Tjhai v. Mukasey

271 F. App'x 663

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: March 26, 2008
• Docket: No. 05-71377
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

**

Sutono Tjhai, a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order summarily affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his motion to reopen removal proceedings conducted in ab-sentia. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen, Salta v. INS, 314 F.3d 1076, 1078 (9th Cir.2002), and we review de novo claims of due process violations, Vasquez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 1105, 1107 (9th Cir. 2003). We deny the petition for review.

The IJ did not abuse his discretion in denying Tjhai’s motion to reopen because it is undisputed that the hearing notice was mailed to his address of record and Tjhai presented no evidence that its return to the immigration court was the result of improper delivery by the postal service. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229(c) (notice by mail to most recent address provided by alien sufficient); cf. Salta, 314 F.3d at 1079.

Moreover, the IJ did not abuse his discretion in denying Tjhai’s motion to reopen for failure to establish “exceptional circumstances.” See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(l) (“exceptional circumstances” include those beyond the alien’s control such as the serious illness of the alien, or the death or serious illness of an immediate relative, but not less compelling circumstances).

It follows that the denial of Tjhai’s motion to reopen did not violate due process. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir.2000) (requiring error for a due process violation).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

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