MATEO MATEO v. SESSIONS III (2018)

MEMORANDUM **

Andres Mateo-Mateo, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s order denying his motion to reopen removal proceedings. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a motion to reopen, and review de novo questions of law, including claims of due process violations due to ineffective assistance. Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 791-92 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny the petition for review.

The agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Mateo-Mateo’s motion to reopen due to lack of prejudice from his prior counsel’s performance, where the evidence submitted with the motion did not show plausible grounds for any relief. See Martinez-Hernandez v. Holder, 778 F.3d 1086, 1088 (9th Cir. 2015) (to establish prejudice resulting from ineffective assistance of counsel, petitioner must show, at a minimum, that the asserted ground for relief is at least plausible).

In light of our disposition, we do not reach Mateo-Mateo’s remaining contentions regarding prior counsel’s performance and compliance with the procedural requirements of Matter of Lozada, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637 (BIA 1988). See Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 538 (9th Cir. 2004) (courts and agencies are not required to decide issues unnecessary to the results they reach).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.