(9th Cir. 2002) (citing Singh, 213 F.3d at 1052), we agree with the BIA, and hold that mechanical failure, coupled with decisions to leave insufficient time to account for routine delays and to pay for car repairs instead of transportation to court, does not constitute exceptional circumstances. Such difficulties are “less compelling circumstances” than the statutory examples of “battery or extreme cruelty to the alien or any child or parent of the alien, serious illness of the alien, or serious illness or death of the spouse, child, or parent of the alien.” 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(l). We agree with the reasoning of the Fifth Circuit that “[t]he plain language of the statute indicates that this is a difficult burden to meet.” Magdalena de Morales v. INS, 116 F.3d 145, 148 (5th Cir. 1997) (<HOLDING>). The totality of the circumstances also
holding that the denial of petitioners appeal to the bia would have put a reasonable person in the petitioners position on notice that something was wrong with his attorneys preparation for the removal hearing holding that confusion as to a hearing time does not amount to exceptional circumstances holding that the petitioners traffic difficulties did not constitute exceptional circumstances holding that the mechanical failure of the petitioners car on the way to the hearing did not constitute exceptional circumstances where petitioners returned home instead of finding transportation to the hearing and made only a cursory effort to contact the court holding that attorneys admission to an element of the offense in the petitioners presence at a deportation hearing was binding on the petitioners