609 F.3d
at 647. Accordingly, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in affirming the IJ’s
denial of her motion to reopen and dismissing her appeal. See Gomez-Palacios,
560 F.3d at 358, 361.
      Gonzalez’ reliance on M-R-A- is mistaken. In M-R-A-, the BIA sustained
the alien’s appeal, finding the alien had overcome the “weak” presumption that
he had received a notice of hearing sent to him by regular mail. 24 I. & N. Dec.
at 676. Needless to say, because substantial evidence supports the BIA’s
finding Gonzalez was personally served with notice informing her of the 31
October 1994 hearing, M-R-A- and its discussion of what evidence can be used
to overcome the presumption of delivery by regular mail does not apply.
      DENIED.

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