Case ID: f-appx_679/html/0031-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Pradeep GOBIND, Petitioner, v. Jeff SESSIONS, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    15-2504
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    February 14, 2017
    
      FOR PETITIONER: Samuel N. Iroeg-bu, Albany, N.Y.
    FOR RESPONDENT: Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; John S. Hogan, Assistant Director; Samuel P. Go, Senior Litigation Counsel, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
    PRESENT: JOHN M. WALKER, JR., BARRINGTON D. PARKER, RICHARD C. WESLEY, Circuit Judges.
    
      
      . Pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 43(c)(2), Attorney General Jeff Sessions is automatically substituted for former Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, as the Respondent in this case.
    
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Pradeep Gobind, a native and citizen of Guyana, seeks review of a July 9, 2015, decision of the BIA, affirming an April 28, 2015, decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denying Gobind’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Pradeep Gobind, No. [ AXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. July 9, 2015), aff'g No. [ AXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. Batavia Apr. 28, 2015). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review both the IJ’s and BIA’s decisions. Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir. 2008). We generally lack jurisdiction to review a final order of removal of an alien, like Gobind, who has been ordered removed on the basis of an aggravated felony conviction. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(C); Ortiz-Franco v. Holder, 782 F.3d 81, 86 (2d Cir. 2015). But this jurisdictional limitation does not extend to constitutional claims or questions of law. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D).

Although Gobind’s challenge to the agency’s aggravated felony determination presents a reviewable question of law, see Vargas-Sarmiento v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 448 F.3d 159, 164-65 (2d Cir.2006), it is explicitly foreclosed by our decision in Mugalli v. Ashcroft, 258 F.3d 52, 61-62 (2d Cir. 2001) (holding that “a conviction under [NYPL § 130.25(2)] meets the BIA’s interpretation of sexual abuse of a minor” and is therefore an aggravated felony). We therefore deny Gobind’s petition as it relates to the agency’s denial of asylum.

We dismiss the remainder of the petition for lack of jurisdiction because Gobind has failed to raise a constitutional claim or question of law with respect to the agency’s denials of withholding of removal and CAT relief. Gobind avers generally that his testimony and evidence were sufficient to meet his burdens of proof. He does not challenge the agency’s determination that he did not meet his burden for withholding of removal because he had not shown that the harm he feared from his victim’s family was on account of a protected ground; he also fails to challenge the agency’s determination that he did not meet his burden for CAT relief because he failed to show the necessary governmental action or acquiescence in any prospective harm by the victim’s family. He has therefore waived review of these determinations, which are, in any event, legally sound. See Norton v. Sam’s Club, 145 F.3d 114, 117 (2d Cir. 1998) (“Issues not sufficiently argued in the briefs are considered waived and normally will not be addressed on appeal.”); see also 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16 (predicating eligibility for withholding of removal on a showing that the applicant’s “life or freedom would be threatened in the proposed country of removal on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion” (emphasis added)); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1) (providing that “torture” under the CAT must be “inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity”).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED IN PART and DISMISSED IN PART. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition .is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).