U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2010

Watung v. Holder

Watung v. Holder
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided July 19, 2010 · Alarcón, Leavy, Graber
388 F. App'x 657

Watung v. Holder

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Edwin Gilbert Watung, a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal, and his application for cancellation of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009), and review de novo claims of due process violations, Martinez-Rosas v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny in part, grant in part, and dismiss in part the petition for review.

The record does not compel the conclusion that Watung established changed circumstances to excuse his untimely filed asylum application. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4); Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 656-58 (9th Cir. 2007) (per cu-riam). Accordingly, we deny the petition for review as to Watung’s asylum claim.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that the incidents Wa-tung suffered did not rise to the level of persecution. See Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d 336, 339-40 (9th Cir. 1995). The agency did not consider Watung’s application for withholding of removal under the disfavored group analysis, however. In light of our recent decisions in Wakkary and Tampubolon v. Holder, 610 F.3d 1056, 1062-63 (9th Cir. 2010), we remand for the BIA to assess Watung’s withholding of removal claim under the disfavored group analysis in the first instance. See Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1067; see also INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18, 123 S.Ct. 353, 154 L.Ed.2d 272 (2002) (per curiam).

We lack jurisdiction to review the agency’s discretionary determination that Wa-tung failed to show exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying relative. See Martinez-Rosas, 424 F.3d at 930.

Watung’s contention that the agency deprived him of due process by misapplying the law to the facts of his case does not state a colorable due process claim. See id. (“[traditional abuse of discretion challenges recast as alleged due process violations do not constitute colorable constitutional claims that would invoke our jurisdiction.”); see also Sanchez-Cruz v. INS, 255 F.3d 775, 779 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding that the “misapplication of case law” may not be reviewed).

Watung’s request for attorney’s fees is denied.

*659 PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; GRANTED in part; DISMISSED in part; REMANDED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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