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

Minasyan v. Gonzales

Minasyan v. Gonzales
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided February 24, 2010 · Fernandez, Gould, Smith
366 F. App'x 818

Minasyan v. Gonzales

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Khachutur Minasyan (“Khachutur”) and Zhirayr Minasyan (“Zhirayr”), natives and citizens of Armenia, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying their applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. Reviewing for substantial evidence, INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n.1, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), we dismiss in part and deny in part the petition for review.

We lack jurisdiction to review the agency’s determination that Khachutur failed to establish extraordinary circumstances excusing his untimely filed asylum application because it is based on disputed facts. See Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 650 (9th Cir. 2007) (per curiam). We also lack jurisdiction to review petitioners’ challenges to the IJ’s pretermission of Zhirayr’s asylum application because they were not exhausted before the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004).

Khachutur claims he was persecuted on account of his Pentecostal religion. Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s finding that Khachutur failed to establish past persecution. See Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d 336, 339-40 (9th Cir. 1995) (“Although a reasonable factfinder could have found this incident sufficient to establish past persecution, we do not believe that a fact-finder would be compelled to do so.”). Substantial evidence also supports the IJ’s finding that Khachutur failed to establish a clear probability of future persecution based on assisting his son in avoiding compulsory military conscription, or on any other ground. See Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1185 (9th Cir. 2003); Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1188 (9th Cir. 2006) (applicant presented no evidence of individualized threat, and weak, if any, evidence she would be singled out for severe disproportionate punishment for refusing to serve in the Eritrean military due to her religious beliefs). Additionally, Zhirayr did not establish a clear probability of future persecution on account of evading compulsory military service. See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1188. We lack jurisdiction to review Khachutur’s claim based on membership in a disfavored group, because he did not raise it before the BIA. See Barron, 358 F.3d at 677-78. Accordingly, petitioners’ withholding of removal claims fail.

Lastly, substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because petitioners failed to establish it is more likely than not they will be tortured in Armenia. See Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1067-68 (9th Cir. 2009).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.

**

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

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