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PUBLICATION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"JUAN ANTONIO PEREZ-GARCIA,","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"Petitioner,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"TODD BLANCHE, Attorney","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"General,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Respondent.","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"No. 24-1092","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"Agency No.","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"A215-881-702","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"On Petition for Review of an Order of the","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Board of Immigration Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"Argued and Submitted September 17, 2025","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"Phoenix, Arizona","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Filed September 25, 2026","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"Before: Daniel P. Collins, Salvador Mendoza, Jr., and","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"Roopali H. Desai, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"Opinion by Judge Desai;","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"Concurrence by Judge Mendoza, Jr.;","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"Partial Concurrence and Partial Dissent by Judge Collins","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"2 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"SUMMARY*","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"Immigration","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"Granting in part and denying in part Juan Antonio Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"Garcia’s petition for review of a decision of the Board of","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"Immigration Appeals, the panel held that the BIA legally","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"erred by failing to consider evidence that he paid his","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"voluntary departure bond.","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"When Perez-Garcia appealed the denial of cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"of removal to the BIA, he also submitted a receipt for his","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"voluntary departure bond payment. However, in declining","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"to reinstate Perez-Garcia’s voluntary departure period, the","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"BIA stated that the record did not reflect payment of the","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"bond. Although judicial review of the denial of voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"departure is limited by statute, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1252(a)(2)(B)(i)","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"& 1229c(f), the court has jurisdiction to review","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"“constitutional claims or questions of law,” 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"§ 1252(a)(2)(D). The BIA’s failure to consider the bond","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"payment receipt—the only evidence on a dispositive issue—","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"is the type of legal error this court has long recognized as","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"requiring remand.","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"Despite conceding in its briefing that remand was","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"warranted because the BIA overlooked the proof of","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"payment, the government argued at oral argument that","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"whether the BIA failed to consider record evidence was an","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"unreviewable fact question under Patel v. Garland, 596 U.S.","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"328 (2022). That is not accurate because the petitioner in","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"Patel challenged quintessential factual determinations about","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"* This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader.","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 3","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"his credibility and subjective intent but, in contrast, Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"Garcia challenged the BIA’s failure to consider any evidence","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"at all. This inquiry does not require second-guessing factual","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"findings.","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"The panel remanded for the BIA to consider the record","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"evidence and decide whether to reinstate Perez-Garcia’s","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"voluntary departure period.","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"In a separately filed memorandum disposition, the panel","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"denied the petition as to Perez-Garcia’s cancellation of","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"removal claim.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"Concurring, Judge Mendoza wrote separately to further","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"address the government’s extraordinary position that if an","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"agency entirely fails to consider dispositive and highly","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"relevant evidence in an application for discretionary relief,","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"the noncitizen is simply out of luck and left with no recourse","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"from this court. Although neither party disputed that Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"Garcia properly paid his bond or that evidence of his","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"payment was properly in the record, the BIA concluded that","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"there was no evidence of this payment. Under this court’s","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"case law, this egregious error required remand, and the","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"Supreme Court’s precedent did not require a different","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"conclusion.","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"Concurring part and dissenting in part, Judge Collins","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"agreed with the majority as to cancellation of removal, but","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"he would dismiss the petition for review as to voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"departure for lack of jurisdiction. Because two provisions of","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"law strip this court of jurisdiction to review denials of","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"voluntary departure, see 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(f), 1252(a)(2)(B),","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"the central question was whether the BIA’s erroneous","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"conclusion that Perez-Garcia had not posted his bond","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"involved a “constitutional claim[] or question[] of law,” so","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"as to fall within that exception to the jurisdiction-stripping","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"4 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"statutes. Id. § 1252(a)(2)(D). The BIA’s error here was a","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"factual one, not a legal one. The BIA correctly identified","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"and recited the applicable legal rule, which required Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"Garcia to post a $500 bond in accordance with the IJ’s","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"order. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(b)(3); 8 C.F.R.","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"§ 1240.26(c)(3)(i). The BIA simply misapprehended the","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"facts and mistakenly concluded that Perez-Garcia had not","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"posted the bond. Under Patel, that factual error is","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"unreviewable. The majority’s contrary view that the BIA","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"committed the legal error of “ignor[ing] key evidence”","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"effectively treats all obvious factual errors as legal","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"errors. Under this view, Patel is a dead letter in this circuit.","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"COUNSEL","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"Christopher J. Stender (argued), Federal Immigration","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"Counselors AZ PC, Phoenix, Arizona, for Petitioner.","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"Nancy D. Pham (argued) and Robert D. Tennyson Jr., Trial","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"Attorneys; Sabatino F. Leo, Assistant Director; Office of","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"Immigration Litigation; Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"Assistant Attorney General; Civil Division, United States","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; for Respondent.","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 5","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"DESAI, Circuit Judge:","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"An immigration judge (“IJ”) denied petitioner Juan","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"Antonio Perez-Garcia’s application for cancellation of","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"removal but granted his request for voluntary departure. The","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"IJ required Perez-Garcia to pay a $500 voluntary departure","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"bond, which he paid the next day. Perez-Garcia appealed the","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"denial of cancellation of removal to the Board of","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) and timely submitted proof of","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"payment of the voluntary departure bond. The BIA","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"dismissed the appeal. It also declined to reinstate the","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"voluntary departure period because the record “d[id] not","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"reflect” that Perez-Garcia submitted proof that he paid the","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"bond. In his petition to this court, Perez-Garcia argues that","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"the BIA’s failure to consider his proof of payment requires","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"remand. We agree and grant the petition in part.1","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"Background","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia, a Mexican citizen, entered the United","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"States without inspection in 2000. In 2019, the Department","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"of Homeland Security commenced removal proceedings","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"against him. He admitted the factual allegations in his Notice","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"to Appear and conceded removability.","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"He applied for cancellation of removal and, alternatively,","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"requested voluntary departure. 