Case ID: f-appx_486/html/0938-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mykola MARTYNYUK, Svitlana Martynyuk, Mykola Martynyuk, Volodymyr Olinchuk, Zhanna Olinchuk, Mariya Olinchuk, Mar’Yan Olinchuk, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 11-119-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    July 11, 2012.
    Anne E. Doebler, Buffalo, NY, for Petitioners.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Douglas E. Ginsburg, Assistant Director; Franklin M. Johnson, Jr., Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, GERARD E. LYNCH and SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioners, natives and citizens of Ukraine, seek review of a December 22, 2010, decision of the BIA affirming the April 5, 2010, decision of an immigration judge (“IJ”), denying their application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Mykola Martynyuk et. al., Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/954/955/956/957/958/959 (B.I.A. Dec. 22, 2010), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/954/955/956/957/958/959 (Immig. Ct. Buffalo April 5, 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity "with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed 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); see also Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009). Petitioners have not challenged the agency’s denial of CAT relief. Accordingly, we address only their applications for asylum and withholding of removal.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Petitioners failed to establish past persecution and a well-founded fear of persecution. Martyn-yuk and his children testified that members of the Ukrainian government and local community discriminated against them on account of their beliefs as Pentecostal Christians, leading to violent attacks against their family, threats to their persons and livelihood, confiscation of their land, and persistent ridicule. The agency reasonably found that the mistreatment Petitioners suffered, in the aggregate, did not rise to the level of persecution because: (1) the “bodily injuries” that Mykola and Volodymyr sustained in one of the two attacks were minor, see Mei Fun Wong v. Holder, 633 F.3d 64, 72 (2d Cir.2011); Beskovic v. Gonzales, 467 F.3d 223, 226 n. 3 (2d Cir.2006); (2) absent serious physical harm, ridicule, discrimination and threats constitute mere harassment, Ivanishvili v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 433 F.3d 332, 341 (2d Cir.2006); and (3) they did not allege that the economic deprivation they suffered was so severe that it threatened their lives or freedom, see Matter of T-Z-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 163, 170-71 (BIA 2007).

Absent the presumption of future persecution, the agency reasonably found that Petitioners failed to independently establish a well-founded fear of persecution. Although various State Department reports in the record referenced the destruction of, or interference with, church property and title and criticism towards Christians, they did not show a pattern or practice of violence against evangelical Christians. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(2), 1208.16(b)(2); Hongsheng Leng v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 135, 142-43 (2d Cir.2008). Furthermore, contrary to Petitioners’ argument, the Lautenberg Amendment, which is not binding in asylum proceedings, is too vague to establish that evangelical Christians are typically targeted in Ukraine. See Pub.L. No. 101-167, Title V, § 599D, 103 Stat. 1261 (1989) (codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1157). Because substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Petitioners failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on account of their religion, the agency did not err in concluding that they failed to establish their eligibility for either asylum or withholding of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED.