NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 10 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
JORGE GONZALEZ MORALES, No. 23-1942 Agency No. Petitioner, A202-064-830 v. MEMORANDUM*
PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted February 3, 2025** Phoenix, Arizona
Before: CLIFTON, BYBEE, and BADE, Circuit Judges. Partial Dissent by Judge BYBEE.
Jorge Gonzalez Morales petitions for review of the denial by the Board of
Immigration Appeals (BIA) of his applications for cancellation of removal and
voluntary departure. He also challenges the BIA’s denial of his motion for
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). administrative closure. Because this court lacks jurisdiction over his cancellation of
removal and voluntary departure claims, and because Gonzalez Morales failed to
demonstrate that the BIA abused its discretion when it denied his motion to
administratively close the case, his petition is denied.
1. The agency may exercise its discretion to grant a petitioner cancellation of
removal if, after balancing both adverse factors and “humane considerations,” it
determines that granting discretionary relief to the petitioner is in the “best
interests of the country.” Ridore v. Holder, 696 F.3d 907, 920 (9th Cir. 2012). This
court lacks jurisdiction to review discretionary decisions by the agency, but we can
review questions of law or constitutional claims, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D),
including “whether the [agency] considered relevant evidence in making [a
discretionary] decision,” Szonyi v. Barr, 942 F.3d 874, 896 (9th Cir. 2019). “[T]his
court generally presumes that the BIA thoroughly considers all relevant evidence
in the record.” Id. at 897. Gonzalez Morales has not overcome the presumption that
the evidence in his case was thoroughly considered.
The decision of the Immigration Judge (IJ) explicitly referred to one of the
three factors Petitioner argues was overlooked, his wife’s rheumatoid arthritis. Nor
can we conclude that the other two factors identified by Petitioner were
overlooked. The IJ recognized the emotional impact of separation on Petitioner’s
daughter before then noting that it “is no different than that suffered by other
2 23-1942 families having a loved one removed.” It also noted Petitioner’s “steady history of
employment” and his acquisition of “transferrable employment skills” as evidence
that he will likely find new employment. Pointing to a history of past employment
does not mean that the IJ ignored relevant evidence and assumed Petitioner would
continue to work as a window and door installer in Mexico. Instead, it suggests
that he had a good work history and could find another job in Mexico.
Because Petitioner fails to show that the agency overlooked relevant
evidence when making its discretionary decision, there is no colorable
constitutional issue or question of law that we have jurisdiction to review.
2. “In exercising discretion to grant or deny requests for voluntary departure,
[the agency] must weigh favorable and unfavorable factors by evaluating all of
them.” Zamorano v. Garland, 2 F.4th 1213, 1221 (9th Cir. 2021) (citation
omitted). As in cancellation of removal claims, one of the favorable factors a judge
may consider in voluntary departure claims is the hardship to the petitioner or his
family if relief is denied. Campos-Granillo v. I.N.S., 12 F.3d 849, 852 n.8 (9th Cir.
1993). Gonzalez Morales makes the same argument that he made for his
cancellation of removal claim: because the agency “erred in [its] hardship
determination,” his voluntary departure claim should be remanded. For reasons
outlined above, this argument fails, too. We lack jurisdiction to review the
3 23-1942 discretionary denial of Petitioner’s voluntary departure claim. 8 U.S.C. § 1229c;
see also Esquivel-Garcia v. Holder, 593 F.3d 1025, 1030 (9th Cir. 2010).
3. The BIA denied Petitioner’s motion for administrative closure of removal
proceedings pending USCIS adjudication of his VAWA (I-360) petition. We
review the denial of administrative closure for an abuse of discretion. See
Marquez-Reyes v. Garland, 36 F.4th 1195, 1208–09 (9th Cir. 2022). We conclude
that the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Petitioner’s motion.
The agency considers six non-exhaustive factors when determining whether
administrative closure is appropriate. Matter of Avetisyan, 25 I. & N. Dec. 688, 696
(BIA 2012).1 In his motion, Petitioner addressed each Avetisyan factor, but he did
so in a terse and perfunctory manner, limited to a single sentence for each factor.
The motion acknowledged that the government did not agree to closure. It noted
that the anticipated duration of the closure—and hence the delay in the
proceedings—was “unknown.” The motion summarily asserted that the “likelihood
of success” on the merits of Gonzalez Morales’s I-360 petition was “very likely”
because he had received a determination of “prima facie eligibility.” But he did not
provide a copy of his I-360 petition or explain the basis for that petition.
1 In Matter of Castro-Tum, 27 I. & N. Dec. 271 (BIA 2018), the BIA overruled Avetisayan, but “the Attorney General has since overruled Castro Tum and restored the Avetisyan standard.” Marquez-Reyes v. Garland, 36 F.4th 1195, 1209 (9th Cir. 2022).
4 23-1942 Additionally, Gonzalez Morales summarily asserted that “[t]he likely
outcome of the proceeding is termination if the I-360 is granted.” But again, he did
not explain why it was likely that the I-360 would be granted or why it would then
be likely that termination of removal proceedings would be granted. The presumed
result of a successful I-360 petition would be an opportunity to seek adjustment of
status, but that application required, among other things, the exercise of discretion
in his favor. Given that the IJ had already concluded that his applications for
cancellation of removal and voluntary departure should be denied because he did
not warrant favorable exercise of discretion, the failure to explain why Petitioner
would prevail was a notable omission.
The BIA’s explanation for its denial was brief—we might have benefitted
from a bit of elaboration—but it reflected the skeletal motion before it. The BIA
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 10 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
JORGE GONZALEZ MORALES, No. 23-1942 Agency No. Petitioner, A202-064-830 v. MEMORANDUM*
PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted February 3, 2025** Phoenix, Arizona
Before: CLIFTON, BYBEE, and BADE, Circuit Judges. Partial Dissent by Judge BYBEE.
Jorge Gonzalez Morales petitions for review of the denial by the Board of
Immigration Appeals (BIA) of his applications for cancellation of removal and
voluntary departure. He also challenges the BIA’s denial of his motion for
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). administrative closure. Because this court lacks jurisdiction over his cancellation of
removal and voluntary departure claims, and because Gonzalez Morales failed to
demonstrate that the BIA abused its discretion when it denied his motion to
administratively close the case, his petition is denied.
1. The agency may exercise its discretion to grant a petitioner cancellation of
removal if, after balancing both adverse factors and “humane considerations,” it
determines that granting discretionary relief to the petitioner is in the “best
interests of the country.” Ridore v. Holder, 696 F.3d 907, 920 (9th Cir. 2012). This
court lacks jurisdiction to review discretionary decisions by the agency, but we can
review questions of law or constitutional claims, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D),
including “whether the [agency] considered relevant evidence in making [a
discretionary] decision,” Szonyi v. Barr, 942 F.3d 874, 896 (9th Cir. 2019). “[T]his
court generally presumes that the BIA thoroughly considers all relevant evidence
in the record.” Id. at 897. Gonzalez Morales has not overcome the presumption that
the evidence in his case was thoroughly considered.
The decision of the Immigration Judge (IJ) explicitly referred to one of the
three factors Petitioner argues was overlooked, his wife’s rheumatoid arthritis. Nor
can we conclude that the other two factors identified by Petitioner were
overlooked. The IJ recognized the emotional impact of separation on Petitioner’s
daughter before then noting that it “is no different than that suffered by other
2 23-1942 families having a loved one removed.” It also noted Petitioner’s “steady history of
employment” and his acquisition of “transferrable employment skills” as evidence
that he will likely find new employment. Pointing to a history of past employment
does not mean that the IJ ignored relevant evidence and assumed Petitioner would
continue to work as a window and door installer in Mexico. Instead, it suggests
that he had a good work history and could find another job in Mexico.
Because Petitioner fails to show that the agency overlooked relevant
evidence when making its discretionary decision, there is no colorable
constitutional issue or question of law that we have jurisdiction to review.
2. “In exercising discretion to grant or deny requests for voluntary departure,
[the agency] must weigh favorable and unfavorable factors by evaluating all of
them.” Zamorano v. Garland, 2 F.4th 1213, 1221 (9th Cir. 2021) (citation
omitted). As in cancellation of removal claims, one of the favorable factors a judge
may consider in voluntary departure claims is the hardship to the petitioner or his
family if relief is denied. Campos-Granillo v. I.N.S., 12 F.3d 849, 852 n.8 (9th Cir.
1993). Gonzalez Morales makes the same argument that he made for his
cancellation of removal claim: because the agency “erred in [its] hardship
determination,” his voluntary departure claim should be remanded. For reasons
outlined above, this argument fails, too. We lack jurisdiction to review the
3 23-1942 discretionary denial of Petitioner’s voluntary departure claim. 8 U.S.C. § 1229c;
see also Esquivel-Garcia v. Holder, 593 F.3d 1025, 1030 (9th Cir. 2010).
3. The BIA denied Petitioner’s motion for administrative closure of removal
proceedings pending USCIS adjudication of his VAWA (I-360) petition. We
review the denial of administrative closure for an abuse of discretion. See
Marquez-Reyes v. Garland, 36 F.4th 1195, 1208–09 (9th Cir. 2022). We conclude
that the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Petitioner’s motion.
The agency considers six non-exhaustive factors when determining whether
administrative closure is appropriate. Matter of Avetisyan, 25 I. & N. Dec. 688, 696
(BIA 2012).1 In his motion, Petitioner addressed each Avetisyan factor, but he did
so in a terse and perfunctory manner, limited to a single sentence for each factor.
The motion acknowledged that the government did not agree to closure. It noted
that the anticipated duration of the closure—and hence the delay in the
proceedings—was “unknown.” The motion summarily asserted that the “likelihood
of success” on the merits of Gonzalez Morales’s I-360 petition was “very likely”
because he had received a determination of “prima facie eligibility.” But he did not
provide a copy of his I-360 petition or explain the basis for that petition.
