Zhao Lee v. Loretta E. Lynch

621 F. App'x 491

Opinions

MEMORANDUM

*

Petitioner Zhao Hsien Lee appeals the denial of his motion to reopen in absentia deportation proceedings. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) held that Lee’s motion was time- and number-barred under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2) because he could not establish changed country conditions. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252.

We are precluded from addressing Lee’s claim because the issue was finally decided in immigration proceedings that Lee initiated in New York for the same purpose, under a separate alien registration number. See Oyeniran v. Holder, 672 F.3d 800, 806 (9th Cir.2012) (holding that collateral estoppel applies in the context of immigration proceedings); see also B & B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Indus., Inc., — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 1293, 1302-04, 191 L.Ed.2d 222 (2015) (issue preclusion generally applies when the same issue is before a court and a federal administrative agency).

The issue — whether Lee produced material evidence of a change in country conditions so as to meet the requirements for reopening immigration proceedings under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c) — is identical in both proceedings because the BIA considered the same evidence in both cases. See Oyeniran, 672 F.3d at 806.

This issue was actually litigated and decided in the prior proceedings. See id. Further, the BIA’s decision became final after 30 days as a result of Lee’s failure to pursue an appeal of the June 20, 2012 decision to the Second Circuit. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1); see also Wehrli v. Cty. of Orange, 175 F.3d 692, 694 (9th Cir.1999) (stating that we accord preclu-sive effect to administrative proceedings “where judicial review of the administrative adjudication was available but unused”).

There was a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in New York, where Lee filed the same motion to reopen with the BIA and had the same opportunity to brief his claims. See Oyeniran, 672 F.3d at 806; see also Medina-Lara v. Holder, 771 F.3d 1106, 1118-19 (9th Cir.2014). Finally, the issue of whether Lee established a change in country conditions was necessary to decide the merits of his motion to reopen.

DISMISSED.

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