Thomas Anthony-El has filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal following the district court’s dismissal of his civil action. A movant for leave to proceed IFP on appeal must show that he is a pauper and that the appeal presents a nonfrivolous issue. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1); Carson v. Polley, 689 F.2d 562, 586 (5th Cir. 1982).

The financial requirement of poverty to qualify for IFP status does not require absolute destitution. Adkins v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339, 69 S.Ct. 85, 93 L.Ed. 43 (1948). The question is whether the movant can afford the costs of litigation without undue hardship or deprivation of life’s necessities. Id. at 339-40, 69 S.Ct. 85. To make this showing, Anthony-El must file an affidavit listing his assets as required by § 1915(a)(1). See Haynes v. Scott, 116 F.3d 137, 139-40 (5th Cir. 1997). Based on the limited information provided, Anthony-El has not made the financial showing required to proceed IFP on appeal.

Additionally, Anthony-El has failed to demonstrate that his appeal presents a nonfrivolous issue. See Carson, 689 F.2d at 568. A movant shows that he has a nonfrivolous issue for appeal by demonstrating that the “appeal involves legal points arguable on their merits.” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Although this court liberally construes the briefs of pro se litigants, arguments must be briefed in order to be preserved. FED. R. APP. P. 28(a)(8); Mopes v. Bishop, 541 F.3d 582, 584 (5th Cir. 2008). Even when his brief is liberally construed, Anthony-El has failed to identify any error in the district court’s basis for dismissing his complaint. Accordingly, the motion for leave to proceed IFP is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS. See Carson, 689 F.2d at 586; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.