# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 31 69

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Yan Zhan g

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Peti ti on er

v.

Je ffer so n B . Ses si on s, II I, Att or ne y Gene ral of t he Uni te d S ta te s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Resp on de nt

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Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of a n Ord er o f th e
Bo ard of I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

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Su bm it te d: Marc h 6 , 20 17

Fi le d: Marc h 1 6, 2 01 7 [Un pu bl is he d]

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Befo re BENTON, BEAM, an d M URPHY, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

PER CURI AM.

Yan Zha ng pe ti ti on s fo r rev ie w o f th e Bo ard of Im m ig rat io n App eal s' (BIA)

de ci si on de nyin g hi m as y lu m , wit hh o l d in g of rem ov al

, an d pr ot ect io n un de r th e

Co nv en ti on Aga in st Tort ur e (CAT). Fo r th e rea so ns di sc us se d be lo w, we de ny t he

pe ti ti on

.I. BACKGRO UND

Zha ng is a na ti ve an d ci ti zen of Ch in a. He is m arri ed wi t h o n e ad ul t ch il d.

Acco rd in g to Zha ng 's te s ti m on y , he be cam e a Ch ris ti an in 20 08 whe n a fri en d

in tro du ced hi m to the re ligio n aft er no ti ci ng th at Zha ng was lo ne ly, un ha pp y , dr in ki ng

he av il y , an d on th e ve rg e of a di vo rce. Bec au se th ere were no lo cal ch ur ch es in th e

area , Zha ng at te nd ed in fo rm al ga th eri ng s wit h hi s fri en d at hi s fri en d 's m ot he r's

ho us e. At th e m eet in gs , th e g r o u p read th e Bi bl e, pr ay ed

, an d at e to ge th er. On

Aug us t 5, 20 09

, se ve n or ei gh t po li ce of fic ers ch arg ed in to th e ho m e du r in g th e

fami l y-ch ur ch m eet in g an d accu se d th e pa rti ci pa nt s of be in g in a cu lt an d

p a rti ci pa ti ng in an il le ga l, an ti go ve rn m en t act iv it y

. The po li ce se arch ed th e ho me,

co nf is cat ed Bi bl es , ha nd cu ffed th e pa r t i c i pa nt s, an d tra ns po rte d th em to th e po li ce

st at io n.

Zha ng te st ifi ed th at up on arri va l at th e po li ce st at io n, two of fic ers qu es ti on ed

hi m ab ou t th e fam il y -ch ur ch m eet in gs

. W he n Zha ng d en ie d be in g in a cu lt or

pa rti ci pa ti ng i n a n ti go ve rn m en t act iv it ie s, th e of fic ers al le ge dl y sl ap pe d hi s face

,

pu nc he d hi s st om ach

, ki ck ed hi m, a nd us ed an "el ect ric st ic k" to be at hi m

. The

in te rro ga ti on a n d b e a t i ng la st ed ap pr ox im at el y te n m in ut es

. Zha ng was th en ta ke n

to a de te nt io n ro om whe re th e of fic ers to ld th e ot he r de ta in ees th at "i f th is gu y do es n't

be ha ve , y ou ne ed to ta ke care of hi m real ly go od ." Co ns eq ue nt ly, th e ot he r de ta in ees

hi t hi m fo r ap pr ox im at el y te n m in ut es

. Zha ng te st ifi ed th at on th e se co nd da y of hi s

de te nt io n th e sa m e two of fic ers fro m th e fir st da y as ke d hi m th e sa m e qu es ti on s ab ou t

an ti go ve rn m en t an d an t i c o mm u n i st act iv it ie s. He de ni ed be in g in vo lv ed in su ch

act iv it ie s. Aga in

, th e o f

f i c e r s b e a t hi m us in g th ei r ha nd s an d th e el ect ric st ic k. In

co nt ras t to hi s te st im on y , ho wev er, Zha ng 's ap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m on l y m en ti on s

be in g b eat en wit h t he ele ct ric st ic k o n t he sec on d d ay , no t t he fir st

.

Zh an g was rel eas ed on th e th ird da y aft er hi s wife pa id a fin e of 5, 0 0 0

Ren m in bi

. He si gn ed a fo rm pr om is in g ne ve r to at te nd th e fam il y -ch ur ch m eet in gs

-2

-an d was req ui red to rep or t to th e lo cal po li ce st at io n each we e k t o " mak e so m e

co nf es si on ." He ne ve r so ug ht m ed ic al at te nt io n an d ne ve r at te nd ed th e fam il y -ch ur ch

m eet in gs ag ai n be cau se he fear ed he wou ld "b e cau gh t a n d

. . . b e at en up ag ai n."

Zha ng or ig in al ly te st ifi ed th at he di d no t ret ur n to wor k aft er th e Aug us t 5, 20 0 9

, in ci de nt be cau se hi s bo ss to ld hi m no t to ret ur n un ti l he "t ot al ly co nf es s[ ed ] wha t [h e

ha d] d on e." Howev er, he la te r te st ifi ed th at he lo st hi s job in Ja nu ary 2 00 9 be cau se

he m is se d wor k du e to a dr in ki ng pr ob le m

. He qu al ifi ed th e la te r st at em en t by sa y in g

th at he was n ot fir ed rig ht away . W he n a sk ed why he ch an ge d h is ter m in at io n d at e

fro m Aug us t 20 09 to Ja nu ary 20 09

, he st at ed th at he di d no t kn ow an d th at he was no t

th e o ne who m ad e th e ch an ge

.

Zha ng de ci de d to le av e Ch in a be cau se of fic ers ch eck ed on hi m reg ul arl y at hi s

h o me an d he "was so sc ared an d

. . . fel t a lo t of pr es su re." A fri en d he lp ed hi m

ob ta in an Am eri can vi sa , an d on Decem be r 26

, 20 09

, he arri ve d in th e Uni te d St at es

as a no ni m

m ig ran t vi si to r au th or iz ed to rem ai n in th e co un try fo r si x m on th s. Zha ng

was ba pt iz ed in th e Uni te d St at es bu t di d no t at te nd ch ur ch reg ul arl y

. Zha ng te st ifi ed

th at he ha s ha d no co nt act wit h an y m em be rs of th e fam il y ch ur ch si nc e co m in g to th e

Uni te d St at es an d ha s on ly sp ok en to hi s wife a few ti m es si nc e 20 11

. Acco rd in g to

Zha ng 's wife

, th e Ch in es e po li ce th reat en ed th at if Zha ng di d no t co m e ba ck so on , hi s "g ui lt wou ld be m or e gr av [e]." Zha ng ov ers ta y ed hi s vi si t in th e Uni te d Stat es

. On

Ju ne 4, 20 10

, Zha ng fil ed a writ te n ap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m an d rel at ed rel ie f ba se d on

pe rs ecu ti on fo r hi s rel ig io n an d po li ti cal op in io n. He am en de d hi s ap pl ic at io n twi ce, 1

m ak in g ha nd -wri tt en ch an ge s to th e two la te r ap pl ic at io ns

. On Ju ly 23

, 20 10

, Zha ng

was pl aced in rem ov al pr oc eed in gs by a no ti ce to ap pe ar (NTA), ch arg in g Zha ng wit h

de po rta bi li ty un de r § 23 7( a)(1 )(B) of th e Im m ig rat io n an d Nati on al it y Act (INA), fo r

Alt ho ug h Zh a n g's ap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m st at es th at he is se ek in g as y lu m or 1

wit hh ol di ng of rem ov a l b a s ed on rel ig io n an d po li ti cal op in io n, th e ad m in is tra ti ve

reco rd an d Zha ng 's br ie f m en ti on on ly rel ig io us pe rs ecu ti on by th e C h i n es e

go ve rn m en t as th e ba si s fo r hi s req ue st fo r rel ie f. Thu s, we fo cu s ou r an al y si s on Zha ng 's c la im

of r el ig io us pe rs ecu ti on

.

