U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2005

Patel v. Gonzales

Patel v. Gonzales
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided May 23, 2005 · Motz, Gregory, Shedd
131 F. App'x 947

Patel v. Gonzales

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Ashvinkumar Rasiklal Patel petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“Board”) affirming and adopting the immigration judge’s decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal and withholding under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). *

A determination of noneligibility for withholding must be upheld if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole. INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We will reverse only “if ‘the evidence presented by the petitioner was so compelling that no reasonable fact finder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution.’ ” Rusu v. INS, 296 F.3d 316, 325 n. 14 (4th Cir. 2002) (quoting Huaman-Cornelio v. Board of Immigration Appeals, 979 F.2d 995, 999 (4th Cir.l992)(internal quotation marks omitted)). To qualify for withholding of removal, Patel must show a clear probability of persecution because of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Rusu, 296 F.3d at 324 n. 13 (citing INS v. Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 430, 104 S.Ct. 2489, 81 L.Ed.2d 321 (1984)). We find substantial evidence supports the Board’s decision.

*948 Protection under the CAT is generally granted in the form of withholding of removal. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c) (2004). An applicant must establish that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2). Again, we find the Board’s finding is supported by substantial evidence.

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

*

Patel does not challenge the specific finding he was not eligible for asylum.

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