Court Opinion

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Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

7-29-2008

Singh v. Atty Gen USA
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 06-5210

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Recommended Citation
"Singh v. Atty Gen USA" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 783.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2008/783

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                                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                      No. 06-5210

                                   HARPAL SINGH,
                                             Petitioner

                                           v.

                 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
                                                    Respondent

                       On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                           Board of Immigration Appeals
                                 BIA No. A75-978-989
                 (U.S. Immigration Judge: Honorable Henry S. Dogin)

                   Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                    May 5, 2008

      Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, BARRY and HARDIMAN, Circuit Judges.

                                  (Filed July 29, 2008)

                              OPINION OF THE COURT

SCIRICA, Chief Judge.

      Harpal Singh, a citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration

Appeals’ order denying his untimely motion to reopen. We will deny the petition.
                                               I.

         Singh entered the United States without inspection in early 1998 and subsequently

applied for asylum in August of 1998. After an interview at the New Jersey Asylum

Office, Singh’s case was referred to an Immigration Judge (IJ) in Newark, New Jersey for

a hearing to determine his eligibility for asylum. Singh hired attorney Pat B. Pitchayan to

represent him in court. In October of 1999, the IJ denied Singh’s application for asylum,

witholding of removal, protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture,

and request for voluntary departure. The IJ based the denial of Singh’s application on an

adverse credibility finding.

         Singh appealed the IJ’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in

November of 1999 with Pitchayan’s assistance. The BIA dismissed Singh’s appeal on

two distinct grounds. First, the BIA dismissed Singh’s appeal under 8 C.F.R. §

3.1(d)(2)(A) because he failed to identify the reasons for appeal and did not identify “why

the Immigration Judge’s denial of relief was wrong as a matter of law or discretion.”

Specifically, he failed to indicate what evidence in the record was not considered by the

IJ, and what part of the IJ’s decision should have been reversed. Second, the BIA

dismissed Singh’s appeal under 8 C.F.R. § 3.1(d)(2)(D) because Singh had indicated he

would file a separate brief, but failed to file a brief or to explain why he did not file a

brief.

                                               2
         Singh contends Pitchayan had promised to file the appellate brief but did not

follow through. Singh also contends he was not initially notified by Pitchayan of the

BIA’s dismissal of his appeal despite numerous attempts to follow up with Pitchayan’s

office. Singh contends he did not learn of the BIA’s decision from Pitchayan until about

2004.

         Subsequently, in April of 2006, with the assistance of new counsel, Singh filed an

untimely petition with the BIA to reopen his case, arguing he had ineffective assistance of

counsel during his appeal. On November 30, 2006, the BIA denied Singh’s motion to

reopen because it was filed after the ninety-day deadline established under 8 C.F.R. §

1003.2(c). The BIA additionally held that Singh’s motion was not eligible for equitable

tolling of the deadline because he failed to establish he diligently pursued his rights.

         In his petition for review, Singh argues he had ineffective assistance of counsel

during his appeal to the BIA. Singh also argues his due process rights were violated

because he has not had a full opportunity to present his case.

                                              II.

                                              A.

         “We review a final order of the BIA denying a motion to reopen for abuse of

discretion.” Mahmood v. Gonzales, 427 F.3d 248, 250 (3d Cir. 2005).1 This standard

applies to motions to reopen, “regardless of the underlying basis of the alien’s request [for

   1
       We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a).

                                               3
relief].” I.N.S. v. Doherty, 502 U.S. 314, 323 (1992). The BIA’s discretionary decisions

“will not be disturbed unless they are found to be arbitrary, irrational, or contrary to law.”

Guo v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 556, 562 (3d Cir. 2004).

       “[A] claim of ineffective assistance [of counsel], if properly established, could

constitute proper grounds for reopening an exclusion proceeding.” Lu v. Aschroft, 259
F.3d 127, 132 (3d Cir. 2001). The BIA has held:

       A motion to reopen or reconsider based upon a claim of ineffective
       assistance of counsel requires (1) that the motion be supported by an
       affidavit of the allegedly aggrieved respondent setting forth in detail the
       agreement that was entered into with counsel with respect to the actions to
       be taken and what representations counsel did or did not make to the
       respondent in this regard, (2) that counsel whose integrity or competence is
       being impugned be informed of the allegations leveled against him and be
       given an opportunity to respond, and (3) that the motion reflect whether a
       complaint has been filed with appropriate disciplinary authorities with
       respect to any violation of counsel's ethical or legal responsibilities, and if
       not, why not.

Matter of Lozada, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637, 637 (BIA 1988). “Under Lozada, to prevail on an

ineffective assistance claim, an alien must demonstrate not only that counsel’s assistance

was ineffective, but also that he was prejudiced by counsel’s poor performance.” Zheng

v. Gonzalez, 422 F.3d 98, 107 (3d Cir. 2005).

       Under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i), a motion to reopen generally must be filed

within ninety days of the entry of a final administrative order of removal. The time

limitation is not a jurisdictional requirement and is subject to equitable tolling. Borges v.

Gonzales, 402 F.3d 398, 406 (3d Cir. 2005). However, a petitioner must exercise

                                              4
“reasonable diligence in investigating and bringing [the] claims.” Robinson v. Johnson,

313 F.3d 128, 142 (3d Cir. 2002). We have explained that “[e]quitable tolling is an

extraordinary remedy which should be extended only sparingly.” Mahmood, 427 F.3d at

253.

                                               B.

       Singh failed to exercise diligence in investigating and pursuing his claim. Singh

waited nearly four years after the dismissal of his appeal to file his motion to reopen. As

the BIA noted in its decision, although Singh contends he was not aware of the dismissal

of his appeal until 2004, this does not account for the additional time he waited between

2004 and 2006 after releasing Pitchayan and before obtaining new counsel or

investigating the order. Cf. Borges, 402 F.3d at 407 (finding grounds for tolling based on

ineffective assistance of counsel when counsel offered a faulty explanation or instruction

each time petitioner might have become aware of a problem). He offers no explanation

for his inaction except lack of funds to obtain new counsel.

       Moreover, Singh admits that, “[a]t that time, [upon notice of BIA’s dismissal of

the appeal] I was at a loss of what to do. . . . I also was not sure what’s the relief I had at

that time.” He notes he was uncertain about the effect of his wife’s immigration status on

his case. In light of such uncertainties, reasonable diligence would require at least

investigating the dismissal of his appeal and its effect on Singh’s and his wife’s

immigration status. Because Singh failed to diligently investigate and pursue his claims,

                                               5
we need not reach the issue of whether Singh demonstrated ineffective assistance of

counsel. See Mahmood, 427 F.3d at 252 n.8. Additionally, we reject Singh’s contention

that the time limitation on his motion to reopen violated his due process rights.2

                                             III.

       Accordingly, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Singh’s motion to

reopen. For the foregoing reasons, we will deny Singh’s petition for review.

   2
    To the extent his due process argument implicates his ineffective assistance claim, as
discussed supra, the ineffective assistance claim is time-barred.

                                              6