-3

-"re m ai n[ in g] in th e Uni te d S ta te s fo r a t im e lo ng er t ha n p erm it te d." On Au gu st 16

,

2 0 10

, Zha ng ad m it te d th e al le ga ti on s in th e NTA, co nc ed ed th e ch a r g e o f

rem ov ab il it y , a nd st at ed th at he wou ld be se ek in g as y lu m , wi th ho ld in g of rem ov al

,

an d re li ef u nd er t he CAT.

On Feb ru ary 13

, 20 14

, th e im m ig rat io n jud ge (IJ ) de ni ed Zha ng 's ap pl ic at io n

fo r im m ig rat io n rel ie f an d or de red th at he b e r e mo v e d t o Ch in a. The IJ fo un d th at

Zh a n g l a c k ed cred ib il it y ba se d on se ve ral di sc rep an ci es

. The IJ po in te d ou t th at

Zha ng 's te st im on y di ffer ed fro m h i s as y lu m ap pl ic at io n in reg ard to ho w he was

be at en by th e of

fic ers whi le be in g de ta in ed a n d w h e n an d why he was te rm in at ed

fro m hi s job . Alte rn at iv el y , th e IJ he ld th at ev en if Zha ng were cred ib le , h e "fa il ed

to es ta bl is h th at he

. . . su ffer ed pa st pe rs ecu ti o n o r a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re

pe rs ecu ti on ." The "[m ]ino r be at in gs an d br ie f de te nt io n[ ]" Zha ng en du red di d no t

ris e to th e le ve l of pe rs ecu ti on

. Bas ed on hi s la ck of kn owl ed ge of Ch ris ti an ch ur ch es

in Ch in a, hi s irr eg ul ar ch ur ch at te nd an ce whi le in th e Uni te d St at es , an d th e ab se nc e

of an y ev id en ce su gg es ti ng he w o ul d be un ab le to at te nd an ap pr ov ed Ch ris ti an

ch ur ch th at wou ld m eet hi s rel ig io us ne ed s, th e IJ he ld th at Zhan g fa il ed to pro ve a

well -fo un de d fear of pe rs ecu ti on

. Bec au se Zha ng fai le d to m eet th e lo wer bu rd en of

pr oo f req ui red fo r as y lu m , he au to m at ic al ly fai le d to m eet th e "co ns id erab ly hi gh er"

st an da rd fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

. The IJ al so de ni ed Zha ng 's ap pl ic at io n fo r rel ie f

un de r th e CAT.

Zha ng th en ap pe al ed to th e BIA. The BIA di d "n ot fin d cl ear erro r in th e [IJ 's]

ad ve rs e cred ib il it y fin di ng " be cau se Zha ng 's te s t i mo n y was in co ns is te nt wit h hi s

as y lu m ap pl ic at io n. The BIA al so he ld th at th e IJ co m m it te d no cl ear erro r in de nyin g

as y lu m ba se d on th e al te rn at iv e gr ou nd s. Acco rd in g to th e BIA, Zha ng 's enc ou nt er

wit h th e po li ce was n o t s ev ere en ou gh to co ns ti tu te pe rs ecu ti on

. And

, be cau se th e

co un try rep or ts re v e a l e d th at Zha ng co ul d rel oc at e to an area whe re fam il y -ch ur ch

m eet in gs were m or e acce pt ed

, Zha ng 's fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on was no t ob jecti ve ly

reas on ab le

. Fi nd in g th at Zha ng fai le d to m eet th e bu rd en fo r as y lu m , th e BIA h el d

-4

-th at "h e al so fai le d to m eet th e hi gh er bu rd en fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al ." Fi na ll y ,

th e BIA he ld th at th e reco rd su pp or te d th e IJ 's de te rm in at io n th at Zha ng fai le d to

s h ow th at if he ret ur ne d to Ch in a, it was m or e li ke ly th an no t th at he w o u l d b e

to rtu red , and th us de ni ed rel ie f un de r th e CAT. The BI A di sm is se d t he ap pe al

.

Zh an g no w ap pe al s arg ui ng th at th e BIA erre d by (1 ) affi rm in g th e I J ' s

cred ib il it y fin di ng ; (2 ) ho ld in g th at Zha n g f a i le d to es ta bl is h pa st pe rs ecu ti on ; (3 )

ho ld in g th at Zha ng fai le d to es ta bl is h a well -fo un de d fear of fut ur e pe rs ecu ti on ; (4)

de nyin g wi th ho ld in g o f rem ov al ; an d (5 ) de nyin g re li ef u nd er t he CAT.

II

. DISCUSS IO N

A. Sta nda rd o f Rev ie w

W he re "t he BIA's de ci si on is th e fin al de ci si on of th e ag en cy , it is th e su bjec t

of ou r rev ie w." Garci a-Co li nd res v. Hol d e r , 7 0 0 F.3 d 11 53

, 11 56 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 )

(q uo ti ng Fal aja v. Gon zal es , 40 6 F.3 d 10 76

, 10 81 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 )). Howev er, whe re

th e BIA acce pt ed th e fin di ng s or reas on in g of th e IJ

, we al so in cl ud e th e IJ 's de ci si on

as pa rt of th e fin al ag en cy de ci si on

. Id

. "We r ev ie w th e de te rm in at io n reg ard in g

el ig ib il it y fo r as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

, an d rel ie f un de r th e CAT fo r

su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce, wh i c h i s an ex tre m el y de fere nt ia l st an da rd of rev ie w."

Khr y st ot od or ov v. Mu ka se y , 55 1 F

. 3d 77 5, 78 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). W e wil l on ly

ov ert ur n th e BIA's de ci si on if we fin d th at "n o reas on ab le fact fin de r co ul d fai l to fin d

th e req ui si te fear of pe rs ecu ti on ." Cu bi ll os v. Hol de r, 56 5 F.3 d 10 54

, 10 56 (8 th Ci r.

20 09 ) (q uo ti ng De Bren ne r v. As hc ro ft, 3 88 F.3d 62 9, 6 36 (8t h C ir. 2 00 4) ).

B. Credi bi li ty

W he re an ap pl ic an t se ek s im m ig rat io n rel ie f, he "b ears th e bu rd en of sa ti sf y in g

th e IJ th at [hi s] tes ti m on y is cred ib le ." Fes eh ay e v. Hol de r, 60 7 F.3 d 52 3, 52 6 (8 th

-5

-Ci r. 20 10 ) (q uo ti ng Ave ria no va v. Mu ka se y , 50 9 F.3 d 89 0, 89 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 )).

Cred ib il it y de te rm in at io ns m ay be ba se d up on th e ap pl ic an t's co nd uc t, s i n ceri ty, o r

reac ti on to qu es ti on in g, as well as t he co ns is te nc y an d reas on ab le ne ss of th e

ap pl ic an t's st or y

. 8 U.S.C. § 1 1 5 8 (b )(1 )(B) (ii i). The ap pl ic an t m us t pr es en t

te st im on y th at is "b el ie va bl e, co ns is te nt

, an d su ffi ci e n t l y d e ta il ed to pr ov id e a pl au si bl e an d co he ren t acco un t of th e ba si s fo r hi s al le ge d fear ." Mat te r of Das s, 20

I. & N. Dec. 12 0, 12 4 (B.I.A. 19 89 ). Zha ng arg ue s th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts

th e fi nd in g t ha t t he BIA erre d wh en it affi rm ed th e IJ 's a dv ers e cre di bi li ty bas ed on

" te st im on y [th at ] was [al le ge dl y ] in te rn al ly i nc on si st en t an d at od ds wit h [Zha ng ' s ]

as y lu m st at em en t an d a pp li cat io n." W e d is ag ree.

