Court Opinion

ID: 216970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-05-19 13:45:36+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:10:53.041101
License: Public Domain

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                              Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
                                      File Name: 11a0136a.06

                 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                  FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
                                    _________________

                                               X
                                  Petitioners, -
 MYRON KUKALO, GANNA KUKALO,
                                                -
                                                -
                                                -
                                                   Nos. 09-3338/4289
           v.
                                                ,
                                                 >
                                                -
                                                -
 ERIC H. HOLDER, JR., United States Attorney

                                 Respondent. -
 General,
                                                -
                                               N
                  On Petition for Review of an Order from the
                  United States Board of Immigration Appeals.
                       Nos. A070 865 956; A070 865 957.
                             Decided and Filed: April 13, 2011*
            Before: MARTIN, GIBBONS, and KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judges.

                                      _________________

                                           COUNSEL
ON BRIEF: Margaret Wong, MARGARET WONG & ASSOCIATES CO., LPA,
Cleveland, Ohio, for Petitioners. Christopher McGreal, James A. Hunolt, Jonathan
Robbins, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for
Respondent.
                                   _____________________

                                    AMENDED OPINION
                                   _____________________

        JULIA SMITH GIBBONS, Circuit Judge.                       In this consolidated action,
petitioners–appellants Myron and Ganna Kukalo appeal a final order of the Board of
Immigration Appeals (“BIA”), denying their applications for asylum, withholding of
removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”), as well as an

        *
          This amended decision was originally issued as an “unpublished amended decision” filed on
April 13, 2011. On May 16, 2011, the court designated the amended opinion as one recommended for full-
text publication.

                                                  1
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order of the BIA denying their motion to reopen for an adjustment of status. For the
reasons that follow, we deny the Kukalos’ petitions for review.

                                            I.

       Myron and Ganna Kukalo (collectively, the “Kukalos”) are husband and wife and
citizens of the Ukraine. They entered the United States on February 10, 1994, on B-1
non-immigrant visas with authorization to remain for a temporary period not to exceed
August 9, 1994. After the expiration of their visas, Myron timely filed an application
for asylum on October 3, 1994, and Ganna was included on the application as a
derivative. On July 28, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) served the
Kukalos with Notices to Appear before the Immigration Court, charging them as subject
to removal from the United States pursuant to Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”)
§ 237(a)(1)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B), and INA § 101(a)(15), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15).
With this action, DHS referred the Kukalos’ asylum case to the Immigration Court.
During their removal hearings, both Myron and Ganna conceded removability but
requested relief based on asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT. In the meantime,
Myron’s employer, Piper Plumbing, Inc., filed an I-140 immigrant petition for alien
workers with a priority date of January 13, 2003. The petition was approved on January
30, 2007, and indicated “that [Myron Kukalo] is in the United States and will apply for
adjustment of status.” The Notice of Action approving the petition stated that the
information submitted with the petition showed that Myron was “not eligible to file an
adjustment of status application at this time.” The Kukalos later filed I-485 applications
for adjustment of status.

       On May 25, 2007, Immigration Judge William Evans, Jr. (“IJ”) heard both
Myron and Ganna’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under
CAT. Myron testified for both of the Kukalos, and the IJ found Myron’s testimony
credible. In his testimony Myron revealed several grounds on which he felt the court
could find evidence of past persecution as well as a well-founded fear of future
persecution. First, a former KGB worker who lived in Myron’s village allegedly
threatened Myron on three occasions. Myron testified, “He said that people like me
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                         Page 3

should not live in this world,” a threat Myron attributed to his “political thinking.”
Second, Myron testified that because he owned land, he received phone calls and one
visit from people he suspected to be associated with mafia groups. These calls largely
involved requests for money, but Myron never provided them with any money. Myron
suffered no instances of physical harm. Myron also testified that his future in the
Ukraine “would be same thing that it was before,” indicating a fear of similar threats
from the people who had threatened him before.

       In addition to Myron’s testimony, the Kukalos submitted a letter from a friend
in the Ukraine detailing the unrest and violence in the country, the Ukraine Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices 2006, and a number of published reports regarding
crime and corruption in the Ukraine. Myron also submitted a written statement with his
asylum application discussing the same information offered in his testimony before the
IJ.

       Based on the testimony and the exhibits, the IJ found that the evidence was
insufficient “to demonstrate either past persecution or a well-founded fear of future
persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group
or political opinion.” The IJ found that the evidence proved Myron had experienced
“attempts at extortion” and that the Ukraine was “experiencing some degree of
lawlessness,” but “[n]either the general condition of lawlessness nor criminal extortion
or harassment or threats []rise to the level of persecution.” The IJ found no evidence that
the Kukalos had been victims of persecution in the past or that the Kukalos had a well-
founded fear of persecution in the future “because the only fears expressed by the
[Kukalos] are that they will be subject to the same treatment on their return to Ukraine
as they’ve experienced.” The IJ found the Kukalos failed to sustain the burden of
establishing their claim for asylum and thus necessarily failed to meet the burden for
withholding of removal. They also failed to provide any evidence that they would be
subject to torture required for their CAT protection claim. Furthermore, the IJ held that
the Kukalos failed to establish their eligibility for voluntary departure.
Nos. 09-3338/4289                 Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                      Page 4

       The BIA issued a separate opinion on March 20, 2009, dismissing the Kukalos’
appeal of the IJ decision. The BIA rejected Myron’s contention that he suffered past
persecution or had a well-founded fear of future persecution. The BIA found that “the
unfulfilled threats from an individual in his neighborhood and the extortionist demands
from persons [Myron] believes were affiliated with the mafia were not severe enough
to qualify as persecution.” Moreover, the BIA held that because Myron failed to
establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily could not establish withholding of
removal or protection under CAT. The BIA went on to say, “In any event, the
respondent has failed to meaningfully appeal the Immigration Judge’s denial of his
withholding of removal and CAT applications.”

       On March 31, 2009, the Kukalos filed a motion to reopen to apply for adjustment
of status, claiming eligibility for adjustment under INA § 245(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1255(a).
This motion was based on the I-140 that was filed by Piper Plumbing, Inc., on behalf of
Myron with a priority date of January 13, 2003, and was approved by DHS on January
30, 2007. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) opposed the motion, arguing
that the Kukalos had failed to make a prima facie showing of eligibility for relief in
order to qualify for reopening. The BIA denied the Kukalos’ motion on September 30,
2009, on the grounds that they were “unable to establish prima facie eligibility for
adjustment of status.” The BIA noted: (1) the Kukalos’ lawful nonimmigration status
expired on August 9, 1994; (2) their asylum application was not filed until October 3,
1994; and (3) a visa petition under INA § 203(b)(3)(A)(iii) with a priority date of
January 13, 2003, was approved in January 2007. The BIA found that the Kukalos had
“not adequately explained why they believe that a government delay in processing an
asylum application which they concede was filed after their lawful nonimmigrant status
expired provides an exception to the continuous lawful status requirement for section
245 of the [INA].” Thus, the BIA denied their motion.

       The Kukalos now appeal the March 20, 2009, and September 30, 2009, BIA
decisions. After briefing, these cases were consolidated on July 29, 2010.
Nos. 09-3338/4289                 Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                          Page 5

                                           II.

       We first address the appeal of the BIA’s March 20, 2009, denial of the Kukalos’
applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection. Where the BIA
reviewed the IJ’s decision de novo and issued a separate opinion, we review the BIA’s
opinion as the final agency determination. Morgan v. Keisler, 507 F.3d 1053, 1057 (6th
Cir. 2007) (citing Grijalva v. Gonzalez, 212 F. App’x 541, 547 (6th Cir. 2007)).
Questions of law are reviewed de novo, but we give substantial deference to the BIA’s
interpretations of the INA and its accompanying regulations. Khalili v. Holder, 557
F.3d 429, 435 (6th Cir. 2009). The BIA’s factual findings are reviewed under the
deferential substantial evidence standard and “must be upheld if supported by
reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole.”
Mikhailevitch v. I.N.S., 146 F.3d 384, 388 (6th Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting I.N.S. v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 (1992)). Under this
standard, we will reverse if the evidence presented “‘not only supports a contrary
conclusion, but indeed compels it.’” Id. (quoting Klawitter v. I.N.S., 970 F.2d 149, 152
(6th Cir. 1992)). We do not reverse simply on the grounds that we would have decided
the matter differently. Koliada v. I.N.S., 259 F.3d 482, 486 (6th Cir. 2001). Rather, we
look to the evidence presented to determine if “a reasonable factfinder would have to
conclude” that the Kukalos established their claims for asylum, withholding of removal,
or protection under CAT. See Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. at 481.

                                           A.

       An applicant for asylum bears the burden of establishing that he is a “refugee”
as defined by the INA. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B); Koliada, 259 F.3d at 486–87. In order
to qualify for asylum, the Kukalos must establish that they qualify as refugees “‘either
because [they have] suffered actual past persecution or because [they have] a well-
founded fear of future persecution.’” Koliada, 259 F.3d at 487 (quoting 8 C.F.R.
§ 208.13(a)–(b)).

       Establishing that harassment rose to the level of “persecution” is not an easy task.
See Gilaj v. Gonzales, 408 F.3d 275, 285 (6th Cir. 2005) (“The numerous decisions
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                        Page 6

rendered by the various panels of this court upon review of BIA decisions on
applications for asylum make clear that the conduct on which the application for asylum
is based must go beyond what might reasonably be characterized as mere harassment in
order to rise to the level of persecution.”). Furthermore, demonstrating that the evidence
compels this court to find that persecution occurred is even more difficult. We conclude
that the Kukalos failed to present evidence of such persecution, past or future.

       To determine whether past persecution occurred, we evaluate the overall context
of the applicant’s situation and view the evidence in the aggregate. Haider v. Holder,
595 F.3d 276, 287 (6th Cir. 2010) (citing Gilaj, 408 F.3d at 285; Stenaj v. Gonzales, 227
F. App’x 429, 433 (6th Cir. 2007)). “Persecution must rise above the level of
harassment or discrimination without physical punishment, infliction of harm, or
significant deprivation of liberty.” Mohammed v. Keisler, 507 F.3d 369, 371 (6th Cir.
2007) (citing Mikhailevitch, 146 F.3d at 390). Furthermore, “persecution . . . ‘requires
more than a few isolated incidents of verbal harassment or intimidation, unaccompanied
by any physical punishment, infliction of harm, or significant deprivation of liberty.’”
Pilica v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 941, 950 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Mikhailevitch, 146 F.3d
at 390). In Haider, this court noted, “Typically, though, the ‘[t]ypes of actions that
might cross the line from harassment to persecution include: detention, arrest,
interrogation, prosecution, imprisonment, illegal searches, confiscation of property,
surveillance, beatings, or torture.” Haider, 595 F.3d at 286–87 (quoting Zacarias v.
Gonzales, 232 F. App’x 458, 462 (6th Cir. 2007)). Although the court gave no
indication that this was an exhaustive list, Myron’s factual allegations do not resemble
any of these examples, nor do they rise beyond mere harassment. Furthermore, the
Kukalos must establish that the previous abuse was a result of their membership in a
protected category, which is only tenuously suggested by the record. Mohammed, 507
F.3d at 371.

       Myron presented credible testimony of a few instances of threats and requests for
money. These encounters do nothing to show that he was “specifically targeted” and not
“merely a victim of indiscriminate treatment.” Gilaj, 408 F.3d at 285. In fact, it appears
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                          Page 7

that these incidents were a result of merely random criminal acts. See Lumaj v.
Gonzales, 462 F.3d 574, 577–78 (6th Cir. 2006) (noting that because an incident was
isolated, with “no evidence . . . that the attack was in any way more than a random
criminal act,” it was less likely to be sufficient for a finding of persecution). He and
Ganna experienced no physical harm or threats of any specific consequence. Because
something more is required to prove past persecution, the Kukalos have failed to
establish that this court should be compelled to find that they experienced past
persecution as a result of their political beliefs. We uphold the decision of the BIA with
respect to this prong and find that the Kukalos experienced no past persecution for the
purposes of their asylum application.

        Because the Kukalos have failed to establish past persecution, they must
independently establish a well-founded fear of future persecution. Id. at 578. A well-
founded fear of future persecution is established by: (1) a fear of persecution in one’s
home country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social
group, or political opinion; (2) a reasonable possibility of suffering persecution should
one return; and (3) an unwillingness or inability to return to that country due to the fear.
Pilica, 388 F.3d at 950. This “well-founded fear” must be both subjectively genuine and
objectively reasonable. Mapouya v. Gonzales, 487 F.3d 396, 412 (6th Cir. 2007).

        The Kukalos rely on the same evidence to establish their fear of future
persecution that laid the unstable foundation for their claim of past persecution. The
evidence presented—including a letter from a friend in the Ukraine, the Ukraine Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices, a number of published reports regarding crime and
corruption in the Ukraine, and a statement written by Myron—offers little more than an
impression of general crime and lawlessness. Isolated incidents unrelated to any
protected status do not compel us to find that the Kukalos had a well-founded fear of
future persecution. We therefore affirm the decision of the BIA to reject the Kukalos’
application for asylum because the record does not compel a finding of past persecution
or a well-founded fear of future persecution upon their return to the Ukraine.
Nos. 09-3338/4289                        Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                                 Page 8

                                                    B.

         The BIA held that Myron “failed to meaningfully appeal the Immigration Judge’s
denial of his withholding of removal and CAT applications.” Furthermore, the BIA
determined that “[b]ecause of the respondent’s failure to establish eligibility for asylum,
he necessarily cannot ‘satisfy the more onerous burden[s] for withholding of removal
[and] . . . the Convention Against Torture.”1

         The BIA did not explain how Myron failed to meaningfully appeal his
withholding of removal and CAT protection claims. In the Kukalos’ brief in support of
their appeal of the IJ’s decision, for their claims for withholding of removal and CAT
protection, they simply rely on the evidence presented under their claim for asylum,
stating “[f]or the reasons set forth herein, Respondents have met the higher standard for
withholding of removal . . . . [and] relief under the Convention Against Torture is also
warranted.” Whether these statements of reliance on earlier arguments present a
meaningful appeal is questionable, but answering this question is unnecessary because
the evidence fails to compel us to find that Myron was entitled to relief under either
withholding of removal or CAT.

         To establish a claim for withholding of removal, the petitioner must show “a
clear probability that he will be subject to persecution if forced to return to the country
of removal.” Pilica, 388 F.3d at 951 (citing I.N.S. v. Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 413 (1984)).
Because the burden for establishing a claim for withholding of removal is “a more
stringent burden than what is required on a claim for asylum,” and because the Kukalos
failed to establish their claim for asylum, it follows that the Kukalos “also cannot satisfy
the more onerous burden for withholding of removal.” See Kaba v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d

         1
           As a preliminary matter, family members are not granted derivative status with respect to
withholding of removal. Thus we do not review Ganna Kukalo’s claim for withholding of removal. See
Castellano-Chacon v. I.N.S., 341 F.3d 533, 545 (6th Cir. 2003) (“Unlike an application for asylum,
however, a grant of an alien’s application for withholding is not a basis for adjustment to legal permanent
resident status, family members are not granted derivative status, and it only prohibits removal of the
petitioner to the country of risk, but does not prohibit removal to a non-risk country.”). Regardless,
because her evidence and claims were the same as Myron’s, and because we decline to grant Myron’s
claim, whether derivative status extended to her claims for withholding from removal and CAT protection
is irrelevant.
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                        Page 9

741, 751 (6th Cir. 2008) (citing and quoting Liti v. Gonzales, 411 F.3d 631, 640 (6th Cir.
2005); Pilica, 388 F.3d at 951; Koliada, 259 F.3d at 489).

       The Kukalos similarly fail to meet their heavy burden of proof under CAT. To
obtain relief under CAT, the petitioner must prove “that it is more likely than not that
he or she would be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.” Pilica, 388
F.3d at 951 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2)). Although it may be the case that the
inability to establish an asylum claim does not necessarily preclude relief under CAT,
see Kamalthas v. I.N.S., 251 F.3d 1279, 1293 (9th Cir. 2001), it is not easy to overcome
such a barrier. See, e.g., Liti, 411 F.3d at 641 (“[B]ecause the Litis failed to establish
eligibility for asylum, they also cannot meet the heightened requirements for relief under
CAT.”). The Kukalos’ brief states that they have established that there is a clear
probability that Myron would be tortured by the man who previously threatened him or
by members of local corrupt organizations upon his return to the Ukraine, but the brief
offers no evidence to support such a claim beyond that used to buttress the claim for
asylum. Accordingly, this assertion fails to compel us to find that the Kukalos are
entitled to relief under CAT.

       We affirm the decision of the BIA and deny the Kukalos’ claims for withholding
of removal and CAT protection.

                                           III.

       Second, we address the BIA’s September 30, 2009, denial of the Kukalos’
motion to reopen. As stated above, questions of law are reviewed de novo, but we give
substantial deference to the BIA’s interpretations of the INA and its accompanying
regulations. Khalili, 557 F.3d at 435. The denial of a motion to reopen a removal order
is reviewed for an abuse of discretion, Denko v. I.N.S., 351 F.3d 717, 723 (6th Cir.
2003), but the BIA has broad discretion in deciding whether to grant or deny a motion
to reopen, Bi Feng Liu v. Holder, 560 F.3d 485, 489 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing I.N.S. v.
Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 323 (1992)). A denial of a motion to reopen will constitute an
abuse of discretion if the denial “was made without a rational explanation, inexplicably
departed from established policies, or rested on an impermissible basis such as invidious
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                        Page 10

discrimination against a particular race or group.” Balani v. I.N.S., 669 F.2d 1157, 1161
(6th Cir. 1982).

        “The decision to grant or deny a motion to reopen . . . is within the discretion of
the [BIA] . . . .” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(a). “A motion to reopen proceedings for the purpose
of submitting an application for relief must be accompanied by the appropriate
application for relief and all supporting documentation.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(1). The
BIA may deny a motion to reopen because “the movant has not established a prima facie
case for the underlying substantive relief sought.” I.N.S. v. Abudu, 485 U.S. 94, 104
(1988). This was the precise ground for denial in this case. The Kukalos sought the
underlying substantive relief of an adjustment of status pursuant to INA § 245(a),
8 U.S.C. § 1255(a). This provision entitles the Attorney General to adjust the status of
a nonimmigrant to that of a person admitted for permanent residence.                Part of
establishing prima facie eligibility for this adjustment of status involves maintenance of
lawful status. Section 245(c)(2) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. § 1255(c)(2), states that subsection
(a) shall not be applicable to an alien “who has failed (other than through no fault of his
own or for technical reasons) to maintain continuously a lawful status since entry into
the United States.” There is an exception to this rule, however, for an alien who is
eligible to receive an immigrant visa under a labor certification; INA § 245(k)(2)(A),
8 U.S.C. § 1255(k)(2)(A), states that, “notwithstanding subsection (c)(2),” subsection
(a) shall not be applicable to an alien who, “for an aggregate period exceeding 180
days–(A) failed to maintain, continuously, a lawful status.” The regulations define the
parenthetical phrase “no fault of his or her own or for technical reasons” found in
subsection (c)(2) to include “[a] technical violation resulting from inaction of the Service
(as for example, where an applicant establishes that he or she properly filed a timely
request to maintain status and the Service has not yet acted on that request).” 8 C.F.R.
§ 1295.1(d)(2)(ii). In addition, “[a]n individual whose refugee or asylum status has
expired through passage of time, but whose status has not been revoked, will be
considered to have gone out of status for a technical reason.” Id.
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       The Kukalos claim that the BIA abused its discretion because they can adjust
their status under INA § 245 based on Myron’s approved I-140 and, thus, established a
prima facie case for the underlying substantive relief. They argue that the fourteen-year
limbo on their application for asylum (although the application was filed after their
lawful immigration status expired) constituted a “technical violation” resulting from
inaction and that this violation allows them to be eligible for adjustment of status. The
Kukalos contend that they “filed their asylum application within 180 days of the
expiration of their visas and the application remained pending either with DHS or [the
Executive Office for Immigration Review] until March 2009 when they filed their
applications to adjust status.” In making this argument, the Kukalos have combined the
language of INA § 245(c)(2) and (k). Both provisions “are mutually referential
provisions that operate in the context of adjustment of status under section 245(a) of the
Act.” In re Serapio Felimon Alania-Martin, 25 I. & N. Dec. 231, 233 (BIA 2010) (order
sustaining appeal). But “[s]ection 245(k) does nothing more than create a limited
exception from the general prohibition in section 245(c)(2) that bars an alien who
engaged in unauthorized employment from adjusting status under section 245(a).” Id.
We will separate our discussion of these two provisions.

       Both parties cite an analogous published decision in which the BIA addressed
whether a pending asylum application can be considered a failure to maintain lawful
status for technical reasons under INA § 245(c)(2). In re L-K-, 23 I. & N. Dec. 677 (BIA
2004). The Kukalos contend that L-K- is an improper reading of the INA, but they cite
no cases to support this contention. Although we review questions of law de novo, we
must accord substantial deference to the BIA’s interpretations of the INA. Thus, as the
only case cited on the issue, we find L-K- particularly informative.

