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finding that the INS took "additional reasonable steps" to notify alien of the denial of his application for legalization
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No. 06-71701.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed October 20, 2010.
Julian Rendon, a.k.a. Julian Nunez-Rendon; a.k.a. Julian Nunez Rendon, Tucson, AZ, pro se.
Shahrzad Baghai, William C. Erb, Jr., OIL, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, District Director, Office of the District Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Phoenix, AZ, Ronald E. Lefevre, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A091-427-137.
Before: HUG, RYMER and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Julian Rendon, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the decision by the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Legalization Appeals Unit (LAU). The LAU dismissed his appeal, of the Legalization Director's denial of his application for legalization under the Special Agricultural Workers (SAW) program, as untimely. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 and deny the petition for review.
The LAU's finding was neither an abuse of discretion nor directly contrary to the facts in the record taken as a whole. Rendon did not provide any evidence that supported his claim that he did not receive notice of the denial of his SAW application. A conclusory statement that one did not receive notice is not sufficient to overcome a presumption of proper delivery in order to assert a due process claim. See Sembiring v. Gonzales, 499 F.3d 981, 989-90 (9th Cir. 2007). The INS took the necessary "additional reasonable steps" to locate Rendon's address after the August 14, 1992 Notice of Intent to Deny (sent by certified mail to Rendon's address of record) was returned unclaimed. See Jones v. Flowers, 547 U.S. 220, 234, 126 S.Ct. 1708, 164 L.Ed.2d 415 (2006). The INS then sent a second Notice of Intent to Deny to the last address provided by Rendon (in correspondence to the INS). Although the second notice was also returned unclaimed, the Notice of Decision mailed to the same address was not returned. Thus, it is presumed that it was received. See Busquets-Ivars v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 1008, 1009 (9th Cir. 2003) ("[I]t is presumed that a properly-addressed piece of mail placed in the care of the Postal Service has been delivered." (quoting Mulder v. Comm'r, 855 F.2d 208, 212 (5th Cir. 1988)). Therefore, the LAU did not abuse its discretion in finding the appeal untimely.
Nor does Rendon show that the Douglas Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) office was actually aware of his application to adjust status. Cf. Manjiyani v. Ashcroft, 343 F.3d 1018, 1020 (9th Cir. 2003).