Sudarsono v. Gonzales
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
Sudarsono, a citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of a June 8, 2005 BIA order affirming the February 18, 2004 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Patricia A. Rohan denying his application for relief from removal, specifically, withholding of
To qualify for withholding of removal, an alien must demonstrate that “it is more likely than not” that he will suffer persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion if returned to his native country. Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178 (2d Cir. 2004); see 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). To secure CAT relief, an alien must prove that, if removed, he is “more likely than not” to suffer torture. Mu-Xing Wang v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 130, 133-34 (2d Cir. 2003); see Kyaw Zwar Tun v. INS, 445 F.3d 554, 567 (2d Cir. 2006); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(2) (defining torture). Where, as here, the BIA adopts the ruling of the IJ and supplements its reasoning, we review the ruling of the IJ as supplemented by the BIA. See Ming Xia Chen v. BIA, 435 F.3d 141, 144 (2d Cir. 2006). We apply de novo review to the application of law to undisputed facts, see Secaida-Rosales v. INS, 331 F.3d 297, 307 (2d Cir. 2003), but we deem administrative findings of fact “conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary,” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see Zhou Yun Zhang v. INS, 386 F.3d 66, 73 (2d Cir. 2004).
Applying these principles to this case, we identify no error in the challenged BIA ruling. Although Sudarsono adduced background evidence demonstrating Indonesia’s numerous human rights problems and terrorist activities, he failed to show that it is more likely than not that he would be persecuted' — -much less tortured — for being a moderate Muslim or that such conduct would be tolerated or condoned by the Indonesian government. See Ivanishvili v. United States Dep’t of Justice, 433 F.3d 332, 342 (2d Cir. 2006) (observing that actions of private persons may support relief from removal only when applicant shows that government has proved unwilling or unable to control those private actors). In both his asylum application and at the IJ hearing, Sudarsono conceded that neither he nor any member of his family had ever been persecuted or tortured in Indonesia. Thus, he is entitled to no presumption of future abuse based on past mistreatment. See Bao Zhu Zhu v. Gonzales, 460 F.3d 426, 431 (2d Cir. 2006) (“After a demonstration of past persecution, a presumption arises that the alien has a well-founded fear of future persecution.”).
Further, he offered no credible evidence of an objectively reasonable fear of future abuse. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 155-56 (2d Cir. 2006) (‘Withholding claims, like CAT claims, lack a subjective component and are concerned only with objective evidence of future persecution.”). His testimony that there is a “possibility” that fundamentalist groups
In sum, the administrative findings that Sudarsono failed to carry his evidentiary burden to show his entitlement to withholding of removal or CAT relief were supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the petition for review of the BIA’s June 8, 2005 order is hereby DENIED.
. Sudarsono does not petition for review of the denial of his asylum claim, which the IJ found to be untimely. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B); Xiao Ji Chen v. United States Dep’t of Justice, 434 F.3d 144, 154 (2d Cir. 2006) (recognizing that we lack jurisdiction to consider factual challenge to timeliness determination).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SUDARSONO v. Alberto R. GONZALES, Attorney General
- Status
- Published