Case ID: f-appx_385/html/0053-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WEN QUN NI, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 09-4823-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    July 20, 2010.
    Jed S. Wasserman, Kuzmin & Associates, New York, New York, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division; Jennifer L. Lightbody, Senior Litigation Counsel; Edward E. Wig-gers, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, GERARD E. LYNCH, DENNY CHIN, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Wen Qun Ni, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of an October 21, 2009, order of the BIA affirming the January 17, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) George T. Chew denying Ni’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Wen Qun Ni, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Oct. 21, 2009), aff'g No. [ A XX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Jan. 17, 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 IJ’s decision as supplemented by the BIA’s decision. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005).

Ni argues that he suffered past persecution because he incurred a fine as a result of his violation of the family planning policy. He claims “[i]t was difficult for him to pay off the fine,” and he says he had to “borrow[ ] money from ‘everywhere.’ ” However, he produced no evidence of his income in China, his net worth at the time of the fines, or any other facts that would make it possible to evaluate his personal financial circumstances in relation to the fines imposed by the government. “Absent this sort of proof, we cannot assess whether or not the fines constituted a substantial disadvantage to him.” Guan Shan Liao v. United States Dep’t of Justice, 293 F.3d 61, 70 (2d Cir.2002). Moreover, to the extent that Ni argues that his expulsion from vocational school constituted economic persecution, as the BIA noted, Ni did not demonstrate that “he has no alternative means of obtaining an education or gainful employment.” Because Ni bears the burden of proof and he does not point to anything in the record contradicting these findings, we find no error in the agency’s conclusion that Ni failed to establish past persecution. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(a).

Because the agency’s decision was supported by substantial evidence, inasmuch as Ni’s claim for withholding of removal and CAT relief share the same factual predicate as his claim for asylum, the agency’s finding is fatal to those claims as well. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006). To the extent Ni argues he is eligible for CAT relief based on his illegal departure from China, we decline to address the argument as it was not exhausted before the agency. See Lin Zhong v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 480 F.3d 104, 119-20 (2d Cir.2007).

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.