Etoundi v. Ashcroft

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Etoundi v. Ashcroft, 86 F. App'x 663 (4th Cir. 2004)

Etoundi v. Ashcroft

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Alain Blaise Etoundi, a native and citizen of Cameroon, petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals affirming without opinion the Immigration Judge’s (IJ) denial of asylum and withholding of removal. For the reasons discussed below, we deny the petition for review.

Etoundi asserts that his testimony was credible and corroborated and contends that he established his eligibility for asylum. To obtain reversal of a determination denying eligibility for relief, an alien “must show that the evidence he presented was so compelling that no reasonable fact-finder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution.” INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483-84, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We have reviewed the evidence of record and conclude that Etoundi fails to show that the evidence compels a contrary result. Accordingly, we cannot grant the relief that Etoundi seeks.

Additionally, we uphold the IJ’s denial of Etoundi’s application for withholding of *664 removal. The standard for withholding of removal is more stringent than that for granting asylum. Chen v. INS, 195 F.3d 198, 205 (4th Cir. 1999). To qualify for withholding of removal, an applicant must demonstrate “a clear probability of persecution.” INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 430, 107 S.Ct. 1207, 94 L.Ed.2d 434 (1987). Because Etoundi fails to show he is eligible for asylum, he cannot meet the higher standard for withholding of removal.

Accordingly, we deny the petition for review. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED

Reference

Full Case Name
Alain Blaise ETOUNDI, Petitioner, v. John ASHCROFT, Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished