Case ID: f-appx_584/html/0343-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Brima KANU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-71485.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted July 22, 2014.
    
    Filed July 29, 2014.
    Tom Youngjohn, Esquire, Federal Way, WA, for Petitioner.
    
      Yamileth G. Davila, Trial, OIL, Daniel Eric Goldman, Esquire, Senior Litigation Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel ICE, Office of the Chief Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
    Before: GOODWIN, CANBY, and CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Brima Kanu, a native and citizen of Sierra Leone, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v., Gonzales, 458 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir.2006). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that, even if Kanu was credible, he did not establish that he suffered past persecution by Revolutionary United Front rebels on account of a protected ground, including his actual or imputed political opinion. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992) (petitioner who refused to join guerrillas did not establish they would persecute him because of his political opinion rather than because of his refusal to fight with them); Pedro-Mateo v. INS, 224 F.3d 1147, 1150-51 (9th Cir.2000) (petitioner did not show kidnappings and beatings in forced conscription efforts were on • account of a protected ground). Contrary to Kanu’s contention, the record supports the agency’s finding that he was not politically involved, and we reject his contentions that this finding was tainted by the IJ’s adverse credibility determination and/or that the BIA’s analysis was inadequate.

Further, Kanu does not contest the BIA’s findings with respect to fear of future persecution. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir.1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived). Thus, Kanu’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

Finally, Kanu does not make any arguments regarding CAT relief. See id.

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