Efrain Modesto Calle-Vujiles v. John Ashcroft, Attorney Gen. of the United States, 320 F.3d 472 (3d Cir. 2003). · Go Syfert
Efrain Modesto Calle-Vujiles v. John Ashcroft, Attorney Gen. of the United States, 320 F.3d 472 (3d Cir. 2003). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
342 citation events (342 in the last 25 years) across 13 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Nak Chhoeun v. Attorney General United States (ca3, 2020-03-04)
Treatment trajectory · 2003 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2003 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Nak Chhoeun v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to 4 sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Celina Espinoza v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2011 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Shaher Alzaarir v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2011 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Jesika Shah v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2011 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Baljinder Dhillon v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2011 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Ket Tjhia v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2010 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the bia retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maria Rosa Caguana Duchi v. Attorney General United States of America
3rd Cir. · 2026 · confidence medium
After that window closes, the BIA has discretion to reopen a case in “exceptional situations.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (quoting In re J-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976 (BIA 1997)); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (a).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cesar Calixto Castillo-Reyes v. Attorney General United States of America
3rd Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
However, “the decision of the BIA whether to invoke its sua sponte authority is committed to its unfettered discretion . . . [because] the regulation providing for reopening or reconsidering a case sua sponte offers no standard governing the agency’s exercise of discretion.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chen v. Garland
2d Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
See Lopez-Dubon v. Holder, 609 F.3d 642, 647 (5th Cir. 2010); Mosere v. Mukasey, 552 F.3d 397, 401 (4th Cir. 2009); Lenis, 525 F.3d at 1294 ; Tamenut v. Mukasey, 521 F.3d 1000, 1005 (8th Cir. 2008) (en banc); Harchenko v. INS, 379 F.3d 405, 410-11 (6th Cir. 2004); ; Pilch v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 585, 586 (7th Cir. 2003); Belay-Gebru v. INS, 327 F.3d 998, 1001 (10th Cir. 2003); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003); Ekimian v. INS, 303 F.3d 1153, 1159 (9th Cir. 2002); Prado v. Reno, 198 F.3d 286, 292 (1st Cir. 1999). 14 Ali merely recognized that 8 C.F.R. § 1003 .2—which,…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Victor Shnegelberger v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
Those two scenarios present exceptions to the rule that, “[b]ecause the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hui Zhou v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
As we explained in Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, sua sponte reopenings are committed to the BIA’s discretion by law and so are presumptively unreviewable, much like agency enforcement decisions. 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (citing Heckler v. Chaney, 470 U.S. 821 (1985)); see also 5 U.S.C. § 701 (a)(2) (Judicial review provisions do not apply when “agency action is committed to agency discretion by law”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Xi Lin v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
It is required “only to show that it has reviewed the record and grasped the movant’s claims.”11 The BIA’s order states that “the motion does not establish an exceptional situation warranting exercise of [the] limited discretionary power [to reopen proceedings sua sponte],”12 and cites Matter of H-Y-Z-.13 H-Y-Z- is sufficiently parallel to this case that, by citing it, the BIA showed that it 7 Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir. 2003) (quoting M.B. v. Quarantillo, 301 F.3d 109, 112 (3d Cir. 2002)). 8 Park, 846 F.3d at 651 . 9 Id. at 651, 653 . 10 Pet.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Arfan Yasin v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
“Because the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen . . . a de- portation proceeding, this [C]ourt is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reo- pen . . . the case.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Rita Onyekonwu v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003). 8
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Victor Castillo v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
While the BIA may reopen a case sua sponte in “exceptional situations,” In re J-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976, 984 (BIA 1997), it retains “unfettered discretion” to decline to invoke its sua sponte authority, Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Thompson v. Barr
1st Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
Thompson contends that the BIA, having "constrained its discretion through a settled course of adjudication" with respect to pardon 4 Participating as amicus curiae, the State of Connecticut similarly points to the BIA's long history of properly interpreting and applying Congress' intent to respect all discretionary and individualized executive pardons . . . manifested today in the BIA's respect for the wide variety of executive pardons granted by states across the country . . . [so that] the mistaken interpretation at issue here, which uniquely prejudices the state of Connecticut and its resi…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ebler Arrivillaga v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
“Because the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Eloy Hernandez v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
Desai, 695 F.3d at 269 (quoting Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mohamed Sheikh Ibrahim v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
Petitioner’s brief, in essence, argues that the Board relied on a misinterpretation of Pereira in concluding that 6 See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A), (c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (c)(2). 7 See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (a). 8 138 S. Ct. 2105 . 9 See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(6)(B); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (b)(2). 10 Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003). 11 Pllumi v. Att’y Gen., 642 F.3d 155, 159-60 (3d Cir. 2011). 4 sua sponte reopening was not warranted.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mohamed Sheikh Ibrahim v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
Petitioner’s brief, in essence, argues that the Board relied on a misinterpretation of Pereira in concluding that 6 See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(A), (c)(7)(C)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (c)(2). 7 See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (a). 8 138 S. Ct. 2105 . 9 See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(6)(B); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2 (b)(2). 10 Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003). 11 Pllumi v. Att’y Gen., 642 F.3d 155, 159-60 (3d Cir. 2011). 4 sua sponte reopening was not warranted.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Satheeskannan Senthinathan v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (quotations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jose Reinoso-Selda v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
“Because such motions are committed to the unfettered discretion of the [Board], we lack jurisdiction to review a decision on whether and how to exercise that discretion.” Pllumi v. Att’y Gen., 642 F.3d 155, 159 (3d Cir. 2011); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003) (same).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Victor Vidal v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Eduardo Araujo-Trujillo v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). 6 complaint against his prior counsel, ignoring our Court’s caution against rigid application of the Lozada requirements; (2) the BIA erred in concluding he had not exercised due diligence in raising ineffective assistance of counsel; and (3) the factual basis for the BIA’s ruling as to country conditions is inconsistent with the record and the BIA failed to examine his claim of persecution based on an imputed political opinion.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Javed Iqbal v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
See Sang Goo Park v. Att’y Gen. of U.S., 846 F.3d 645, 650-51 (3d Cir. 2017); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carlos Paredes-Riveros v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
While we have jurisdiction over petitions for review of BIA final orders under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 (a)(1), we have repeatedly held that “the BIA has ‘unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen.’” Chehazeh v. Att’y Gen., 666 F.3d 118, 129 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roman Moldavchuk v. Attorney General United States (2×)
3rd Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Juan Hernandez-Castillo v. Jefferson Sessions, III
5th Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 518 (2d Cir. 2006); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir. 2003); Mosere v. Mukasey, 552 F.3d 397, 400-01 (4th Cir. 2009); Anaya-Aguilar v. Holder, 683 F.3d 369, 371-73 (7th Cir. 2012); Tamenut v. Mukasey, 521 F.3d 1000, 1004 (8th Cir. 2008) (en banc); Ekimian v. INS, 303 F.3d 1153, 1159 (9th Cir. 2002); Belay-Gebru v. INS, 327 F.3d 998, 1000-01 (10th Cir. 2003); Lewis v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 525 F.3d 1291, 1294 (11th Cir. 2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Eugene Bile v. Attorney General United States (2×) also: Cited "see"
3rd Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
While the BIA can reopen a case sua sponte in “exceptional situations,” In re JJ-, 21 I.&N. Dec. 976, 984 (BIA 1997), its decision “whether to invoke its sua sponte authority is committed to its unfettered discretion,” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (quotation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Codner v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2016 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
See Cruz, 452 F.3d at 246 n.3 & 249-50; cf. Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fuller v. Lynch
7th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
The IJ’s decision on such a request is discretionary and unreviewable, see Pilch v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 585, 586 (7th Cir. 2003); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (collecting authority).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hector Menendez Morales v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir. 2003) (quotation marks and citation omitted), 5 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kap Sun Bukta v. U.S. Attorney General
11th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Lenis cites the following decisions: (1) Luis v. INS, 196 F.3d 36, 40 (1st Cir. 1999); (2) Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 518 (2d Cir. 2006); (3) Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir. 2003); (4) Doh v. Gonzales, 193 Fed.Appx. 245, 246 (4th Cir. 2006) (unpublished); (5) Enriquez-Alvarado v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 246, 248-50 (5th Cir. 2004); (6) Harchenko v. INS, 379 F.3d 405, 410-11 (6th Cir. 2004); (7) Pilch v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 585, 586 (7th Cir. 2003); (8) Tamenut v. Mukasey, 521 F.3d 1000, 1005 (8th Cir. 2008) (en banc); (9) Ekimian v. INS, 303 F.3d 1153, 1159 (9th Cir. 200…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mohamed Diallo v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Thus, the BIA did not err in denying Diallo’s motion. 2 Diallo also argues that the BIA abused its discretion by refusing to reopen the case sua sponte; however, “[b]ecause the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.” Desai v. Att’y Gen., 695 F.3d 267, 269 (3d Cir.2012) (quoting Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Wei Weng v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
Chehazeh, 666 F.3d at 129 (quoting Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003)). 10 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kashmira Dhanoa v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
Although the BIA has stated that its sua sponte authority is reserved for “exceptional situations,” In re J-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976, 984 (B.I.A. 1997), the governing regulation does not “require[] the BIA to reopen a deportation proceeding under any set of particular circumstances” and provides no standard governing the agency’s exercise of its sua sponte authority, Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kashmira Dhanoa v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
Although the BIA has stated that its sua sponte authority is reserved for “exceptional situations,” In re J-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976, 984 (B.I.A. 1997), the governing regulation does not “require[] the BIA to reopen a deportation proceeding under any set of particular circumstances” and provides no standard governing the agency’s exercise of its sua sponte authority, Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir. 2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jose Diaz-Villalpando v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
We further lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s discretionary decision denying *58 sua sponte reopening, see Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003), although we may consider whether the BIA’s decision “is based on a false legal premise.” Pllumi v. Att’y Gen., 642 F.3d 155, 160 (3d Cir.2011).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Heng Cai Chen v. Attorney General of the United States of America
3rd Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
As authority, the BIA provided a pincite to its own precedent in In re J-J, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976, 984 (BIA 1997), which acknowledged that its power to sua sponte reopen was limited to exceptional situations and “is not meant to be used ... to otherwise circumvent the regulations, where enforcing them might result in hardship.” In a footnote, the BIA instructed that any request “for an unauthorized presence waiver would have to be pursued before the Department of Homeland Security.” Thereafter, Chen filed a timely petition for review. 1 “Because the BIA retains unfettered discretion to…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Douglas Thomas v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Sang Goo Park v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Tulio Carrasco Amador v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir.2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Li Zhang v. Attorney General of the United States of America
3rd Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
We lack jurisdiction to review the BI A’s decision to deny a motion to reopen proceedings sua sponte ‘‘[b]ecause the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding.” Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Jing Liu v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Zhen Fen Lin v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Calle-Vu-jiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Xue Zhi Zou v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474 (3d Cir.2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Xingzhang Chen v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Because such motions are committed to the unfettered discretion of the BIA, we lack jurisdiction to review a decision on whether and how to exercise that discretion.” Pllumi v. Att’y Gen., 642 F.3d 155, 159 (3d Cir.2011) (footnote omitted) (citing Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003)). 2 “[W]e may exercise jurisdiction [over a refusal to reopen] to the limited extent of recognizing when the BIA has relied on an incorrect legal premise.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gjunejet Asan v. Attorney General United States
3rd Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Although we generally lack jurisdiction over the BIA’s discretionary decision declining to reopen a case sua sponte, see Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir.2003), we have jurisdiction to review whether the BIA has applied an incorrect legal premise in its decision.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Sapon-Caniz v. Attorney General of the United States
3rd Cir. · 2012 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 475 (3d Cir.2003).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Astrit Zhuleku v. Atty Gen USA
3rd Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
See Cruz v. Att’y Gen., 452 F.3d 240, 249 (3d Cir. 2006); Calle-Vujiles v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 472, 474-75 (3d Cir. 2003).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Efrain Modesto CALLE-VUJILES, Petitioner
v.
John ASHCROFT, Attorney General of the United States, Respondent
02-2261.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Mar 5, 2003.
320 F.3d 472
2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 3910
2003 WL 754835
Sloviter, Rendell, Stapleton.
Cited by 260 opinions  |  Published

