David Zepeda-Ruiz v. Eric Holder, Jr.

535 F. App'x 593

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: July 31, 2013
• Docket: 12-70680
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

David Zepeda-Ruiz, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) denying his motion to reopen. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. Reviewing for abuse of discretion the BIA’s denial of the motion to reopen, Granados-Oseguera v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 1011, 1014 (9th Cir.2008) (per curiam), we deny the petition for review.

The BIA did not abuse its discretion by denying Zepeda-Ruiz’s motion to reopen due to his lack of prima facie eligibility for relief from removal because his failure to depart the United States in accordance with his grant of voluntary departure rendered him statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(d)(1); see also Granados-Oseguera, 546 F.3d at 1015 (“[Where a] motion to reopen [i]s filed after the period for voluntary departure ha[s] elapsed ..., the BIA [i]s not simply correct to deny the motion; it [i]s compelled to do so by the operation of 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(d)(1).”). Our case law forecloses Zepeda-Ruiz’s contention that his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel surmounts the voluntary-departure bar. See Granados-Oseguera, 546 F.3d at 1016 (“Even assuming ... ineffective assistance of counsel, the statutory bars on relief would nonetheless control. ...”).

Zepeda-Ruiz’s contentions regarding equitable tolling and continuous physical presence fall beyond the scope of our review. See Andia v. Ashcroft, 359 F.3d 1181, 1184 (9th Cir.2004) (per curiam) (“In reviewing the decision of the BIA, we consider only the grounds relied upon by that agency.”).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.