Planes v. Holder, ___ F.3d ___, ___, 2011 WL 2619105 (9th Cir. Jul. 5, 2011) (an alien who is time- and number-barred from obtaining consideration of a motion to reopen as a matter of right may petition the Board to reopen his or her case sua sponte under 8 C.F.R. 1003.2(a); cf. In re Rodriguez"Ruiz, 22 I. & N. Dec. 1378, 1380 (BIA 2000) (concluding that a conviction vacated on the merits cannot form the basis for an alien's removal). The Board regularly grants such requests when the alien's underlying conviction has been vacated due to a substantive or procedural defect in the original criminal proceedings, concluding that such a change in the facts constitutes exceptional circumstances justifying further review of the alien's case.) (footnote omitted).