OPINION OF THE COURT

STAPLETON, Circuit Judge.

Efrain Modesto Calle-Vujiles (“the Petitioner”) petitions this court for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“the BIA”) decision denying the Petitioner’s[*473] motion to reconsider its decision dismissing his appeal. He also petitions for review of the BIA’s failure to sua sponte reopen his deportation proceedings so that he may adjust his status.

I.

The Petitioner, a citizen of Ecuador, illegally entered the United States without inspection in 1990. The INS took him into custody in 1991, interviewed him, and on his release, the INS issued the Petitioner an Order to Show Cause (“OSC”). The OSC stated that the Petitioner would be required to appear before an Immigration Judge “on the date and time to be set” in order to “show why[he] should not be deported.” Addendum at 2. There is some disagreement about whether the Petitioner was informed of the OSC’s contents in Spanish, the only language he understands. The Petitioner changed his place of residence between the time he was issued the OSC and the time that the Hearing Notice was sent to his address of record. The Petitioner faded to appear at the scheduled hearing and was ordered deported to Ecuador, in absentia, pursuant to the now-repealed INA § 242(b). 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b) (1988).

The Petitioner moved to reopen deportation proceedings in January, 1997, asserting lack of notice of the deportation proceeding that resulted in the in absentia order. The Immigration Judge denied the motion. On June 29, 2000, the BIA dismissed the Petitioner’s appeal.

The Petitioner petitioned this court for' review, asserting that he was denied due process because he did not receive adequate notice of the deportation proceeding. We denied the Petitioner’s first petition for review. We noted that the Petitioner was personally served with the OSC, provided with the address of the immigration court, and the Hearing Notice was sent to his address of record. We concluded that the service of process on the Petitioner was consistent with due process and denied the petition for review. Addendum at 1-6.

On August 3, 2001, more than a year after the BIA’s decision dismissing the Petitioner’s appeal, the Petitioner filed a motion with the BIA asking it to reconsider the BIA’s decision and to reopen the deportation proceedings. The Petitioner based his motions on the BIA decisions in In re M-S-, 22 I. & N. Dec. 349 (BIA 1998), and In re G-Y-R-; 23 I. & N. Dec. 181 (BIA 2001). The BIA denied the motions as time-barred under 8 C.F.R.§ 3.2(b) — (c). The BIA also noted that the decision relied upon in the Petitioner’s motion to reopen, In re M-S-, “was based on the statutory requirements of section 242B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and is therefore inapplicable to the respondent’s situation since he was ordered deported under section 242(b) of the Act rather than 242B.”

The Petitioner, again, petitions this court for review of the BIA’s decision. He argues, inter alia, that it was a violation of due process for the BIA to fail to exercise its discretion to sua sponte reopen the deportation proceedings or reconsider its prior decision. The INS responds, inter alia, that we are without jurisdiction to review the BIA’s decision to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider the proceedings.

II.

Subsections 3.2(b) and (c) of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations bar motions to reconsider and reopen that are not timely filed. Motions to reconsider must be filed within 30 days of the BIA decision. 8 C.F.R. § 3.2(b). Motions to reopen must be filed no later than 90 days after the date in which the final administrative deci[*474] sion was rendered. 8 C.F.R. § 3.2(c). Here, the BIA issued its final decision on June 29, 2000. The Petitioner moved to reconsider and reopen on August 3, 2001, well after the time had expired for doing so.

Subsection 3.2(a) of the Regulations, however, allows the BIA to reopen or reconsider a case sua sponte at any time. It provides:

(a) General. The Board may at any time reopen or reconsider on its own motion any case in which it has rendered a decision. A request to reopen or reconsider any case in which a decision has been made by the Board, which request is made by the Service, or by the party affected by the decision, must be in the form of a written motion to the Board. The decision to grant or deny a motion to reopen or reconsider is within the discretion of the Board, subject to the restrictions of this section. The Board has discretion to deny a motion to reopen even if the party moving has made out a prima facie case for relief.

Id.

Generally, the BIA is allowed to reopen or reconsider a case sua sponte in “exceptional situations.” In re J-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 976 (BIA 1997).

