Court Opinion

ID: 31827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 18:46:05+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:56.166989
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                  Fifth Circuit
                                                               F I L E D
                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                         FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                  June 23, 2003

                                                           Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                   Clerk
                             No. 02-60574
                           Summary Calendar

         BIPINKUMAR A. PATEL; HINABEN BIPINKUMAR PATEL,

                                      Petitioners,

                                versus

                 JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                      Respondent.

                         --------------------
                Petition for Review of an Order of the
                     Board of Immigration Appeals
                          BIA No. A93-069-334
                          BIA No. A93-069-335
                         --------------------

Before JONES, STEWART, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Bipinkumar Ambala Patel and Hinaben Bipinkumar Patel petition

this court for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”)

decision affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying the

Patels’ application for cancellation of removal pursuant to 8

U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1), as well as their request for voluntary

departure.     The Patels argue that the IJ denied their due process

rights when she did not permit them to introduce into evidence

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                           No. 02-60574
                                -2-

documents that would have shown their continuous presence in the

United States and that their children will suffer if they are

removed.

     This court lacks jurisdiction to review the merits of the

Patels’ petition for review because any argument by the Patels that

their children will suffer extreme hardship if they are removed is

subject to the discretion of the Attorney General.     8 U.S.C. §§

1229b(b) and 1252(a)(2)(B); Rodriguez v. Ashcroft, 253 F.3d 797,

799 (5th Cir. 2001); Moosa v. INS, 171 F.3d 994, 1012-13 (5th Cir.

1999).

     Notwithstanding the court’s lack of jurisdiction to review the

merits of the instant petition, the court retains jurisdiction to

review the Patels’ due process argument.   Balogun v. Ashcroft, 270

F.3d 274, 277-78 & 278 n.11 (5th Cir. 2001); Gonzalez-Torres v.

INS, 213 F.3d 899, 901 (5th Cir. 2000)(citing Kalaw v. INS, 133

F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir. 1997)). However, inasmuch as the omitted

documents do not establish their continual presence in the United

States, the Patels fail to carry their burden of establishing

prejudice by the purported error.   Anwar v. INS, 116 F.3d 140, 144

(5th Cir. 1997).

     The petition to review is DENIED.