Lim v. Holder
Lim v. Holder
Opinion
SUMMARY ORDER
Sellva Lim, a native and citizen of Indonesia, seeks review of a November 12, 2008 order of the BIA, affirming the July 31, 2007 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Noel Ann Brennan, which denied her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Sellva Lim, No. A094 813 895 (B.I.A. Nov. 12, 2008), ajf’g No. A094 813 895 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City July 31, 2007). We assume the *225 parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we review the decision of the IJ as supplemented by the BIA. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir. 2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. Salimatou Bah v. Mu-Jcasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir. 2008); Manzur v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 494 F.3d 281, 289 (2d Cir. 2007).
The agency did not err in its determination that the harm Lim alleged, consisting of unwanted sexual touching and solicitation, primarily while riding public transportation, and an incident where she was kicked by a classmate, did not rise to the level of past persecution. See Ivanishvili v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 433 F.3d 332, 341 (2d Cir. 2006). Moreover, the IJ properly considered the cumulative effect of the events, rather than addressing the severity of each event in isolation. See Poradisova v. Gonzales, 420 F.3d 70, 79-80 (2d Cir. 2005).
The agency also did not err in its determination that Lim failed to establish a pattern or practice of persecution of ethnic Chinese non-Muslims in Indonesia. See Santoso v. Holder, 580 F.3d 110, 112 (2d Cir. 2009). Indeed, the BIA’s determination that the background materials did not establish a pattern or practice of persecution against Chinese non-Muslims in Indonesia is supported by substantial evidence in the record. Moreover, while the BIA has an obligation to consider all evidence relevant to an applicant’s claim, it need not “expressly parse or refute on the record each individual argument or piece of evidence offered by the petitioner.” Wei Guang Wang v. BIA, 437 F.3d 270, 275 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). To the extent that Lim argues that the agency erred in failing to consider evidence in the record establishing a pattern or practice of violence in Indonesia directed against women in particular, because Lim failed to exhaust this argument before the BIA, we do not reach this argument. See Lin Zhong v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 480 F.3d 104, 120 (2d Cir. 2007). In sum, the agency did not err in finding that Lim failed to establish a pattern or practice of persecution of ethnic Chinese non-Muslims in Indonesia in light of the background materials in the record and our precedent. See Santoso, 580 F.3d at 112.
Because the agency did not err in concluding that Lim failed to establish a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to Indonesia, the agency’s denial of Lim’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief was not in error because all three claims shared the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148,156 (2d Cir. 2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir. 2005).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have 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 DISMISSED 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 34.2.
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