Case ID: f-appx_376/html/0047-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GUO QIANG LIU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Board of Immigration Appeals, Respondents.
    No. 09-3649-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    May 5, 2010.
    Henry Zhang, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Michael P. Lindemann, Assistant Director; Jeffrey L. Menkin, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, REENA RAGGI, and PETER W. HALL, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Guo Qiang Liu, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of an August 4, 2009, order of the BIA affirming the January 18, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Thomas Mulligan, which denied Liu’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Guo Qiang Liu No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (BIA Aug. 4, 2009), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Jan. 18, 2008). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review the decision of the IJ as supplemented by the BIA. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).

An alien who demonstrates past persecution benefits from the presumption that he faces a threat of future persecution for the purposes of both asylum and withholding of removal. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(1), 1208.16(b)(1)®. The burden rests firmly with the government to rebut this presumption by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, either a “fundamental change in circumstances such that the applicant’s life or freedom would not be threatened on account of any of the five [protected] grounds ... upon the applicant’s removal” to that country or the reasonable possibility of internal relocation within the country of removal. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(l)(i)-(ii), 1208.16(b)(l)(i)-(ii). The IJ determined that Liu had suffered past persecution. The BIA did not disagree. The IJ went on to find, however, that Liu “no longer has a well-founded fear because of the long period of time in which he was able to live in China, apparently without incident. In terms of his anticipated problems if he and his wife were to have another child, this is speculative.” The BIA agreed, stating, “[Liu] lived safely in China for more than 3 years subsequent to his release from custody on account of his opposition to the population control law. The Chinese government’s failure to take action against him for that extended period is demonstrative of its lack of intention to take additional action if he returns.” Liu’s only argument to this court is that at the time of his detention he was threatened with sterilization if he violated the family planning laws. For over three years, however, he was left entirely alone. The IJ’s findings, affirmed by the BIA, are sufficient to rebut the presumption that Liu had a reasonable fear of future persecution.

This Court has held that when an asylum applicant’s immediate family members would logically fear persecution on the same grounds as the applicant, but they continue to reside safely in the home country after the alien’s emigration, it “cuts against [the applicant’s] argument that she has a well-founded fear of persecution.” Melgar de Torres v. Reno, 191 F.3d 307, 313 (2d Cir.1999). This principle logically applies all the more strongly when it is the alien himself who continues to reside safely in his home country for an extended period of time.

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. 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). 
      
      . Our recent decision in Kone v. Holder, 596 F.3d 141 (2d Cir.2010), is not to the contrary. There, in contrast to Liu's on-going permanent residence in his home country during which there were no subsequent incidents of persecution, petitioner Kone had made several return trips to her native country but did not reside there for an extended length of time. Under those circumstances, this court held in pertinent part:
      While return trips may provide some evidence of a relevant change in circumstances, they do not supply the requisite preponderance of evidence. The government cannot satisfy its burden to demonstrate that [petitioner] will not be threatened simply by showing that she enjoyed periods with no new persecution.
      596 F.3d at 150. The obvious distinction between sporadic visits and on-going permanent residence over a three-year period removes the facts of this case from Kone’s ambit and the contradistinction further supports the agency's rationale.