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1). He","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"submitted documentary evidence in support of both requests,","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"and the IJ held a hearing. Perez-Garcia testified that he","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"would “follow the [IJ’s] instructions” and timely depart if","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"1 In a separately filed memorandum disposition, we deny the petition as","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"to Perez-Garcia’s cancellation of removal claim.","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"6 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"given “an opportunity to leave the country on [his] own,” he","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"had “sufficient funds” to return to Mexico, and he could pay","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"a voluntary departure bond.","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"On November 14, 2019, the IJ denied Perez-Garcia’s","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"application for cancellation of removal but granted his","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"request for post-conclusion voluntary departure. 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"§ 1229c(b)(1). The IJ imposed two conditions on the grant","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"of voluntary departure: Perez-Garcia must (1) post a $500","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"bond within five business days and (2) depart the United","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"States within 60 days. 8 C.F.R § 1240.26(c)(3), (e). The IJ","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"thus held that, if Perez-Garcia did not meet these voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"departure conditions, “an alternate order of removal to","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"Mexico [would] be entered.” The IJ also advised Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"Garcia that, if he chose to appeal to the BIA, the BIA would","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"not reinstate the voluntary departure period unless he","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"submits proof of payment of the bond within 30 days of","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"filing the appeal. See 8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(c)(3)(ii). Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"Garcia paid the bond the next day.","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"On December 6, 2019, Perez-Garcia timely appealed the","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"IJ’s denial of cancellation of removal to the BIA. The","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"documents he filed with his notice of appeal included a","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"receipt from DHS acknowledging that Perez-Garcia paid the","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"$500 voluntary departure bond on November 15, 2019. The","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"BIA acknowledged receipt of these documents.","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"The BIA dismissed Perez-Garcia’s appeal. Because the","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"BIA filed its decision more than 60 days after the IJ’s","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"decision, Perez-Garcia had permission to voluntarily depart","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"only if the BIA reinstated the voluntary departure period.","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"The BIA declined to do so because voluntary departure was","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"“conditioned upon the posting of $500.00 bond,” and the","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"record “d[id] not reflect that [Perez-Garcia] submitted timely","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"proof of having paid that bond.” The BIA thus ordered","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 7","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia removed “pursuant to the Immigration Judge’s","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"alternate order.”","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"Standard of Review","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"We review de novo questions of law, including whether","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"the BIA failed to consider evidence. See Flores Molina v.","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"Garland, 37 F.4th 626, 632 (9th Cir. 2022).","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"Analysis","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"I. We have jurisdiction to review legal questions in","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"petitions for review challenging the denial of","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"voluntary departure.","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"At the conclusion of a removal proceeding, an IJ may","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"allow a noncitizen who meets certain eligibility criteria to","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"voluntarily depart at his own expense “in lieu of removal.”","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(b)(1); 8 C.F.R § 1240.26(c)(1). If the","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"IJ grants voluntary departure, the noncitizen must post a","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"voluntary departure bond within five business days, depart","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"within a certain period, and comply with any other","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"conditions the IJ imposes. See 8 C.F.R § 1240.26(c)(3). If a","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"noncitizen “who has been granted voluntary departure”","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"appeals to the BIA, he must “submit sufficient proof of","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"having posted the required voluntary departure bond” within","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"30 days of filing the appeal. 8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(c)(3)(ii). If","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"the noncitizen does not submit timely proof of payment, “the","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"[BIA] will not reinstate the period of voluntary departure in","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"its final order.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"Our jurisdiction is limited in cases challenging the denial","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"of voluntary departure. Before the Real ID Act of 2005, two","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"statutes barred our review of voluntary departure decisions.","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"Under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i), courts lack jurisdiction","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"to review denials of “discretionary” relief, including","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"voluntary departure. And under 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(f), courts","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"8 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"lack jurisdiction over appeals challenging the denial of a","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"request for post-conclusion voluntary departure. But the","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"Real ID Act restored this court’s jurisdiction to review","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"“constitutional claims or questions of law” raised in a","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"petition for review filed “in accordance with this section.” 8","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D).2 Thus, neither of the jurisdiction-","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"stripping statutes apply if Perez-Garcia asks us to review a","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"legal error. See Wilkinson v. Garland, 601 U.S. 209, 218","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"(2024); Corro-Barragan v. Holder, 718 F.3d 1174, 1177","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"(9th Cir. 2013).","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"II. The BIA made a legal error by ignoring dispositive","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"evidence.","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia challenges the BIA’s decision declining to","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"reinstate his voluntary departure period on the ground that","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"he failed to submit proof that he paid the bond. He contends","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"that this was legal error because the BIA ignored the only","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"piece of relevant evidence in the record: the proof of","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"payment he filed with the BIA. We agree.","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"This court has long held that the BIA’s failure to consider","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"“highly probative” or “potentially dispositive” evidence is","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"legal error that “cannot stand.” Flores Molina v. Garland, 37","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"F.4th 626, 632, 638 (9th Cir. 2022) (quoting Cole v. Holder,","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"659 F.3d 762, 772 (9th Cir. 2011)). Other circuits have held","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"2 A petition for review filed “in accordance with” section 1252 seeks","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"“review of a final order of removal.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1). Perez-Garcia","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"plainly seeks review of a final order of removal. The BIA ordered Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"Garcia removed under the IJ’s “alternate order of removal” because it","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"declined to reinstate the voluntary departure period. That is, the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"refusal to reinstate voluntary departure “affect[ed] the validity of the","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"final order of removal” and thus “merge[d] into the final order of removal","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"for purposes of judicial review.” See Nasrallah v. Barr, 590 U.S. 573,","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"582 (2020).","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 9","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"the same. See Contreras v. Bondi, 134 F.4th 12, 20 (1st Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"2025) (“A BIA decision that turns a blind eye to salient facts","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"or completely overlooks critical evidence is erroneous as a","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"matter of law.” (citation modified)); Paucar v. Garland, 84","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"F.4th 71, 84 (2d Cir. 2023) (noting that the BIA “may","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"commit an error of law if important facts have been totally","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"overlooked” (quoting Doe v. Sessions, 886 F.3d 203, 211 (2d","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"Cir. 2018)); see also Cortes v. Garland, 105 F.4th 124, 133,","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"137 (4th Cir. 2024) (concluding that the agency made a legal","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"error when it “ignored” key evidence).","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"In the voluntary departure context, we have likewise held","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"that “whether the BIA and IJ failed to consider the","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"appropriate factors or relied on improper evidence” is a","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"question of law. Zamorano v. Garland, 2 F.4th 1213, 1221","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"(9th Cir. 2021) (citation modified). And when the agency","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"fails to consider any relevant favorable factors supporting","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"the petitioner’s request for voluntary departure, “we","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"generally vacate and remand.” Id. (citing Campos-Granillo","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"v. I.N.S., 12 F.3d 849, 853 (9th Cir. 1993)).3","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"The same principles apply here. There is no dispute that","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"the BIA failed to consider the bond payment receipt Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"Garcia filed with his notice of appeal to the BIA. In fact, the","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"BIA overlooked this document in the record, which is made","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"clear by its statement that the record “does not reflect” timely","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"proof of payment. Contrary to the dissent’s suggestion, this","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"3 Our dissenting colleague points out that Flores Molina involved","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"“reviewable asylum eligibility determinations.” Dissent at 26. But we","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"have held in the voluntary departure context that the agency makes a","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"legal error when it ignores material evidence. See Zamorano, 2 F.4th at","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"1221. And our sister circuits have applied this same principle to other","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"discretionary claims subject to the jurisdictional bar, such as cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"of removal. E.g., Contreras, 134 F.4th at 20; Paucar, 84 F.4th at 84;","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"Cortes, 105 F.4th at 132–33.","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"10 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"was not a “factual determination.” Dissent at 24, 27–28. It","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"was a failure to consider evidence. What’s more, the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"failure to consider the proof of bond payment was","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"dispositive of Perez-Garcia’s voluntary departure request.","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"Under 8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(c)(3)(ii), the BIA “will not","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"reinstate the period of voluntary departure” if the noncitizen","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"fails to submit proof of payment of his bond. And that is the","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"only ground on which the BIA relied. The BIA cannot “turn","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"a blind eye” to the only relevant evidence on a dispositive","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"issue. Contreras, 134 F.4th at 20 (citation modified).","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"Despite conceding in its answering brief that remand is","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"warranted because the BIA overlooked Perez-Garcia’s proof","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"of payment, the government changed course at oral","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"argument. Counsel for the government argued that whether","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia filed proof of payment is a fact question we","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"lack jurisdiction to review under Patel v. Garland, 596 U.S.","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"328 (2022). Not so. In Patel, the Supreme Court held that","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"courts lack jurisdiction to review factual findings underlying","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"denials of discretionary relief. See id. at 340. There, the","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"petitioner challenged the IJ’s findings about his credibility","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"and his subjective intent—quintessential factual","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"determinations that involved weighing “conflicting","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"evidence” and exercising “judgment” about whether","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"petitioner was “evasive and untrustworthy.” See id. at 335,","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"341; see also Wilkinson, 601 U.S. at 220 (explaining that the","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"factual determinations in Patel involved “whether petitioner","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"had testified credibly and whether he had subjectively","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"intended to misrepresent himself”). In contrast here, Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"Garcia challenges the BIA’s failure to consider any evidence","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"at all. “[T]his inquiry does not require us to second-guess the","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"[agency’s] factual findings.” Cortes, 105 F.4th at 130.","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"The dissent insists that we are “treating all obvious","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"factual errors as legal errors.” Dissent at 27 n.6. That is not","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 11","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"our holding. An “obvious” factual error is still a factual error.","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"See Patel, 596 U.S. at 334, 339. But failing to consider","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"critical evidence is legal error. If we were to adopt the","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"dissent’s position, the agency could completely abdicate its","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"role in cases involving the jurisdictional bar, refuse to","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"consider any evidence in the record, and simply conclude","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"that a petitioner failed to submit evidence. In the dissent’s","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"view, that would be an unreviewable “factual","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"determination.” We reject this absurd result.","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"In short, the BIA legally erred by failing to consider","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia’s proof of payment of his voluntary departure","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"bond.","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"Conclusion","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"We GRANT the petition for review in part and","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"REMAND for the BIA to consider the evidence in the record","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"and reconsider whether to reinstate Perez-Garcia’s voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"departure period.","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"MENDOZA, JR., Circuit Judge, concurring:","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"I agree fully with Judge Desai’s Opinion, which grants","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"the petition in part and remands to the BIA for the limited","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"purpose of reconsidering whether to reinstate Perez-Garcia’s","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"voluntary departure period. But I write separately because","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"the government’s extraordinary assertions regarding this","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"court’s jurisdiction to review legal errors in discretionary","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"relief decisions demand additional discussion.","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"In its answering brief, the government originally","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"conceded that limited remand was appropriate to allow the","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"BIA to address its failure to consider the evidence of Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"Garcia’s payment of his voluntary departure bond. Yet, at","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"12 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"oral argument the Government took the extraordinary","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"position that this court lacked jurisdiction to review the","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"BIA’s voluntary departure denial entirely. Putting aside the","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"two-facedness of the government’s cynical maneuvering, it","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"is worth taking its arguments to their full logical conclusion.","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"Essentially, the government’s position is that if an agency","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"entirely fails to consider dispositive and highly relevant","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"evidence in an application for discretionary relief, the","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"noncitizen is simply out of luck and left with no recourse","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"from this court. That is wrong. The government’s position","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"flies in the face of both this court and the Supreme Court’s","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"precedent.","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"“Although administrative agencies have great latitude in","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"exercising their discretion to grant or deny requests for","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"voluntary departure, such discretion does not ‘strip the","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"inquiry of all guideposts.’” See Campos-Granillo v. I.N.S.,","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"12 F.3d 849, 852 (9th Cir. 1993) (quoting Mabugat v. INS,","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"937 F.2d 426, 432 (9th Cir.1991)), as amended (Feb. 16,","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"1994). Our precedent is clear that an agency’s failure to","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"consider highly probative or dispositive evidence—","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"including when reviewing applications for discretionary","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"relief—constitutes legal error that necessitates remand. See","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"Flores Molina v. Garland, 37 F.4th 626, 632 (9th Cir. 2022);","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"Zamorano v. Garland, 2 F.4th 1213, 1221–22 (9th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"2021).","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"That sort of egregious error is exactly what happened","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"here. Neither party disputes that Perez-Garcia properly paid","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"his bond, as required by the voluntary departure regulations.","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"Nor does either party dispute that evidence of Perez-Garcia’s","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"bond payment was properly in the record. Yet, the BIA","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"inexplicably declined to reinstate Perez-Garcia’s voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"departure period on the basis that there was no evidence of","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"this payment—a conclusion directly contradicted by the","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 13","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"record before it. The outcome under our case law is clear;","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"we must remand to the BIA to consider the dispositive and","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"highly probative evidence it ignored.","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"The Supreme Court’s precedent in this area does not","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"compel a different conclusion. The Court has made clear","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"that Section 1252(a)(2)(D) strips courts of jurisdictions to","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"review sole “questions of fact.” See Wilkinson v. Garland,","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"601 U.S. 209, 221, 225 (2024) (even primarily factual mixed","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"questions of law and fact are reviewable under Section 1252","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"but the “facts underlying any determination on cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"of removal . . . remain unreviewable”); Patel v. Garland,","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"596 U.S. 328, 339, 347 (2022) (“Federal courts lack","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"jurisdiction to review facts found as part of discretionary-","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"relief proceedings under § 1255 and the other provisions","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"enumerated in § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i).”); Guerrero-Lasprilla v.","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"Barr, 589 U.S. 221, 234–35 (2020) (section 1252 excludes","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"“agency fact-finding from review”). Accordingly, when","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"agencies engage in fact-finding, their determinations are","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"unreviewable in the discretionary relief context.1 But an","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"agency does not escape review when it completely fails to","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"consider the evidence before it. That is legal, not factual,","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"error.","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"1 I also note that the BIA’s conclusion regarding the bond payment does","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"not resemble, in any form, the factual determination found unreviewable","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"by the Court in Patel. Patel ultimately involved a “credibility","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"determination”—an assessment by the IJ that the petitioner was “an","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"evasive and untrustworthy witness” based on weighing of the petitioner’s","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"testimony, review of documents, and consideration of his history. 596","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"U.S. at 341; see also Wilkinson, 601 U.S. at 221, 225. Attempting to","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"characterize the BIA’s conclusion that Perez-Garcia did not pay the","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"bond—which was based on a dispassionate and binary review of the","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"record—as a factual finding strains credulity.","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"14 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"It goes without saying that the stakes for noncitizen","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"petitioners seeking discretionary relief often could not be","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"higher. A court cannot, and should not, sit on its hands when","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"faced with egregious legal error. This error requires remand","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"to the BIA, and the government acts disingenuously by","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"arguing otherwise. I therefore agree with granting the","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"petition in part and remanding to the BIA to reconsider its","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"voluntary departure determination.","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"COLLINS, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"in part:","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"I concur in the majority’s unpublished memorandum","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"disposition denying Juan Antonio Perez-Garcia’s petition","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"for review to the extent that it challenges the decision of the","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) upholding the denial","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"of cancellation of removal under § 240A(b)(1) of the","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”). See 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"§ 1229b(b)(1). 1 But we lack jurisdiction over the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"decision denying voluntary departure, and I therefore dissent","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"from the majority’s opinion granting Perez-Garcia’s petition","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"for review with respect to that distinct form of relief.","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"1 “Because title 8 of the United States Code has not been enacted as","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"positive law, [I] will generally refer to the underlying provisions of the","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"INA, while also supplying the corresponding citation to title 8.”","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"Mendoza-Linares v. Garland, 51 F.4th 1146, 1149 n.1 (9th Cir. 2022).","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"“The text of the INA, as amended, is available on the website of","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"the U.S. Government Publishing Office.” Id.; see","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-1376/pdf/COMPS-","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"1376.pdf; [https://perma.cc/3KGC-K25H].","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 15","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"I","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"In March 2019, the Department of Homeland Security","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"(“DHS”) initiated these removal proceedings, alleging that","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia, a citizen of Mexico, was removable because","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"he had entered the country without being admitted or paroled","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"by an immigration officer. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(A)(i).","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia admitted the charge of removability and","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"requested cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b)(1)","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"and voluntary departure under INA § 240B. An Immigration","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"Judge (“IJ”) found Perez-Garcia to be removable and set a","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"hearing on Perez-Garcia’s requests for relief. That","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"evidentiary hearing was held on November 14, 2019 before","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"a different IJ, and at the conclusion of the hearing, the IJ","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"denied Perez-Garcia’s application for cancellation of","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"removal. The IJ, however, exercised his discretion to grant","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia’s request for voluntary departure under","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"INA § 240B(b). 2 The IJ stated that Perez-Garcia had to","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"voluntarily depart within 60 days and “must post a $500","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"bond within five business days.” The IJ “ordered that an","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"alternate order of removal to Mexico be entered if [Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"Garcia] fails to comply with voluntary departure.”","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"The day after the evidentiary hearing and the IJ’s ruling,","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia posted the required $500 bond by submitting a","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"money order in that amount to a DHS official, who provided","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"a written acknowledgment of receipt. One week later, Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"2 Section 240B provides from two types of voluntary departure—","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"namely, so-called “pre-conclusion” and “post-conclusion” voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"departure. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(a) (stating that an IJ may permit an alien","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"voluntarily to depart “in lieu of” removal proceedings or “prior to the","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"completion of such proceedings”); id. § 1229c(b)(1) (stating that, “at the","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"conclusion of a [removal] proceeding,” an IJ may “enter[] an order","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"granting voluntary departure in lieu of removal”). Here, the IJ granted","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia post-conclusion voluntary departure under § 240B(b).","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"16 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"Garcia timely appealed the IJ’s denial of cancellation of","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"removal. The filing of that appeal automatically stayed the","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"execution of the IJ’s order and tolled the running of the 60-","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"day period for Perez-Garcia to voluntarily depart. See In re","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"A-M-, 23 I. & N. Dec. 737, 743–44 & n.8 (BIA 2005)","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"(noting, however, that the obligation to file a bond in","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"connection with voluntary departure would not be stayed).","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"In his brief on the merits before the BIA, Perez-Garcia","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"argued that, for various reasons, the IJ had erred in denying","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"cancellation of removal.","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"On February 9, 2024, the BIA issued its decision","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"upholding the IJ’s denial of cancellation of removal. The","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"BIA concluded that, because Perez-Garcia had failed to","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"show that his U.S.-citizen son would suffer “exceptional and","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"extremely unusual hardship” as a result of his removal,","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia was ineligible for that form of relief. See","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(D). Having disposed of the appeal,","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"the BIA at that point, under its ordinary procedures, would","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"typically “reinstate the 60 days of voluntary departure","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"afforded by the Immigration Judge.” In re A-M-, 23 I. & N.","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"Dec. at 744. However, the BIA stated that “[t]he record","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"before the Board . . . does not reflect that the respondent","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"submitted timely proof of having paid that bond,” and it","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"therefore held that “the voluntary departure period will not","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"be reinstated, and the respondent will be removed from the","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"United States pursuant to the Immigration Judge’s alternate","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"order.”","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia timely filed this petition for review,","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"challenging both the denial of cancellation of removal and","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"the BIA’s refusal to reinstate voluntary departure.","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 17","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"II","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"I agree with the majority that substantial evidence","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"supports the BIA’s determination that Perez-Garcia failed to","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"establish that his son would suffer the requisite hardship as","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"a result of his removal and that, as a result, Perez-Garcia’s","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"application for cancellation of removal was properly denied.","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"But I would dismiss the remainder of Perez-Garcia’s petition","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"for review, because we lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"refusal to reinstate the 60-day period of voluntary departure","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"granted by the IJ.3","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"A","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"Two separate provisions of the INA limit our jurisdiction","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"to review agency decisions with respect to voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"departure. First, § 242(a)(2) states that, “[n]otwithstanding","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"any other provision of law, . . . and except as provided in","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"subparagraph (D), . . . no court shall have jurisdiction to","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"review . . . any judgment regarding the granting of relief","paragraph_id":"para_512"},{"text":"under” five specified provisions of the INA, including INA","paragraph_id":"para_513"},{"text":"3 Both the majority and the concurrence make much of the fact that the","paragraph_id":"para_514"},{"text":"Government did not raise any jurisdictional objection until the","paragraph_id":"para_515"},{"text":"Government’s counsel did so at the oral argument in this case. See Opin.","paragraph_id":"para_516"},{"text":"at 10; Concurrence at 11–12. But it is well settled that “[o]bjections to a","paragraph_id":"para_517"},{"text":"tribunal’s jurisdiction can be raised at any time, even by a party that once","paragraph_id":"para_518"},{"text":"conceded the tribunal’s subject-matter jurisdiction over the","paragraph_id":"para_519"},{"text":"controversy.” Sebelius v. Auburn Reg’l Med. Ctr., 568 U.S. 145, 153","paragraph_id":"para_520"},{"text":"(2013). And both the majority and the concurrence fail to note that the","paragraph_id":"para_521"},{"text":"Government did so only after this court itself issued an order advising","paragraph_id":"para_522"},{"text":"the parties to be prepared to address at oral argument the issue of “our","paragraph_id":"para_523"},{"text":"jurisdiction to review the BIA’s decision declining to reinstate the","paragraph_id":"para_524"},{"text":"voluntary departure period” in light of certain precedents we identified","paragraph_id":"para_525"},{"text":"in our order. Under these circumstances, the concurrence’s attack on the","paragraph_id":"para_526"},{"text":"Government and its counsel as engaging “disingenuously” in “two-","paragraph_id":"para_527"},{"text":"facedness” and “cynical maneuvering,” see Concurrence at 12, 14, is","paragraph_id":"para_528"},{"text":"wholly unwarranted and unfair.","paragraph_id":"para_529"},{"text":"18 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_530"},{"text":"§ 240B, which is the provision governing voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_531"},{"text":"departure. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i) (citing “section . . .","paragraph_id":"para_532"},{"text":"1229c,” which corresponds to § 240B of the INA). Second,","paragraph_id":"para_533"},{"text":"§ 240B(f) separately provides that “[n]o court shall have","paragraph_id":"para_534"},{"text":"jurisdiction over an appeal from denial of a request for an","paragraph_id":"para_535"},{"text":"order of voluntary departure under subsection (b).” As noted","paragraph_id":"para_536"},{"text":"earlier, subsection (b) addresses post-conclusion voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_537"},{"text":"departure—i.e., voluntary departure that is granted by the IJ","paragraph_id":"para_538"},{"text":"in lieu of removal at the end of the removal hearing, as in","paragraph_id":"para_539"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia’s case. See supra note 2. Because the BIA","paragraph_id":"para_540"},{"text":"order challenged by Perez-Garcia is a “denial of a request”","paragraph_id":"para_541"},{"text":"for post-conclusion voluntary departure, 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_542"},{"text":"§ 1229c(f), and involves a “judgment regarding the","paragraph_id":"para_543"},{"text":"granting” of voluntary departure, id. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i)","paragraph_id":"para_544"},{"text":"(emphasis added), both limitations on judicial review are","paragraph_id":"para_545"},{"text":"implicated here. 4 Given that the plain terms of both","paragraph_id":"para_546"},{"text":"provisions apply and otherwise deprive us of jurisdiction to","paragraph_id":"para_547"},{"text":"review the BIA’s denial of voluntary departure, we must","paragraph_id":"para_548"},{"text":"dismiss this aspect of Perez-Garcia’s petition for review","paragraph_id":"para_549"},{"text":"unless there is an applicable exception to these two","paragraph_id":"para_550"},{"text":"prohibitions.","paragraph_id":"para_551"},{"text":"There is, in fact, a significant exception to both","paragraph_id":"para_552"},{"text":"provisions. Specifically, INA § 242(a)(2)(D) provides that","paragraph_id":"para_553"},{"text":"4 There can be little doubt that § 240B(f)’s bar on “jurisdiction over an","paragraph_id":"para_554"},{"text":"appeal” from a denial of voluntary departure, 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(f)","paragraph_id":"para_555"},{"text":"(emphasis added), applies to review of such an order by way of a petition","paragraph_id":"para_556"},{"text":"for review under INA § 242. Although proceedings on a “petition for","paragraph_id":"para_557"},{"text":"review” in a court of appeals are not, strictly speaking, “appeals,”","paragraph_id":"para_558"},{"text":"Congress has nonetheless “sometimes refer[red] to collateral judicial","paragraph_id":"para_559"},{"text":"review of executive action as ‘an appeal,’” including elsewhere in the","paragraph_id":"para_560"},{"text":"INA itself. See Garland v. Ming Dai, 593 U.S. 357, 366–67 (2021)","paragraph_id":"para_561"},{"text":"(noting that, “at one point, the INA refers to dismissing ‘the appeal’ if an","paragraph_id":"para_562"},{"text":"alien fails to file a timely brief in support of his petition for review,","paragraph_id":"para_563"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(3)(C)”).","paragraph_id":"para_564"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 19","paragraph_id":"para_565"},{"text":"“[n]othing in subparagraph (B) or (C), or in any other","paragraph_id":"para_566"},{"text":"provision of [the INA] (other than this section) which limits","paragraph_id":"para_567"},{"text":"or eliminates judicial review, shall be construed as","paragraph_id":"para_568"},{"text":"precluding review of constitutional claims or questions of","paragraph_id":"para_569"},{"text":"law raised upon a petition for review filed with an","paragraph_id":"para_570"},{"text":"appropriate court of appeals in accordance with this section.”","paragraph_id":"para_571"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D). This “rule of construction for","paragraph_id":"para_572"},{"text":"interpreting the INA’s prohibitions on judicial review,”","paragraph_id":"para_573"},{"text":"Mendoza-Linares v. Garland, 51 F.4th 1146, 1161 (9th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_574"},{"text":"2022), applies, by its terms, to both of the limitations on","paragraph_id":"para_575"},{"text":"judicial review at issue here. “[S]ubparagraph (B)”—i.e.,","paragraph_id":"para_576"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(2)(B)—is expressly identified as being subject to","paragraph_id":"para_577"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(2)(D)’s rule, and § 240B(f) plainly counts as an","paragraph_id":"para_578"},{"text":"“other provision of [the INA] (other than this section [i.e.,","paragraph_id":"para_579"},{"text":"§ 242])” that “limits or eliminates judicial review.” 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_580"},{"text":"§ 1252(a)(2)(D); see also Mendoza-Linares, 51 F.4th at","paragraph_id":"para_581"},{"text":"1161–62 (holding that § 242(a)(2)(D) applies to any","paragraph_id":"para_582"},{"text":"jurisdiction-limiting provision of the INA except for the","paragraph_id":"para_583"},{"text":"expedited removal provisions contained in § 242(a)(2)(A)","paragraph_id":"para_584"},{"text":"and § 242(e)).","paragraph_id":"para_585"},{"text":"The question, then, is whether § 242(a)(2)(D) preserves","paragraph_id":"para_586"},{"text":"our jurisdiction over Perez-Garcia’s challenge to the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_587"},{"text":"denial of voluntary removal. Under that section, we are not","paragraph_id":"para_588"},{"text":"deprived of jurisdiction to review (1) “constitutional claims","paragraph_id":"para_589"},{"text":"or questions of law” (2) so long as they are “raised upon a","paragraph_id":"para_590"},{"text":"petition for review filed . . . in accordance with this section.”","paragraph_id":"para_591"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D). In addressing whether Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_592"},{"text":"Garcia’s challenge satisfies these two requirements, I will","paragraph_id":"para_593"},{"text":"consider them in reverse order.","paragraph_id":"para_594"},{"text":"B","paragraph_id":"para_595"},{"text":"To be filed “in accordance with this section,” a petition","paragraph_id":"para_596"},{"text":"for review must fall within the jurisdictional grant contained","paragraph_id":"para_597"},{"text":"20 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_598"},{"text":"in § 242.5 As relevant here, that grant of jurisdiction extends","paragraph_id":"para_599"},{"text":"only to a “final order of removal.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1).","paragraph_id":"para_600"},{"text":"Although the INA “does not define the term ‘order of","paragraph_id":"para_601"},{"text":"removal,’ any statutory reference to ‘an order of removal’ is","paragraph_id":"para_602"},{"text":"‘deemed to include a reference to . . . an order of","paragraph_id":"para_603"},{"text":"deportation,’” Riley v. Bondi, 606 U.S. 259, 267 (2025)","paragraph_id":"para_604"},{"text":"(quoting Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant","paragraph_id":"para_605"},{"text":"Responsibility Act, Pub. L. No. 104-208, div. C, § 309(d)(2),","paragraph_id":"para_606"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1101 note), and “[a]n ‘order of deportation,’ in","paragraph_id":"para_607"},{"text":"turn, is defined as an order ‘concluding that the alien is","paragraph_id":"para_608"},{"text":"deportable or ordering deportation,’” id. (quoting 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_609"},{"text":"§ 1101(a)(47)(A)); see also Nasrallah v. Barr, 590 U.S. 573,","paragraph_id":"para_610"},{"text":"581 (2020). Under this definition, an order denying","paragraph_id":"para_611"},{"text":"voluntary departure “is not itself a final order of removal","paragraph_id":"para_612"},{"text":"because it is not an order ‘concluding that the alien is","paragraph_id":"para_613"},{"text":"deportable or ordering deportation.’” Nasrallah, 590 U.S. at","paragraph_id":"para_614"},{"text":"582 (emphasis added).","paragraph_id":"para_615"},{"text":"But the Supreme Court has held that the grant of","paragraph_id":"para_616"},{"text":"jurisdiction in § 242(a)(1) would nonetheless apply (subject,","paragraph_id":"para_617"},{"text":"of course, to the above-described limitations on jurisdiction)","paragraph_id":"para_618"},{"text":"if the relevant order is one that “merge[s] into [a] final","paragraph_id":"para_619"},{"text":"order[] of removal in the same way as, say, an immigration","paragraph_id":"para_620"},{"text":"judge’s evidentiary rulings merge into final orders of","paragraph_id":"para_621"},{"text":"5 That same conclusion follows from another aspect of § 242(a)(2)(D).","paragraph_id":"para_622"},{"text":"That provision does not itself confer jurisdiction; it merely limits how","paragraph_id":"para_623"},{"text":"broadly a provision that “limits or eliminates judicial review” may “be","paragraph_id":"para_624"},{"text":"construed.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D) (emphasis added). The","paragraph_id":"para_625"},{"text":"jurisdictional grant therefore must come from somewhere else, and the","paragraph_id":"para_626"},{"text":"only possible source of jurisdiction here is a “petition for review”","paragraph_id":"para_627"},{"text":"authorized elsewhere in § 1252. See id. § 1252(b)(9) (comprehensively","paragraph_id":"para_628"},{"text":"stating that “[j]udicial review of all questions of law and fact . . . arising","paragraph_id":"para_629"},{"text":"from any action taken or proceeding brought to remove an alien” under","paragraph_id":"para_630"},{"text":"the INA “shall be available only in judicial review of a final order under","paragraph_id":"para_631"},{"text":"this section” (emphasis added)).","paragraph_id":"para_632"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 21","paragraph_id":"para_633"},{"text":"removal.” Nasrallah, 590 U.S. at 582. On this score, the","paragraph_id":"para_634"},{"text":"Court has stated that, because only those “matters on which","paragraph_id":"para_635"},{"text":"the validity of the final order is contingent” merge into that","paragraph_id":"para_636"},{"text":"order, § 242(a)(1)’s jurisdictional grant over “final orders of","paragraph_id":"para_637"},{"text":"removal encompass[es] only the rulings made by the","paragraph_id":"para_638"},{"text":"immigration judge or Board of Immigration Appeals that","paragraph_id":"para_639"},{"text":"affect the validity of the final order of removal.” Id. Under","paragraph_id":"para_640"},{"text":"this standard, the BIA’s order refusing to reinstate voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_641"},{"text":"departure falls within the grant of jurisdiction in § 242(a)(1).","paragraph_id":"para_642"},{"text":"Had the BIA granted Perez-Garcia’s request for","paragraph_id":"para_643"},{"text":"reinstatement of voluntary departure, it would have entered","paragraph_id":"para_644"},{"text":"an “order granting voluntary departure in lieu of removal.”","paragraph_id":"para_645"},{"text":"8 U.S.C. § 1229c(b)(1) (emphasis added). The validity of","paragraph_id":"para_646"},{"text":"the BIA’s order directing that Perez-Garcia instead be","paragraph_id":"para_647"},{"text":"“removed pursuant to the Immigration Judge’s alternate","paragraph_id":"para_648"},{"text":"order” thus critically depends on the BIA’s decision that","paragraph_id":"para_649"},{"text":"voluntary departure would not be reinstated. Under","paragraph_id":"para_650"},{"text":"Nasrallah, the latter decision therefore merges into the final","paragraph_id":"para_651"},{"text":"removal order and is within § 242(a)(1)’s grant of","paragraph_id":"para_652"},{"text":"jurisdiction to review a “final order of removal.