Case ID: f-appx_667/html/0352-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

LI HUA LIN, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    15-1131
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    July 27, 2016
    FOR PETITIONER: John Chang, New York, N.Y.
    FOR RESPONDENT: Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Greg D. Mack, Senior Litigation Counsel; Corey L. Farrell, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES,. BARRINGTON D. PARKER, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Li Hua Lin, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a March 20, 2015, decision of the BIA denying her motion to reopen. In re Li Hua Lin, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Mar. 20, 2015). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

We review the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen “for abuse of discretion.” Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir. 2006). When the BIA considers relevant evidence of country conditions in evaluating a motion to reopen, we review the BIA’s factual findings under the substantial evidence standard. Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 169 (2d Cir. 2008). Though, Lin’s motion to reopen was timely filed, “her ability to secure reopening depends on a demonstration of prima facie eligibility for asylum.” Id. at 168.

The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Lin’s motion for failure to demonstrate her prima facie eligibility for relief. Lin asserts that she provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that her religious activity would be discovered by authorities in China; regardless, the country conditions evidence does not mention any incidents of persecution against Christian practitioners in her home province of Fuji-an. See Jian Hui Shao, 546 F.3d at 143, 149 (finding no error in the agency’s requirement that an applicant demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution specific' to her local area where persecutory acts vary according to locality); Jian Xing Huang v. INS, 421 F.3d 125, 128-29 (2d Cir. 2005) (holding that absent solid support in the record for the petitioner’s assertion that he would be persecuted, his fear was “speculative at best”). Accordingly, the BIA correctly concluded that Lin did not satisfy her burden of demonstrating “a realistic chance” that she would be granted asylum. See Jian Hui Shao, 546 F.3d at 168.

Lin’s assertion that the BIA ignored evidence is misplaced. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 337 n.17 (2d Cir. 2006). Lin does not identify any record evidence relating to the treatment of underground Christians in her home Province of Fujian that she contends the BIA overlooked. She instead relies on reports of mistreatment of underground Christians in other localities in China. The BIA did not err, however, by concluding that the country conditions evidence showed wide local variations in the treatment of unregistered religious groups, thereby requiring Lin to proffer evidence specific to her home Province, Fujian. See Xiao Ji Chen, 471 F.3d at 342. The BIA took administrative notice of the State Department’s 2013 International Religious Freedom Report, which states that the Chinese government permits family and friends to meet in private for worship “without registering with the government.” That report, as well as the 2007 State Department report included in the record, indicates that the treatment of religious groups may vary depending on the locality. Lin has therefore failed to demonstrate any error in the BIA’s consideration of the country conditions evidence.

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).