Tuifagalele v. Lynch

633 F. App'x 634

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

Footnotes

•

*

Enele Ma’afu Tuifagalele petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA’s) February 22, 2013 decision denying his motion to reopen as untimely and unexcused by changed country conditions in Fiji. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(h). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252, and we grant the petition.

“We review denials of motions to reopen for abuse of discretion, and defer to the BIA’s exercise of discretion unless it acted arbitrarily, irrationally, or contrary to law.” Najmabadi v. Holder, 597 F.3d 983, 986 (9th Cir.2010) (citations omitted). The BIA abuses its discretion “when it fails to providé a reasoned explanation for its actions.” Tadevosyan v. Holder, 743 F.3d 1250, 1252-53 (9th Cir.2014) (citation omitted). The BIA must consider all “potentially dispositive testimony, and documentary evidence,” and if it fails to do so, its decision “cannot stand.” Cole v. Holder, 659 F.3d 762, 772 (9th Cir.2011). “[O]ur review is limited to the actual grounds relied upon by the BIA.” Najmabadi 597 F.3d at 986.

The BIA abused its discretion by failing to fully consider all of the evidence submitted by Tuifagalele in support of his motion to reopen. This evidence included Tuifa-galele’s declaration, the expert report of Dr. Steven Ratuva (“Ratuva Report”), a 2011 State Department Country Report, and letters from Loruama Tawawili and Jesoni Vitusagavulu. The BIA cryptically referenced the tab numbers at which this evidence appeared, but where, as here, there is “any indication that the BIA did not consider all of the evidence before it, a catchall phrase does not suffice.” Cole, 659 F.3d at 771-72.

The BIA did not address the Ratuva Report at all. It mischaracterized Tuifa-galele’s evidence as showing “general unrest,” and failing to demonstrate an individualized threat of persecution. However, the Ratuva Report demonstrated just that. Dr. Ratuva opined that, if Tuifagalele returned to Fiji, he faced an individualized threat of persecution because of his extensive military background, including experience with explosives; his opposition to the new regime; and his application for asylum in the United States. This report, fully considered, contains evidence of changed country conditions that materially affect Tuifagalele’s eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT relief, and may lead the BIA to grant his motion to reopen. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(e)(3)(ii); Toufighi v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 988, 996 (9th Cir.2008).

The BIA’s decision on a motion to reopen is ultimately within, its discretion. See Najmabadi 597 F.3d at 986. Here, the BIA did not properly exercise that discretion. We therefore grant the petition for review, and remand to the BIA so it may consider all of Tuifagalele’s evidence of changed country conditions.

PETITION GRANTED.

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