       In L-K-, the respondent, also a citizen of the Ukraine, entered the United States
as a nonimmigrant visitor. Id. at 678. Unlike the Kukalos, she filed an application for
asylum with DHS before the expiration of her visa. Id. The application remained
pending as her lawful status expired.       Id.   DHS referred the application to the
immigration court. Id. After her application for asylum was denied and during the
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pendency of her appeal, the respondent had been approved to receive a diversity visa,
so she submitted an application for an adjustment of status. Id. An immigration judge
granted adjustment, but the BIA reversed. Id. at 678–82. The BIA determined that it
was undisputed that the respondent was not in lawful immigration status and, thus,
reached the question of “whether her failure to maintain lawful status was for ‘technical’
reasons by virtue of the pendency of her asylum application that had been filed while she
was in nonimmigrant status.” Id. at 679 (citing INA § 245(c)(2), 8 U.S.C. § 1255(c)(2);
8 C.F.R. § 1245.1(d)(2)(ii)). The BIA held that “8 C.F.R. § 1245.1(d)(2)(ii) relates only
to technical violations of status due to ‘inaction of the [DHS].’ . . . Thus, once the DHS
has acted upon a pending asylum application, the ‘technical’ reasons for the violation
cease to exist, and the applicant may no longer be considered to be out of status for
technical reasons.” Id. at 681. The BIA also discussed what would constitute “action”
on the part of DHS, including when asylum officers approve, deny, refer, or dismiss the
asylum application. Id. at 680 (citing 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.14(b), (c); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.19).

       In L-K-, the BIA specifically noted that its “holding is narrow and limited to the
factual scenario at issue in this case,” specifically “situations in which an asylum
application was filed while the alien was in nonimmigrant status, the nonimmigrant
status subsequently expired, and the asylum application was referred to the Immigration
Court by the DHS prior to the time the alien applied for adjustment of status.” Id. at 682.
The only fact distinguishing the Kukalos’ case from this narrow holding—that the
Kukalos allowed their nonimmigrant status to expire before filing their asylum
application—is ultimately inconsequential. What is material is that DHS took an action
when it referred the Kukalos case to the Immigration Court in 2004. As the BIA held
in L-K-, this action by DHS precludes the Kukalos’ claim that their failure to maintain
lawful status was “for technical reasons.” Moreover, simply looking to the language of
subsection (c)(2), because the Kukalos allowed their visas to expire (before filing their
applications for asylum), they should not be eligible to adjust their status under
subsection (a). We find that the BIA in this case did not abuse its discretion in finding
that the Kukalos were unable to make a prima facie showing eligibility for adjustment
Nos. 09-3338/4289                  Kukalo, et al. v. Holder                        Page 13

of status under INA § 245(a) because they were precluded by their failure to maintain
status under § 245(c)(2).

        We must address the Kukalos’ claim under INA § 245(k) separately as L-K-
explicitly limited its reach to aliens subject only to INA § 245(c) restrictions. Subsection
(k) applies to aliens who are eligible to receive certain employment-based immigrant
visas. It states that those aliens “may adjust status pursuant to subsection (a) . . . and
notwithstanding subsection (c)(2) . . . if–(2) the alien, subsequent to such lawful
admission has not, for an aggregate period exceeding 180 days–(A) failed to maintain,
continuously, a lawful status.” INA § 245(k)(2)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1255(k)(2)(A). The
Kukalos maintain that because they filed their applications for asylum within this 180-
day limit, the time during which their asylum application was pending should not count
against them because this pendancy constitutes a “technical reason” for their failure to
maintain lawful status. Subsection (k) makes no mention of an exception for technical
reasons. Indeed this language is only used in subsection (c) of INA § 245. Presumably,
if this language was intended to apply to subsection (k) it would have been included in
the provision. Even if we excise the time of “inaction” by DHS (as is allowed under
subsection (c)), this would exclude only the time from which the Kukalos applied for
asylum in October 1994 until DHS referred them to the Immigration Court in July 2004.
That still leaves the short time between the expiration of their visas and their application
for asylum as well as the lengthier time from the Notice to Appear in 2004 until the
eventual application for adjustment in 2009. Thus, we find that the Kukalos have clearly
missed the 180-day mark.

        The Kukalos failed to establish that they maintained lawful status under either
INA § 245(c)(2) or (k) as required for an application for adjustment under INA § 245(a).
For that reason, we find that the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying the Kukalos’
motion to reopen as they were “unable to establish prima facie eligibility for adjustment
of status.”
Nos. 09-3338/4289               Kukalo, et al. v. Holder             Page 14

                                        IV.

      For the foregoing reasons, we deny the petitions for review.