Fi rs t, th ere was a di sc rep an cy be twee n Zha ng 's writ te n as y lu m ap pl ic at io n an d

hi s or al te st im on y reg ard in g th e de ta il s of hi s as sa ul t s

. In hi s as y lu m ap pl ic at io n,

Zha ng cl ai m ed th at on th e fir st da y of hi s de te nt io n th e of fic ers sl ap pe d, gr ab be d,

pu nc he d, an d ki ck ed hi m

. On th e se co nd da y of hi s de te nt io n, th e of fic ers al le ge dl y

be at hi m ag ai n; th is ti m e he st at es th at th ey us ed an "el e c t r i c b a t o n t o st rik e [h is ]

be ll y ." Zha ng te st ifi e d, ho wev er, th at he was hi t wit h th e "el ect ric st ic k" on bo th

da y s, n ot jus t on th e se co nd da y of hi s de te nt io n. Seco nd

, Zha ng pr ov id ed

in co ns is te nt te st im on y reg ard in g whe n he was te rm in at ed fro m hi s job

. His fir st

as y lu m ap pl ic at io n sh ows th at he was te rm in at ed in Aug us t 20 09

. Howev er, th e two

su bs eq ue nt as y lu m ap pl ic at io ns st at e th at he was te rm in at ed in Ja nu ary 20 09

. W he n

as ke d ab ou t th e di sc rep an cy , Zha ng te st ifi ed th at he ch an ge d th e da te to Ja nu ary 20 09

be cau se he ha d a dr in ki ng pr ob le m an d was un ab le to wor k

. Howev er, he al so

te st ifi ed th at he was no t act ua ll y fir ed un ti l Aug us t 5, 20 09

, whe n he was arre st ed

. W he n as ke d ag ai n ab ou t th e ch an ge on hi s as y lu m ap pl ic at io n, he si m pl y st at e d

, " I

do n't kn ow. I was no t t he on e who ch an ge [d ] it . I d on 't kn ow. Not m e." Th ird , as

br ie fly m en ti on ed ab ov e, Zha ng ga ve co nf li ct in g reas on s fo r hi s te rm in at io n, fir st

te st ifyin g th at he lo st hi s job be cau se o f t h e a r r es t, th en st at in g th at he lo st hi s job

be cau se of po or job pe rfo rm an ce du e to a dr in ki ng pr ob le m an d m ari ta l is su es , a nd

-6

-th en fin al ly st at in g th at it was a co m bi na ti on of hi s arre st an d po or wor k pe rfo rm an ce

th at led to hi s t erm in at io n.

Alt ho ug h " su ch fact s m ay se em li ke m in ut ia e,

. . . th e Act exp res sl y pro vi de s

th at 'a tri er of fact m ay ba se a cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n on ,' am on g ot he r th in gs , 'th e

co ns is te nc y be twee n th e ap pl ic an t's or wit ne ss 's writ te n an d or al st at em en ts .'" Ali v.

Hol de r, 77 6 F.3 d 52 2, 52 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (q uo ti ng 8 U.S.C. § 11 58 (b )(1 )(B) (ii i))

. Here, th ere were se ve ral un ex pl ai ne d in co ns is te nc ie s, an d "[t ]here is no pr es um pt io n

of cred ib il it y ." 8 U.S.C. § 11 58 (b )(1 )(B) (ii i). Thu s, su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e

BIA's an d IJ 's a dv ers e cre di bi li ty det erm in at io n.

C. Asy lu m

To be eli gi bl e fo r as y lu m , th e ap pl ic an t m us t est ab li sh th at he is a "re fu ge e."

Id . § 1 15 8( b) (1 )(B) (i) . A refug ee i s d efi ne d a s

a n y pe rs on who is ou ts id e an y co un try of su ch pe rs on ' s

na ti on al it y

. . . an d who is un ab le or un wil li ng to ret ur n to

, an d is un ab le

or un wil li ng to av ai l hi m se lf or he rs el f of th e pr ot ect io n of

, th at co un try
be cau se of pe rs ecu ti on or a well -fo un de d fear of pe rs ecu ti on on acco un t
of race , rel ig io n, na ti on al it y , m em be rs hi p in a pa rti cu la r so ci al gr ou p, or

po li ti cal op in io n.

