Hyppolite v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
Irvelt Hyppolite, through counsel, petitions for review of the BIA decision affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history.
This Court reviews the IJ’s decision where, as here, the BIA summarily adopted or affirmed the IJ’s decision without opinion. See Twum v. INS, 411 F.3d 54, 58 (2d Cir. 2005). This Court reviews the agency’s factual findings, including adverse credibility determinations, under the substantial evidence standard. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Jin Hui Gao v. United States Att’y Gen., 400 F.3d 963, 964 (2d Cir. 2005); Zhou Yun Zhang v. INS, 386 F.3d 66, 73-79 (2d Cir. 2004); Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178-83 (2d Cir. 2004); Secaida-Rosales v. INS, 331 F.3d 297, 306-13 (2d Cir. 2003); Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 286-88 (2d Cir. 2000).
The IJ found that Hyppolite was not credible that he feared persecution because of political views. Although this finding was minimally and perhaps inappropriately supported by minor inconsistencies, it was reasonably supported by the testimony that Hyppolite went forward with his plans to vacation in the United States at the end of 2001 and that his wife made a vacation trip to the United States in March and April 2002 and returned to Haiti; the IJ relied on testimony that the couple left their children in Haiti, a circumstance that he found undermined the credibility of the claim that the couple was fearful for their children’s safety. The IJ also reasonably doubted the explanation
Hyppolite also challenges the IJ’s denials of withholding of removal and CAT relief. However, he failed to exhaust these claims in his brief to the BIA, and therefore this Court does not have jurisdiction to address them. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); Gill v. INS, 420 F.3d 82, 86 (2d Cir. 2005); Foster v. INS, 376 F.3d 75, 78 (2d Cir. 2004).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. Having completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DENIED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34(d)(1).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Irvelt HYPPOLITE v. Alberto R. GONZALES
- Status
- Published