Diallo v. Garland ( 2023 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS AUG 23 2023
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
IBRAHIM DIALLO, No. 22-1482
Agency No.
Petitioner, A205-560-809
v.
MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted August 21, 2023**
Portland, Oregon
Before: BENNETT, VANDYKE, and H.A. THOMAS, Circuit Judges.
Ibrahim Diallo, a citizen of Mali, petitions for review of an order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denying as untimely his motion to reopen
proceedings. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We generally review
the denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion. B.R. v. Garland, 26
*
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).
F.4th 827, 835 (9th Cir. 2022). Questions of law, however, are reviewed de
novo. Id.A noncitizen subject to a final order of removal “may file one motion to
reopen proceedings.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A). To be timely, a motion to
reopen must be “filed within 90 days of the date of entry of a final
administrative order of removal.” Id. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i). Diallo did not file his
motion to reopen within 90 days. He nevertheless argues that we may consider
his motion because (1) the 90-day deadline should be equitably tolled due to
ineffective assistance of prior counsel and (2) the changed country conditions
exception to the 90-day deadline applies, see id. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii).
1. The BIA correctly held that Diallo had not shown ineffective
assistance of prior counsel and therefore was not entitled to equitable tolling. “A
claim that counsel’s ineffectiveness in immigration proceedings violated due
process requires a showing of inadequate performance and prejudice.” Guan v.
Barr, 925 F.3d 1022, 1033 (9th Cir. 2019) (cleaned up). To demonstrate
prejudice, Diallo must show that prior counsel’s performance “may have
affected the outcome of the proceedings” and that he has a plausible claim for
relief. Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 794 (9th Cir. 2005) (citation
omitted). We agree with the BIA’s conclusion that Diallo “has not demonstrated
that he was prejudiced.”
Diallo suggests that his prior counsel’s failure to submit a psychological
evaluation about Diallo’s memory problems could have affected the outcome of
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the proceedings because the evaluation may have prevented the immigration
judge’s (IJ) adverse credibility determination. But the IJ and BIA determined
that Diallo was not eligible for relief independently of the adverse credibility
determination. Diallo additionally contends that prior counsel should have
submitted a country conditions expert report, evidence about his Fulani
ethnicity, and a timely motion to reopen. But he does not show a plausible claim
for relief even with his newly submitted evidence. Diallo does not point to any
past persecution he experienced in Mali. And the evidence—including Diallo’s
failure to identify any harm he suffered on the bases of his ethnicity, stance
against female genital mutilation, or practice of Sant Mat—does not show that
Diallo could plausibly demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution.1
See Sharma v. Garland, 9 F.4th 1052, 1060 (9th Cir. 2021) (“Persecution . . . is
an extreme concept that means something considerably more than
discrimination or harassment.” (cleaned up)).
2. The BIA did not abuse its discretion when it held that Diallo failed
to show materially changed country conditions in Mali. To prevail on an
untimely motion to reopen removal proceedings on the theory that country
conditions have changed, Diallo must “(1) produce evidence that conditions
1
As such, Diallo does not meet the heightened “clear probability” of future
persecution required for withholding of removal relief. Garcia v. Holder, 749
F.3d 785, 791 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation omitted). Similarly, Diallo does not meet
the “more likely than not” to be tortured standard required for Convention
Against Torture relief, as torture is more severe than persecution. Davila v.
Barr, 968 F.3d 1136, 1144 (9th Cir. 2020).
3 22-1482
have changed in [Mali]; (2) demonstrate that the evidence is material; (3) show
that the evidence was not available and would not have been discovered or
presented at the previous hearings; and (4) demonstrate []prima facie eligibility
for the relief sought.” Sarkar v. Garland, 39 F.4th 611, 621 (9th Cir. 2022)
(quoting Hernandez-Ortiz v. Garland, 32 F.4th 794, 804 (9th Cir. 2022)).
Because Diallo has not shown that he could make out a plausible claim of
relief, he has also failed to demonstrate prima facie eligibility for such relief.
Additionally, Diallo has not demonstrated that any changed conditions are
material; the evidence he introduced—including a declaration, psychological
evaluation, expert report, organizational reports, and news articles—does not
describe any changed country conditions with “individualized relevancy.” Id. at
622 (quoting Najmabadi v. Holder, 597 F.3d 983, 989 (9th Cir. 2010)). As such,
Diallo has not met his burden of showing that any changed conditions result in a
“predicament [that] is appreciably different from the dangers faced by [his]
fellow citizens.” Id. at 622 (second alteration in original) (quoting Najmabadi,
597 F.3d at 990).
PETITION DENIED.2
2
We also deny as moot Diallo’s motion for a stay of removal pending appeal.
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