Id

. § 11 01 (a)( 42 ). Zha ng arg ue s th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e fin di ng th at

he est ab li sh ed pa st pe rs ecu ti on on acco un t o f hi s re li gi on . W e d is ag ree.

Pers ecu ti on is "t he in fli ct io n or th reat of de at h, to rtu re, or in jury to on e's pe rs on

or free do m on acco un t of a st at ut or y gr ou nd ." Mak at en gk en g v. Gon zal es , 49 5 F.3 d

87 6, 8 82 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (q uo ti ng W ol de m ic ha el v. Ash cro ft, 44 8 F.3 d 10 00

, 10 03

(8 th Ci r. 20 06 )). I t i s a n "ex tre m e co nc ep t th at do es no t en co m pa ss lo w-le ve l

in ti m id at io n an d ha ras sm en t." Lad y ha v. Hol de r, 58 8 F.3 d 57 4, 57 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 )

-7

-( q u o t i n g Gut ie rrez -Oli va res v. Mu ka se y , 53 3 F.3 d 94 6, 94 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 )). It i s

al so well -es ta bl is he d in th is ci rcu it th at de te nt io ns la st in g on ly a few da y s an d m in or

be at in gs do no t am ou nt to pe rs ecu ti on . Mal on ga v. Ho ld er, 6 21 F.3d 75 7, 7 65 (8 th

Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ) ; Te byasa v. Hol de r, 59 3 F.3 d 70 7, 71 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). Eve n whe re an

ap pl ic an t was de ta in ed an d be at en on two se pa rat e oc cas io ns , we he ld th at it was no t

en ou gh to co ns ti tu te pe rs ecu ti on

. Alyas v. Gon zal es , 41 9 F

. 3 d 7 5 6

, 76 1 (8 th Ci r.

20 05 ). Thu s, al th ou gh Zha ng cert ai nl y su ffer ed so m e in jury, ph y si cal an d ot he rwis e,

du e to th e be at in gs he en du red ov er th e co ur se of hi s th ree- da y de te nt io n, su bs ta nt ia l

ev id en ce su pp or t's th e BIA's an d IJ 's ho ld in g th at Zha ng fai le d to sa ti sf y hi s bu rd en

of sh owi ng th at th e h arm he su ffer ed ros e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . This was " an

is ol at ed oc cu rren ce, [n ot ] pa rt of a co nt in ui ng effo rt to pe rs ecu te [Zha ng ]. " Mal on ga , 62 1 F.3 d at 76 5. Zha ng 's in ci de nt

, w h i le un fo rtu na te an d tro ub li ng , fal ls sh or t of

pe rs ecu ti on

.

Zha ng al so arg ue s th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e fin di ng th at he

es ta bl is he d a well -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re p ers ecu ti on . Agai n, we d is ag ree.

A n ap pl ic an t ha s a well -fo un de d fear of pe rs ecu ti on if: (A) Th e

ap pl ic an t ha s a fear of pe rs ecu ti on in hi s or he r co un try of

na ti on al it y

. . . ; (B ) The re is a reas on ab le po ss ib il it y of su ffer in g su ch

pe rs ecu ti on if he or sh e were to ret ur n to th at co un try; an d (C) He or sh e is un ab le or un wil li ng t o r e tu rn to

, or av ai l hi m se lf or he rs el f of th e

pr ot ect io n o f, th at co un try beca us e o f su ch fear

.

8 C.F.R. § 12 08 .13 (b )(2 )(i ). The re is bo th an ob jecti ve an d su bjec ti ve co m po ne nt to

th is st an da rd

. Zha ng "m

us t sh ow th at he su bjec ti ve ly fear s pe rs ecu ti on , an d th at th ere

is cred ib l e , d i r e ct

, an d sp eci fic ev id en ce th at a reas on ab le pe rs on in th e al ie n's

po si ti on wou ld fear pe rs ecu ti on if ret ur ne d to th e al ie n's co un try." Si ng h v. Gon zal es , 49 5 F.3 d 55 3, 55 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (q uo ti ng Mam an a v. Gon zal es , 43 6 F.3 d 96 6, 96 8

(8 th Cir . 20 06 )).

-8

-Here, alt ho ug h Zha ng m ay ha ve a ge nu in e fear of fu tu re pers ecu ti on , hi s fear

is no t ob jecti ve ly reas on ab le

. Zha ng ad m it te d th at he was un aware th at th e Ch in es e

go ve rn m en t al lo wed reg is te red ch ur ch es in Ch in a be cau se th ere were n o re gi st ered

ch ur ch es ne ar hi s ho m e. Thu s, if Zha ng real ly wan te d to at te nd ch ur ch

, he co ul d no t

r e a s on ab ly fear do in g so in Ch in a so lo ng as he at te nd ed a reg is te red c h u r c h

. Mo reo ve r, th e Uni te d St at es Dep art m en t of St at e's 20 12 In te r n a t i o na l Rel ig io us

Free do m Rep or t on Ch in a co nf irmed th at " [ i ]n so m e pa rts of th e co un try

. . . lo cal

au th or it ie s ta ci tl y ap pr ov ed of or di d no t in te r f e r e w i t h th e act iv it ie s of [ev en ]

un reg is te red gr ou ps ." Zha ng co ul d rel oc at e to an area whe re ho m e ch ur ch es are m or e

wid el y acce pt ed by th e Ch in es e go ve rn m en t. Su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e BIA's

an d IJ 's fin di ng th at Zha ng fai le d to es ta bl is h fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on

. Acco rd in gl y , th e BIA an d IJ di d n ot err i n d en y in g Zh an g's ap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m

.

D. Wi thho ld in g o f Remova l

Zha ng al te rn at iv el y arg ue s th at he is el ig ib le fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

. "To

qu al ify fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

, [Zha ng ] m us t sh ow a 'cl ear pr ob ab i li ty' of

pe rs ecu ti on in [Ch in a,]" whi ch is a m uc h m or e st rin ge nt st an da rd th an th e st an da rd

fo r as y lu m

. Cu bi ll os , 56 5 F.3 d at 10 58

. Bec au se Zha ng fai le d to m ee t th e lo wer

st an da rd fo r as y lu m , hi s cl ai m fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al ne ces sa ril y fai ls

. See

Tura y v. As hc ro ft, 4 05 F.3d 66 3, 6 67 (8t h C ir. 2 00 5)

.

E. Reli ef Unde r the CAT

Und er th e CAT, th e ap pl ic an t m us t "es ta bl is h th at it is m or e li ke ly th an no t th at

he or sh e wou ld be to rtu red if rem ov ed to th e pr op os ed co un try of rem ov al ." 8 C.F.R.

§ 12 08 .16 (c)( 2)

. Zha n g a r gu es th at be in g arre st ed an d be at en in Ch in a co ns ti tu te s

to rtu re, an d t hu s t he BIA erre d b y affi rm in g th e IJ 's de ni al of rel ie f un de r th e CAT.

"A se pa rat e an al y si s, ho wev er, is req ui red on ly whe n th ere is ev id en ce th e al ie n m ay

be to rtu red fo r reas on s un rel at ed to h i s c l ai m s fo r as y lu m an d wit hh ol di ng of

-9

-rem ov al ." Gul ed v

. M uk as ey , 51 5 F.3 d 87 2, 88 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). Here, Zha ng

pr ov id ed no ev id en ce, ou ts id e of th e ev id en ce pr es en te d in su pp or t of hi s as y lu m an d

wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al cl ai m s, su pp or ti ng an in de pe nd en t reas on fo r fear in g to rtu re

if he ret ur ns to Ch in a. Thu s, th e BIA a n d IJ di d no t err in de nyin g rel ie f un de r th e

CAT.

II I. CONCLUSI ON

W e affi rm th e de ni al of as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

, a n d CAT rel ie f as

de te rm in ed by the IJ a nd BIA, an d d en y th e p et it io n fo r rev ie w on ap pe al

.

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