1 In Matter of Castro-Tum, 27 I. & N. Dec. 271 (BIA 2018), the BIA overruled Avetisayan, but “the Attorney General has since overruled Castro Tum and restored the Avetisyan standard.” Marquez-Reyes v. Garland, 36 F.4th 1195, 1209 (9th Cir. 2022).
4 23-1942 Additionally, Gonzalez Morales summarily asserted that “[t]he likely
outcome of the proceeding is termination if the I-360 is granted.” But again, he did
not explain why it was likely that the I-360 would be granted or why it would then
be likely that termination of removal proceedings would be granted. The presumed
result of a successful I-360 petition would be an opportunity to seek adjustment of
status, but that application required, among other things, the exercise of discretion
in his favor. Given that the IJ had already concluded that his applications for
cancellation of removal and voluntary departure should be denied because he did
not warrant favorable exercise of discretion, the failure to explain why Petitioner
would prevail was a notable omission.
The BIA’s explanation for its denial was brief—we might have benefitted
from a bit of elaboration—but it reflected the skeletal motion before it. The BIA
specifically noted that the anticipated duration of closure was “unknown,” that the
I-360 petition had not yet been approved, and that, even were it approved,
Petitioner had not argued or established why the removal proceedings should be
terminated. We cannot conclude that the BIA abused its discretion in finding
Petitioner’s explanation lacking and denying the motion for administrative closure.
PETITION DENIED IN PART and DISMISSED IN PART.
5 23-1942 FILED Gonzalez-Morales v. Bondi, No. 23-1942 (Phoenix – February 3, 2024) FEB 10 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK BYBEE, Circuit Judge, dissenting in part: U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
I join the majority opinion except for Part 3, which concludes that the BIA did
not abuse its discretion by denying Jorge Gonzalez-Morales’s motion for
administrative closure of his removal proceedings.
Administrative closure “is a docket management tool that is used to
temporarily pause removal proceedings.” Matter of W-Y-U-, 27 I. & N. Dec. 17, 18
(BIA 2017) (citations omitted). “In general, administrative closure may be
appropriate to await an action or event that is relevant to immigration proceedings
but is outside the control of the parties or the court and may not occur for a significant
or undetermined period of time.” Matter of Avetisyan, 25 I. & N. Dec. 688, 692 (BIA
2012).
The BIA weighs six factors when a party requests administrative closure. Id.
at 696. One of these factors is “the ultimate outcome of removal proceedings,”
which may include “termination of the proceedings or entry of a removal order.” Id.
Here, Gonzalez-Morales argued that “the likely outcome of the proceedings is
termination if [his] I-360” self-petition under VAWA is granted. Gonzalez-Morales
attached USCIS’s Form I-797C “Notice of Action” indicating that the agency
received his application. Gonzalez-Morales also attached USCIS’s “Prima Facie
Determination” that his “petition has been reviewed and found to establish a prima
1 facie case for classification under the self-petitioning provisions of the Violence
Against Women Act.” Finally, Gonzalez-Morales cited Matter of Avetisyan, which
describes the standard for administrative closure. See id. But the BIA denied
Gonzalez-Morales’s motion, in part because it found that he had “not argued or
established any basis for termination of proceedings, even assuming his petition is
approved.”
To the extent that the BIA suggested that Gonzalez-Morales never “argued”
any basis for termination of his removal proceedings, it abused its discretion. See
Vitug v. Holder, 723 F.3d 1056, 1064 (9th Cir. 2013) (“[T]he BIA abuses its
discretion where it ignores arguments or evidence.”). Gonzalez-Morales argued that
“termination” was “likely” if his I-360 VAWA self-petition were granted, attached
evidence of that pending petition, and cited to Matter of Avetisyan, which determined
that administrative closure was “appropriate” where a noncitizen awaited
adjudication of a visa petition that, if adjudicated in her favor, would give her the
“ability” to “apply for adjustment of status,” which, if granted, would “warrant
termination of [her] proceedings.” See 25 I. & N. at 692, 697. I would find that
Gonzalez-Morales “argued” a “basis for termination.”
To the extent that the BIA made an unreasoned determination Gonzalez-
Morales’s removal proceedings could not be terminated, the BIA abused its
discretion. See Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005) (We have
2 “long held that the BIA abuses its discretion when it fails to provide a reasoned
explanation for its actions.”). Here, as the VAWA self-petitioning parent of a United
States citizen, Gonzalez-Morales would be immediately eligible to apply for
adjustment of status upon approval of his I-360. See Matter of Avetisyan, 25 I. & N.
at 697. Yet the BIA indicated, without explanation, that Gonzalez-Morales’s
“circumstances” did not permit termination, even though USCIS formally
determined that he had a prima facie case for relief under VAWA. By failing to
explain why termination would be unavailable for Gonzalez-Morales, the BIA
deprived us of the opportunity to meaningfully determine whether it correctly
applied the law.
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision denying Gonzalez-
Morales’s petition to review the BIA’s decision to decline Gonzalez-Morales’s
motion for administrative closure. I would grant the petition for review in part,
vacate the BIA’s denial of Gonzalez-Morales’s motion for administrative closure,
and remand to the BIA for further consideration.