As the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit observed in Luis v. I.N.S., 196 F.3d 36 (1st Cir.1999), “the decision of the BIA whether to invoke its sua sponte authority is committed to its unfettered discretion. Therefore, the very nature of the claim renders it not subject to judicial review.” Id. at 40. Similarly, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held in Ekimian v. I.N.S., 303 F.3d 1153 (9th Cir.2002), that it “lack[ed] jurisdiction to review a BIA decision not to reopen the proceeding sua sponte under 8 C.F.R. § 3.2(a).” Id. at 1154. Finally, in Anin v. Reno, 188 F.3d 1273 (11th Cir.1999), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that “§ 3.2(a) gives the BIA non-reviewable discretion to dismiss [a petitioner’s] claim.” Id. at 1279.

The view that decisions not to sua sponte reopen or reconsider are non-reviewable is based on Heckler v. Chaney, 470 U.S. 821, 105 S.Ct. 1649, 84 L.Ed.2d 714 (1985). That was a case in which a group of death row inmates demanded that the FDA enforce provisions of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, so as to prohibit the “misuse” of certain drugs in executing inmates by lethal injection. It held that courts have no jurisdiction to review matters “committed” to the agency’s discretion, including matters where the governing “statute is drawn so that a court would have no meaningful standard of review against which to judge the agency’s exercise of discretion.” Id. at 830.

The Petitioner insists that the above-cited cases are mistaken in applying Heckler to the immigration context because Heckler dealt only with review of agency enforcement actions under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”). The Petitioner argues that, by contrast, the proceeding here is an immigration adjudication where the BIA has decided that sua sponte reopening is allowed in “exceptional situations.” According to the Petitioner, this standard enables our court to review such decisions for an abuse of discretion.

Although we are mindful that there is a strong presumption that Congress intends judicial review of administrative action, Chmakov v. Blackman, 266 F.3d 210 (3d Cir.2001), we reject the Petitioner’s arguments. The lesson of Heckler v. Chaney is that “review is not available in those rare circumstances where the relevant statute is so drafted that a court would have no meaningful standard against which to judge the agency’s exercise of discretion.” M.B. v. Quarantillo, 301 F.3d 109, 112 (3d[*475] Cir.2002) (internal quotations omitted). Here, the regulation providing for reopening or reconsidering a case sua sponte offers no standard governing the agency’s exercise of discretion. As the court in Anin noted:

[8 C.F.R. § 3.2(a) (1999) ] reposes very broad discretion in the BIA “to reopen or reconsider” any motion it has rendered at any time or, on the other hand, “[to] deny a motion to reopen.” Id. The discretion accorded in this provision is so wide that “even if the party moving has made out a prima facie case for relief,” the BIA can deny a motion to reopen a deportation order. Id. No language in the provision requires the BIA to reopen a deportation proceeding under any set of particular circumstances. Instead, the provision merely provides the BIA the discretion to reopen immigration proceedings as it sees fit. Federal circuit courts consistently have interpreted the provision in this way. They have read 8 C.F.R. § 3.2(a) to give the BIA the discretion to reopen immigration proceedings in situations where federal courts lack the legal authority to mandate reopening.... In short, the provision gives the BIA non-reviewable discretion to dismiss Anin’s claim.

Anin, 188 F.3d at 1279 (citations omitted).

It is true that if an agency “announces and follows — by rule or by settled course of adjudication — a general policy by which its exercise of discretion will be governed,” that exercise may be reviewed for abuse. M.B., 301 F.3d at 112. However, this is not the case here. As Ekimian notes, “in In re J-J-, the BIA acknowledged only that § 3.2(a) allows the Board to reopen proceedings in exceptional situations; it did not hold that the regulation requires the Board to reopen proceedings in exceptional situations.” Ekimian, 303 F.3d at 1158. And like Ekimian, our Petitioner has not pointed to one case defining “exceptional situation” in the context of the BIA’s sua sponte power under § 3.2. Because the BIA retains unfettered discretion to decline to sua sponte reopen or reconsider a deportation proceeding, this court is without jurisdiction to review a decision declining to exercise such discretion to reopen or reconsider the case.

III.

The petition for review will be dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction.