Case ID: f-appx_381/html/0649-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JI RANG MIAO; Guihua Wang, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 05-74609.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted May 25, 2010.
    
    Filed June 1, 2010.
    Evan L. Murri, Esq., San Gabriel, CA, for Petitioners.
    CAC-Distriet Counsel, Esq., Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles, CA, Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, OIL, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Michael J. Hirrel, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
    Before: CANBY, THOMAS, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Ji Rang Miao and Guihua Wang, natives and citizens of China, petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying their application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence, Ochoa v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1166, 1169 (9th Cir.2005), and deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s finding that the harm Miao experienced as a result of his resistance to the demolition of his home was not on account of either his political opinion or an imputed political opinion. See Sangha v. INS, 103 F.3d 1482, 1488-90 (9th Cir.1997). Because petitioners did not show a nexus to a protected ground, they failed to establish eligibility for asylum or withholding of removal based on Miao’s resistance to the demolition of his home. See Ochoa, 406 F.3d at 1172.

Additionally, petitioners’ contend they suffered persecution on account of two forced abortions. In light of the inconsistencies regarding the timing of the alleged second abortion and petitioners’ lack of corroborating evidence to support their claim, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s finding that petitioners’ testimony regarding the abortions lacked credibility. See Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 962 (9th Cir.2004); Sidhu v. INS, 220 F.3d 1085, 1091 (9th Cir.2000) (“[W]here the IJ has reason to question the applicant’s credibility, and the applicant fails to produce nonduplieative, material, easily available corroborating evidence and provides no credible explanation for such failure, an adverse credibility finding will withstand appellate review.”). In the absence of credible testimony, petitioners failed to establish eligibility for asylum or withholding of removal based on their forced abortion claims. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003).

We do not address Miao’s CAT claim because he did not specifically and distinctly challenge it in his opening brief. See Castro-Perez v. Gonzales, 409 F.3d 1069, 1072 (9th Cir.2005) (failure to raise a claim results in waiver).

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