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_653"},{"text":"§ 1252(a)(1).","paragraph_id":"para_654"},{"text":"It makes no difference that a grant of voluntary removal","paragraph_id":"para_655"},{"text":"would only have temporarily affected the validity of the final","paragraph_id":"para_656"},{"text":"order of removal. (The effect would be only temporary in","paragraph_id":"para_657"},{"text":"the sense that, if Perez-Garcia did not depart within 60 days","paragraph_id":"para_658"},{"text":"of such a grant of voluntary departure, the final order of","paragraph_id":"para_659"},{"text":"removal would then automatically become effective.) This","paragraph_id":"para_660"},{"text":"conclusion follows from the Supreme Court’s decision in","paragraph_id":"para_661"},{"text":"Monsalvo v. Bondi, 604 U.S. 712 (2025). There, the","paragraph_id":"para_662"},{"text":"petitioner was granted voluntary departure, but he did not in","paragraph_id":"para_663"},{"text":"fact leave the United States and instead filed a motion to","paragraph_id":"para_664"},{"text":"reopen with the BIA. Id. at 717. Under the applicable","paragraph_id":"para_665"},{"text":"regulations, the motion had to be filed before the expiration","paragraph_id":"para_666"},{"text":"22 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_667"},{"text":"of the 60-day period, but the BIA held that the motion was","paragraph_id":"para_668"},{"text":"untimely because the 60-day period expired on a Saturday,","paragraph_id":"para_669"},{"text":"and the motion was filed the following Monday. Id. The","paragraph_id":"para_670"},{"text":"Government argued that this timeliness ruling fell outside","paragraph_id":"para_671"},{"text":"the jurisdictional grant of § 242(a)(1), but the Supreme Court","paragraph_id":"para_672"},{"text":"disagreed. Id. at 719–20. As the Court explained, the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_673"},{"text":"initial order granting voluntary departure was, in effect, a","paragraph_id":"para_674"},{"text":"conditional order of removal whose effective date would","paragraph_id":"para_675"},{"text":"depend upon the calculation of the 60-day period (and","paragraph_id":"para_676"},{"text":"whether a deadline that falls on Saturday extends to the","paragraph_id":"para_677"},{"text":"following Monday), and the petitioner’s arguments","paragraph_id":"para_678"},{"text":"concerning that calculation of the removal order’s effective","paragraph_id":"para_679"},{"text":"date raised a “‘questio[n] of law . . . arising from’ [the","paragraph_id":"para_680"},{"text":"order’s] terms.” Id. at 720 (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(9)).","paragraph_id":"para_681"},{"text":"The Court also rejected, as unsupported by the statutory","paragraph_id":"para_682"},{"text":"language, the Government’s further argument that","paragraph_id":"para_683"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(1)’s jurisdictional grant extends only to a","paragraph_id":"para_684"},{"text":"substantive “challenge to [the petitioner’s] ‘removability’","paragraph_id":"para_685"},{"text":"from this country.” Id. at 721. The petitioner in Monsalvo","paragraph_id":"para_686"},{"text":"plainly challenged the construction and legal effect of the","paragraph_id":"para_687"},{"text":"“terms” of his conditional order of removal, the Court held,","paragraph_id":"para_688"},{"text":"and that sufficed to bring his contentions within the statute’s","paragraph_id":"para_689"},{"text":"grant of jurisdiction. Id. at 722.","paragraph_id":"para_690"},{"text":"So too here, Perez-Garcia challenges an essential legal","paragraph_id":"para_691"},{"text":"predicate that affects the validity and effective date of his","paragraph_id":"para_692"},{"text":"final order of removal. Indeed, if Perez-Garcia were to","paragraph_id":"para_693"},{"text":"prevail in his challenge, then the BIA would have to revisit","paragraph_id":"para_694"},{"text":"its denial of voluntary departure, and if that relief were","paragraph_id":"para_695"},{"text":"granted on remand, then the BIA would need to enter a new","paragraph_id":"para_696"},{"text":"order that would allow removal only under different","paragraph_id":"para_697"},{"text":"conditions and with a different effective date. Monsalvo thus","paragraph_id":"para_698"},{"text":"further confirms that the validity of the BIA’s denial of","paragraph_id":"para_699"},{"text":"voluntary departure here is a “matter[] on which the validity","paragraph_id":"para_700"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 23","paragraph_id":"para_701"},{"text":"of the final order is contingent,” Nasrallah, 590 U.S. at 582","paragraph_id":"para_702"},{"text":"(citation omitted), and that denial therefore merges into","paragraph_id":"para_703"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia’s final order of removal and is within","paragraph_id":"para_704"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(1)’s grant of jurisdiction.","paragraph_id":"para_705"},{"text":"Accordingly, Perez-Garcia has satisfied the second","paragraph_id":"para_706"},{"text":"requirement of § 242(a)(2)(D)’s exception to jurisdiction-","paragraph_id":"para_707"},{"text":"stripping, namely, that he is raising an issue “upon a petition","paragraph_id":"para_708"},{"text":"for review” that is properly within the underlying","paragraph_id":"para_709"},{"text":"jurisdictional grant of § 242(a)(1).","paragraph_id":"para_710"},{"text":"C","paragraph_id":"para_711"},{"text":"The remaining question is whether the challenge that","paragraph_id":"para_712"},{"text":"Perez-Garcia raises to the BIA’s denial of voluntary removal","paragraph_id":"para_713"},{"text":"satisfies the other requirement of § 242(a)(2)(D)’s exception","paragraph_id":"para_714"},{"text":"to jurisdiction-stripping, which is that the issue must be a","paragraph_id":"para_715"},{"text":"“constitutional claim[] or [a] question of law[].” 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_716"},{"text":"§ 1252(a)(2)(D). Under controlling Supreme Court","paragraph_id":"para_717"},{"text":"precedent, the answer to that question is no.","paragraph_id":"para_718"},{"text":"In Patel v. Garland, 596 U.S. 328 (2022), the Supreme","paragraph_id":"para_719"},{"text":"Court addressed the scope of § 242(a)(2)(D)’s exception to","paragraph_id":"para_720"},{"text":"jurisdiction-stripping in the context of another form of","paragraph_id":"para_721"},{"text":"discretionary relief (adjustment of status under INA § 245)","paragraph_id":"para_722"},{"text":"that, like voluntary departure, is covered by the jurisdiction-","paragraph_id":"para_723"},{"text":"stripping language in § 242(a)(2)(B). Id. at 336–37. In","paragraph_id":"para_724"},{"text":"drawing the line between the prohibited review of “any","paragraph_id":"para_725"},{"text":"judgment regarding the granting” of the enumerated","paragraph_id":"para_726"},{"text":"discretionary forms of relief in paragraph (B) and the","paragraph_id":"para_727"},{"text":"permitted review of “constitutional claims or questions of","paragraph_id":"para_728"},{"text":"law” in paragraph (D), the Court noted that the “major","paragraph_id":"para_729"},{"text":"remaining category” that was left within the prohibition “is","paragraph_id":"para_730"},{"text":"questions of fact.” Id. at 339. The Court therefore held that","paragraph_id":"para_731"},{"text":"“judicial review of fact determinations is precluded in the","paragraph_id":"para_732"},{"text":"discretionary-relief context[s]” enumerated in","paragraph_id":"para_733"},{"text":"24 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_734"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(2)(B). Id. at 347; see also Guerrero-Lasprilla v.","paragraph_id":"para_735"},{"text":"Barr, 589 U.S. 221, 234–35 (2020) (stating that the language","paragraph_id":"para_736"},{"text":"in § 242(a)(2)(D) allowing for judicial review of “questions","paragraph_id":"para_737"},{"text":"of law” includes “the application of a legal standard to","paragraph_id":"para_738"},{"text":"established or undisputed facts” while still “forbid[ding]","paragraph_id":"para_739"},{"text":"appeals of factual determinations—an important category in","paragraph_id":"para_740"},{"text":"the removal context”). Accordingly, under Patel, we lack","paragraph_id":"para_741"},{"text":"jurisdiction to review any factual determination made by the","paragraph_id":"para_742"},{"text":"BIA in the course of its decision denying voluntary removal.","paragraph_id":"para_743"},{"text":"Although Perez-Garcia contends that the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_744"},{"text":"“reasoning” for declining to reinstate voluntary removal “is","paragraph_id":"para_745"},{"text":"unclear,” that is wrong. In the course of making the decision","paragraph_id":"para_746"},{"text":"whether to reinstate the period of voluntary removal—a","paragraph_id":"para_747"},{"text":"decision reserved exclusively to the BIA—the BIA","paragraph_id":"para_748"},{"text":"necessarily had to determine whether, after the conclusion of","paragraph_id":"para_749"},{"text":"proceedings before the IJ, Perez-Garcia had complied with","paragraph_id":"para_750"},{"text":"the IJ’s instruction to file the requisite bond within five","paragraph_id":"para_751"},{"text":"business days. Thus, although the BIA is ordinarily barred","paragraph_id":"para_752"},{"text":"from making factual determinations under the regulations,","paragraph_id":"para_753"},{"text":"see 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(iv), this determination","paragraph_id":"para_754"},{"text":"necessarily fell to it to make under the applicable","paragraph_id":"para_755"},{"text":"regulations, see id. § 1240.26(c)(3)(ii) (“If the alien does not","paragraph_id":"para_756"},{"text":"provide timely proof to the Board that the required voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_757"},{"text":"departure bond has been posted with DHS, the Board will","paragraph_id":"para_758"},{"text":"not reinstate the period of voluntary departure in its final","paragraph_id":"para_759"},{"text":"order.” (emphasis added)). The BIA squarely held that the","paragraph_id":"para_760"},{"text":"“record before the Board . . . does not reflect that [Perez-","paragraph_id":"para_761"},{"text":"Garcia] submitted timely proof of having paid” the $500","paragraph_id":"para_762"},{"text":"bond ordered by the IJ. That statement as to what the","paragraph_id":"para_763"},{"text":"evidence of record did or did not show is quintessentially a","paragraph_id":"para_764"},{"text":"factual determination, and it is therefore unreviewable under","paragraph_id":"para_765"},{"text":"Patel. To be sure, it is a manifestly erroneous factual","paragraph_id":"para_766"},{"text":"determination, and if it were reviewable, I would set it aside","paragraph_id":"para_767"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 25","paragraph_id":"para_768"},{"text":"under the demanding standard of review that applies to our","paragraph_id":"para_769"},{"text":"consideration of reviewable factual determinations. Under","paragraph_id":"para_770"},{"text":"that standard, “the administrative findings of fact are","paragraph_id":"para_771"},{"text":"conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be","paragraph_id":"para_772"},{"text":"compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_773"},{"text":"§ 1252(b)(4)(B). I agree that, here, “any reasonable","paragraph_id":"para_774"},{"text":"adjudicator would be compelled” to reject the BIA’s factual","paragraph_id":"para_775"},{"text":"determination if it were reviewable. But the whole point of","paragraph_id":"para_776"},{"text":"a jurisdictional bar is that the decision cannot be reviewed","paragraph_id":"para_777"},{"text":"even if it is wrong. A jurisdictional bar that applies only if","paragraph_id":"para_778"},{"text":"the relevant decision is correct would be no bar at all.","paragraph_id":"para_779"},{"text":"The majority purports to distinguish Patel on the ground","paragraph_id":"para_780"},{"text":"that its prohibition on review of factual determinations","paragraph_id":"para_781"},{"text":"applies only to those determinations that “involve[]","paragraph_id":"para_782"},{"text":"weighing ‘conflicting evidence’ and exercising ‘judgment.’”","paragraph_id":"para_783"},{"text":"See Opin. at 10 (quoting Patel, 596 U.S. at 341). This","paragraph_id":"para_784"},{"text":"contention is refuted by Patel. There, the Government had","paragraph_id":"para_785"},{"text":"argued for a narrower reading of the “judgment[s] regarding","paragraph_id":"para_786"},{"text":"the granting of relief” that are unreviewable under","paragraph_id":"para_787"},{"text":"§ 242(a)(2)(B): according to the Government’s view, the bar","paragraph_id":"para_788"},{"text":"only applied to “discretionary determinations,” and the","paragraph_id":"para_789"},{"text":"factual points at issue in Patel—whether the alien had","paragraph_id":"para_790"},{"text":"testified falsely and had “intentionally” misrepresented his","paragraph_id":"para_791"},{"text":"citizenship on a government form—“were","paragraph_id":"para_792"},{"text":"‘nondiscretionary’ determinations to which the bar did not","paragraph_id":"para_793"},{"text":"apply.” 