Surjit Singh v. Eric Holder, Jr.

583 F. App'x 678

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: July 16, 2014
• Docket: 12-70850, 12-71656, 12-72524, 12-73439
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

1. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) had jurisdiction to adjudicate Singh’s September 2011 and May 2012 motions to reopen. Singh filed his one allowed motion to reopen under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5). This motion was denied by the immigration judge and, after appeal, dismissed on the merits by the BIA. Singh then filed a petition for review of the BIA’s dismissal to this court, which we denied. See Singh v. Holder, No. 08-70414, 2009 WL 567975 (9th Cir. March 6, 2009). Thus, the BIA issued the last decision on the merits in that case. Therefore, jurisdiction properly was vested with the BIA for Singh’s second and third motions to reopen based on ineffective assistance of counsel and changed country conditions in India. See Euceda Hernandez v. Holder, 738 F.3d 1099, 1101-02 (9th Cir.2013).

2. The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Singh’s motions to reopen and motions for reconsideration on ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Even assuming that Singh did not have to comply with Matter of Lozada, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637 (BIA 1988), he did not establish due diligence in filing his claim after discovering his prior counsel’s fraud. See Avagyan v. Holder, 646 F.3d 672, 679 (9th Cir.2011).

The BIA also did not abuse its discretion in denying Singh’s motion to reopen and to reconsider based on changed country conditions in India. The record does not compel a finding that country conditions materially changed since Singh’s previous proceeding in June 2006. See Toufighi v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 988, 996 (9th Cir.2008).

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.