MEMORANDUM *
Nunez-Castro petitioned for review of the BIA’s decision denying his application for asylum. Prior to oral argument, the government informed the court that Nunez-Castro voluntarily returned to Honduras, which petitioner’s counsel did not dispute. Since Nunez-Castro left voluntarily and was not “excluded, deported, or removed,” our holding in Mendez-Alcaraz v. Gonzales, 464 F.3d 842, 844 (9th Cir.2006), does not apply.
The facts surrounding Nunez-Castro’s departure are not in the administrative record, and the BIA never ruled on whether his departure makes this petition moot or abandoned. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.8(a) (“An applicant who leaves the United States -without first obtaining advance parole ... shall be presumed to have abandoned his or her application under this section.”). We therefore remand to the BIA to consider the legal effect, if any, of Nunez-Castro’s departure. See Fernandez-Ruiz v. Gonzales, 468 F.3d 1159, 1170 (9th Cir.2006). We express no opinion on the merits of Nunez-Castro’s asylum application.
REMANDED.