596 U.S. at 335–36. In rejecting the Government’s","paragraph_id":"para_794"},{"text":"proposed reading of the jurisdictional bar as unworkable and","paragraph_id":"para_795"},{"text":"underinclusive, the Court noted that the particular factual","paragraph_id":"para_796"},{"text":"determinations in that case reflected an evaluative weighing","paragraph_id":"para_797"},{"text":"of testimony and evidence every bit as much as does the","paragraph_id":"para_798"},{"text":"weighing of discretionary factors. Id. at 341. The Court","paragraph_id":"para_799"},{"text":"therefore rejected, as untenable, the Government’s argument","paragraph_id":"para_800"},{"text":"that the unreviewable “judgment[s]” only include those that","paragraph_id":"para_801"},{"text":"26 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_802"},{"text":"reflect an evaluative, discretionary consideration of the","paragraph_id":"para_803"},{"text":"record. Rather, the Court held, the jurisdictional bar “does","paragraph_id":"para_804"},{"text":"not restrict itself to certain kinds of decisions,” but instead","paragraph_id":"para_805"},{"text":"“prohibits review of any judgment regarding the granting of","paragraph_id":"para_806"},{"text":"relief under . . . [the] enumerated provisions,” including the","paragraph_id":"para_807"},{"text":"provision governing voluntary departure. Id. at 338","paragraph_id":"para_808"},{"text":"(emphasis added). The majority’s effort to engraft a similar","paragraph_id":"para_809"},{"text":"limitation—that the bar applies only to evaluative weighing","paragraph_id":"para_810"},{"text":"of evidence and testimony—is thus flatly contrary to Patel.","paragraph_id":"para_811"},{"text":"The majority’s alternative ground for evading Patel fares","paragraph_id":"para_812"},{"text":"no better. According to the majority, the BIA’s factual","paragraph_id":"para_813"},{"text":"determination here is so obviously wrong that it amounts to","paragraph_id":"para_814"},{"text":"a legal error. See Opin. at 9–10. Drawing on Ninth Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_815"},{"text":"caselaw involving reviewable asylum eligibility","paragraph_id":"para_816"},{"text":"determinations, see Opin. at 8, the majority holds that, by","paragraph_id":"para_817"},{"text":"“misstating the record,” the BIA has indicated that it did “not","paragraph_id":"para_818"},{"text":"consider all the evidence before it,” which “is legal error.”","paragraph_id":"para_819"},{"text":"Flores-Molina v. Garland, 37 F.4th 626, 632 (9th Cir. 2022).","paragraph_id":"para_820"},{"text":"But after the Supreme Court’s decision in Patel, we cannot","paragraph_id":"para_821"},{"text":"simply transpose this sort of broadly phrased language from","paragraph_id":"para_822"},{"text":"the context in which it was stated (in which there was no","paragraph_id":"para_823"},{"text":"applicable jurisdictional bar) into the very different context","paragraph_id":"para_824"},{"text":"presented here (in which there is a jurisdictional bar). By","paragraph_id":"para_825"},{"text":"doing so, the majority effectively eviscerates Patel’s","paragraph_id":"para_826"},{"text":"jurisdictional bar altogether. According to the majority, it is","paragraph_id":"para_827"},{"text":"a “legal error” for the BIA, not only to “misstat[e] the","paragraph_id":"para_828"},{"text":"record,” but also to “ignor[e] key evidence”; to “totally","paragraph_id":"para_829"},{"text":"overlook[]” “important facts”; to “turn[] a blind eye to","paragraph_id":"para_830"},{"text":"salient facts”; or to “completely overlook[] critical","paragraph_id":"para_831"},{"text":"evidence.” See Opin. at 8–9 (simplified). Under these","paragraph_id":"para_832"},{"text":"standards, there is nothing left to Patel’s bar on review of","paragraph_id":"para_833"},{"text":"factual determinations involving discretionary relief.","paragraph_id":"para_834"},{"text":"Indeed, all of these phrases are simply different ways of","paragraph_id":"para_835"},{"text":"PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE 27","paragraph_id":"para_836"},{"text":"saying that “any reasonable adjudicator would be","paragraph_id":"para_837"},{"text":"compelled” to reject the agency’s factfinding, 8 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_838"},{"text":"§ 1252(b)(4)(B)—i.e., that the agency’s factfinding was","paragraph_id":"para_839"},{"text":"defective under the standards for reviewable factual","paragraph_id":"para_840"},{"text":"determinations. But if every factual finding that would be","paragraph_id":"para_841"},{"text":"set aside under the ordinary standards that would apply if","paragraph_id":"para_842"},{"text":"that finding were reviewable becomes reviewable by virtue","paragraph_id":"para_843"},{"text":"of that very fact, then Patel is a dead letter.","paragraph_id":"para_844"},{"text":"The BIA’s error here was a factual one, not a legal one.","paragraph_id":"para_845"},{"text":"The BIA correctly identified and recited the applicable legal","paragraph_id":"para_846"},{"text":"rule, which required Perez-Garcia to post a $500 bond in","paragraph_id":"para_847"},{"text":"accordance with the IJ’s order. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(b)(3)","paragraph_id":"para_848"},{"text":"requiring the positing of a voluntary departure bond);","paragraph_id":"para_849"},{"text":"8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(c)(3)(i) (requiring that the bond be set at","paragraph_id":"para_850"},{"text":"no less than $500). The BIA simply misapprehended the","paragraph_id":"para_851"},{"text":"facts and mistakenly concluded that Perez-Garcia had not","paragraph_id":"para_852"},{"text":"posted the bond. 6 He had done so, and were the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_853"},{"text":"factual determination reviewable, I would vote to set it aside","paragraph_id":"para_854"},{"text":"6 The majority is therefore wrong in claiming that Zamorano v. Garland,","paragraph_id":"para_855"},{"text":"2 F.4th 1213 (9th Cir. 2021), supports treating all obvious factual errors","paragraph_id":"para_856"},{"text":"as legal errors. See Opin. at 9 n.3. In Zamorano, we granted the alien’s","paragraph_id":"para_857"},{"text":"petition for review as to voluntary departure because were unable to","paragraph_id":"para_858"},{"text":"discern from the IJ’s decision whether, in denying voluntary departure,","paragraph_id":"para_859"},{"text":"the IJ had applied the correct legal standard, which required","paragraph_id":"para_860"},{"text":"consideration of mitigating factors (none of which were mentioned in the","paragraph_id":"para_861"},{"text":"IJ’s decision). Zamorano, 2 F.4th at 1221–22. Here, in contrast to","paragraph_id":"para_862"},{"text":"Zamorano, the BIA plainly applied the correct legal standard; it simply","paragraph_id":"para_863"},{"text":"got the facts wrong. Nor did the agency here “refuse to consider any","paragraph_id":"para_864"},{"text":"evidence in the record,” see Opin. at 11, which might have counted,","paragraph_id":"para_865"},{"text":"under Zamorano, as the legal error of failing to apply the correct legal","paragraph_id":"para_866"},{"text":"standards. Again, the BIA recited and applied the correct legal standard","paragraph_id":"para_867"},{"text":"in this case, but it incorrectly determined the underlying facts. Finally,","paragraph_id":"para_868"},{"text":"the concurrence’s reliance upon inapposite case authority predating the","paragraph_id":"para_869"},{"text":"enactment of both jurisdiction-stripping provisions, see Concurrence at","paragraph_id":"para_870"},{"text":"12 (citing cases from 1991 and 1994), is obviously unavailing.","paragraph_id":"para_871"},{"text":"28 PEREZ-GARCIA V. BLANCHE","paragraph_id":"para_872"},{"text":"on the ground that the record “compel[s]” a contrary","paragraph_id":"para_873"},{"text":"conclusion. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B). But a prohibition on","paragraph_id":"para_874"},{"text":"reviewing factual determinations is meaningless if it is","paragraph_id":"para_875"},{"text":"inapplicable whenever the factual determination is","paragraph_id":"para_876"},{"text":"reversibly unsupported.","paragraph_id":"para_877"},{"text":"Coupled with the Supreme Court’s expansive reading of","paragraph_id":"para_878"},{"text":"reviewable “questions of law” as embracing mixed questions","paragraph_id":"para_879"},{"text":"of law and fact concerning an alien’s eligibility for","paragraph_id":"para_880"},{"text":"discretionary relief, see Wilkinson v. Garland, 601 U.S. 209","paragraph_id":"para_881"},{"text":"(2024) (construing the scope of INA § 242(a)(2)(D)),","paragraph_id":"para_882"},{"text":"today’s expansive reading of that same phrase as embracing","paragraph_id":"para_883"},{"text":"clearly erroneous factual determinations concerning such","paragraph_id":"para_884"},{"text":"eligibility leaves little left to § 242(a)(2)(B)’s (and","paragraph_id":"para_885"},{"text":"§ 240B(f)’s) prohibition of judicial review. The only","paragraph_id":"para_886"},{"text":"determination that remains effectively unreviewable is the","paragraph_id":"para_887"},{"text":"ultimate exercise of discretion after the determination of","paragraph_id":"para_888"},{"text":"eligibility has been made. That was the position of the","paragraph_id":"para_889"},{"text":"petitioner in Patel, see 596 U.S. at 343 (noting that “Patel","paragraph_id":"para_890"},{"text":"interprets § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i) [INA § 242(a)(2)(B)(i)] to","paragraph_id":"para_891"},{"text":"prohibit review of only the ultimate grant or denial of relief,","paragraph_id":"para_892"},{"text":"leaving all eligibility determinations reviewable”), but the","paragraph_id":"para_893"},{"text":"Supreme Court squarely rejected that view. With today’s","paragraph_id":"para_894"},{"text":"decision, however, it is nonetheless apparently now the law","paragraph_id":"para_895"},{"text":"in this circuit.","paragraph_id":"para_896"},{"text":"I would dismiss Perez-Garcia’s challenge to the BIA’s","paragraph_id":"para_897"},{"text":"denial of voluntary departure for lack of jurisdiction. 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