FI L ED U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S EL EVENTHCI RCUI T MAY 11, 2011 J OHN L EY CL ERK [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE U

NITED STATE S COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ No. 1 0- 11 46 7 Non -Arg um en t Ca le nd ar

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Agen cy No. A0 78 -0 61 -7 23
PATRICI A PENA, JAIR O GONZA LEZ, DANIEL FELIPE GO NZALEZ , LAURA GONZ ALEZ, ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pet it io ne rs , ve rs us U.S. ATTO RNEY GENERAL, ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Res po nd en t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of aDeci si on of t he Bo ardof I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (Ma y 11 , 20 11 ) Befo re BARKETT, MARCUS an d F AY, Circ ui t J ud ge s.PER CURI AM:

Pat ric iaPen a, Ja iro Gon zal ez, Dan ie l Fe li pe Gon zal ez, an d Lau ra Go nz al ez, Co lo m bi an cit iz en s p ro ceed in g pr o s e , pet it io n fo r rev ie w of the Bo ardof Im m ig rat io n Ap pe al s’ (“ BIA”) de ci si on affi rm in g the Im m ig rat io n J ud ge ’s (‘IJ”) fin al ord er o f rem ov al an d d en y in g t he ir c la im s fo r as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of
rem ov al , andrel ie f un de r th e Uni te d Nat io ns Co nv en ti on Agai ns t To rtu re an d Oth er Cr ue l, In hu m an , or Deg rad in g Tre at m en t o r Pu ni sh m en t (“ CAT”), 8 U.S.C. §§ 11 58 , 12 31 , 8 C.F.R . § 2 08 .16 (c). The p et it io ne rs arg ue th atth e BIA erredby 1 de nyin g t he ir c la im s fo r as y lu m an d wi th ho ld in g o f rem ov al . Pen a al so ass ert s th atth e BIA fa il edto m ak e a de no vo de te rm in at io n re ga rd in g h er cl ai m forCAT rel ie f. She co nt en ds th atsh e p res en te d c red ib le ev id en ce t ha t s he an d h er fa m il y wil l b e to rtu redif t he y

are re m ov edto Co lo m

bi a. Fo r th e rea so ns setfor th be lo w, we de ny the pe ti ti on forrev ie w. I. The Depa rtment o f Hom el an d S ecu rit y is su edno ti ces to ap pe ar t o P en a, he r hu sb an d J ai ro Gon zal ez, an d h er t wo ch il dr en , Dani el an d Lau ra Go nz al ez,
Pena is the lea d petitioner, and he r husband, Jairo, and childre n, Daniel a nd L aura , are 1 derivative applicants. Jairo, L aura , and Da niel are not entitled to derivative be nefits with respe ct to withholding of re moval and CAT re lief bec ause those f orms of re lief do not include de rivative rig hts. See D elgado v. U.S. A tt’y Ge n. , 487 F.3d 855, 862 ( 11th Cir. 2007) (explaining that the withholding of r emoval statute doe s not create der ivative rights); see also 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c) (re gulation gove rningclaims for CAT r elief doe s not mention derivative rights). 2ch arg in g t ha t t he y were re m ov ab le fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s. Th e p et it io ne rs ad m it te d t he all eg at io ns in th e n ot ic es to ap pe ar an d c on ced edrem ov ab il it y . Pen a fil edanap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m , withh ol di ng of r em ov al , andCAT rel ie f, na m in g he r hu sb an d a ndch il dr en as d eri va ti ve ap pl ic an ts
. At an asylu m

he ari ng , Pen a te st ifi edth athe r fam il y ha d b een pe rs ecu te d b y th e Rev ol ut io na ry

Arm edFo rces of C ol om bi a (“ FARC” ) be cau se th ey be lo ng edto th e Lib eral Part y . Pen a an d h er h us ba nd , Jai ro , hadpa rti ci pa te d i n Li be ral Part y
m eet in gs an d h adcam

pa ig ne d o n b eh al f of

th e p art y ’s can di da te s. In ad di ti on to hi s p ol it ic al act iv it ie s, J ai ro work edas a n a cco un ta nt . In No ve m be r 19 97 , th e FARC c al le d J ai ro at h is pl ace o f bu si ne ss an d d em an de d t ha t h e supp ly the m wit h fin an ci al in fo rm at io n re ga rd in g v ari ou s co m pa ni es . After J ai ro refu se d t o p ro vi de th e in fo rm at io n, t he FARC b eg an cal li ng th e fam il y ’s ho us e. Pen a ex pl ai ne d t ha t ev eryone inhe r fam il y rece iv edth reat en in g t el ep ho ne cal ls . The g ue ril la s t ol d t he m th atth ey wou ldbe ki ll edor k id napp edif J ai ro di d
no t h an d o ve r th e in fo rm at io n tha t t he y were s eek in g. Th e g ue ril la s al so st art ed
as ki ng qu es ti on s ab ou t Pe na ’s fam il y at t he res id en ti al co m

pl ex wher e th ey

li ve d. Pen a’s fam il y

“ sa w cars pa rk edin fro ntof t he ap art m en t wi th su sp ic io us pe op le ” who were wat ch in g t he ir m ov em en ts
.

3Pen a te st ifi edth atJai ro lef t Co lo m bi a an d c am e to th e Uni te d S ta te s i n Aug us t 1 99 9. Pe naan d t he ch il dr en di d n otgo with h im at t ha t t im e b ecau se th ey th ou gh t t ha t t he th reat s wo ul d s to p o nc e Ja iro was o utof t he co un try. H owe ve r, th e g ue ril la s co nt in ue d t o m ak e h aras si ng cal ls , st at in g t ha t t he y wou ldlo okfor Ja iro no m at te r whe re h e wen t an d t ha t t he y wou ldki ll Pen a’s fam il y if t he y di d
no t g etth e in fo rm at io n t ha t t he y want ed . As a res ul t o f th es e th reat s, Pe na , Laura , an d Dan ie l l eftCo lo m

bi a fo r th e Uni te d S ta te s i n No ve m be r 19 99 . Ini ti al ly, th ey ho pe d t o re tu rn to Co lo m bi a aft er a s ho rt t im e, bu t t he y lat er l earn edfro m

th ei r rel at iv es th atth e g ue ril la s wer e st il l l oo ki ng forth em an d t ha t i t wo ul d n otbe saf e fo r th em to go ba ck . Pen a fea redth atsh e an d h er fa m il y wou ldbe pe rs ecu te d b y th e FARC if t he y

returne d t o C ol om

bi a. Ja iro Gon zal ez al so tes ti fie d a t the
as y lu m he ari ng . His a cco un t was co ns is te ntwit h h is wife ’s tes ti m on y . The IJ d en ie d P en a’s cl ai m s fo r as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of r em ov al , andCAT rel ie f. As an in it ia l m at te r, th e IJ fou ndth atPen a’s acc ou ntof h er fa m il y ’s
m is tre atm en t i n C ol om

bi a was no t cr ed ib le . The IJ als o c on cl ud edth atPen a h ad fai le d t o s ho w pas t p ers ecu ti on or awell -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re p ers ecu ti on . Reg ard in g p as t p ers ecu ti on , th e IJ ob se rv edth atPen a an d h er fa m il y were n ot ph y si cal ly harm ed , bu t ra th er, m erel y rece iv ed“ ge ne ral iz edth reat s. M or eo ve r, th e IJ de te rm in edth atth e th reat s wer e n otco nn ect edto on e o f th e g ro un ds forasylu m , 4as th e FARC ha d t arg et edJai ro be cau se th ey want edfin an ci al in fo rm at io n, n ot be cau se of h is m em

be rs hi p i n the Lib eral Part y . The IJ co nc lu de d t ha t Pe naha d
no t s uf fere d p as t p ers ecu ti on ba se d o n apro te ct edgro un d. The IJ a ls o d et erm in edth atPen a h adno t es tabl is he d awell -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re p ers ecu ti on be cau se th ere was no reas on to be li ev e th atth e FARC were s ti ll in te res te d i n J ai ro an d h is fin an ci al in fo rm at io n a fte r he ha d b een ou t o f th e
co un try for t en y ears . Accor di ng ly, th e IJ de ni edPen a’s cl ai m forasylu m . Bec au se Pen a h adno t m ethe r bu rd en of p ro of wit h re sp ectto asylu m , th e IJ de te rm in edth atsh e was un ab le to m eetth e h ig he r st an da rdfor wit hh ol di ng of
rem ov al . Fin al ly, th e IJde ni edPen a’s cl ai m forCAT rel ie f be cau se th ere was no
ev id en ce t ha t s he wou ldbe to rtu redwit h t he acqui es cen ce o r co ns en t o f a Co lo m bi an go ve rn m en t o ffi ci al . The IJ ord eredth atth e p et it io ne rs be rem ov edto Co lo m bi a. Pen a ap pe al edto th e BIA, b utth e BIA d is m is se d h er ap pe al . Firs t, t he BIA
co nc lu de d t ha t the m is tre atm en t t ha t Pe naan d h er fa m il y ex pe rie nc eddi d n otris e to th e le ve l o f pa stpe rs ecu ti on . The BI A ob se rv edth atne it he r Pen a n orhe r fam il y were p hysic al ly harm edin Co lo m bi a. Inad di ti on , th e BIA d et erm in edth at th e in ci de nt s d es cri be d b y Pen a d idno t g iv e ri se to a well -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on . The BI A exp la in edth atPen a’s fearof p ers ecu ti on was u nd erm in ed
5by her t es ti m on y an d s he an d h er ch il dr en rem ai ne d i n C ol om bi a fo r th ree m on th s aft er h er h us ba ndlef

t fo r th e Uni te d S ta te s. Be cau se Pen a h adno t s at is fie d h er bu rd enof p ro of

wit h re sp ectto asylu m , th e BIA co nc lu de d t ha t s he was u nabl e to
m eetth e h ig he r st an da rdforwit hh ol di ng of r em ov al . The BI A als o d et erm in ed th atPen a was no t el ig ib le for CAT rel ie f be cau se sh e fai le d t o s ho w th atsh e
wou ldm or e li ke ly tha n n otbe to rtu redby, orwit h t he acqui es cen ce o f, a go ve rn m en t o ffi ci al up on he r return t o C ol om bi a. II. In a cas e whe re t he BIA is su es it s o wn o pi ni on , we rev ie w th e BIA’s de ci si on . Al Na

jj ar v. Ash cr of

t , 25 7 F .3d12 62 , 12 84 (11 th Cir . 20 01 ). W e rev ie w th e BIA’s fac tu al fin di ng s t o d et erm in e whe th er t he y are s up po rte d b y

subs ta nt ia l
ev id en ce. Ade

fe mi v. As hc ro

ft , 38 6 F .3d10 22 , 10 26 -2 7 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 4) ( en ba nc ). Und er t he subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce s tand ard , “ we vi ew th e rec or d e vi de nc e in th e li gh t m os t fa vo rab le to th e ag en cy ’s dec is io n a nddra w all reas on ab le in fere nc es in fav orof t ha t d eci si on .” Id

. at 1 02 7. We m ay rev ers e th e BIA’s fact ua l fi nd in gs on ly whe n t he reco rdco m pe ls a rev ers al
. Id

. An ap pl ic an t fo r as y lu m

m us t d em on st rat e th atsh e is a refu ge e. INA § 2 08 (b )(1 ), 8 U.S.C. § 11 58 (b )(1 ); 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 3( a). An app li can t qua li fie s
as a refu ge e if

sh e su ffer edpa stpe rs ecu ti on , or h as a well -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re
6pe rs ecu ti on , in he r co un try of o rig in . 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 3( b) ; Kaze mza de h v . U.S.

Att ’y Gen

. , 57 7 F .3d13 41 , 13 51 (11 th Cir . 20 09 ). To es tabl is h p as t p ers ecu ti on , th e ap pl ic an t m

us t s ho w th atsh e was pe rs ecu te d i n t he pa ston acco un t o f a pr ot ect edgro un d. 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 3( b) (1 ); Ka ze mza de h , 57 7 F .3dat 1 35 1. W e h av e ex pl ai ne d tha t “ pe rs ecu ti on is anex tre m e co nc ep t, re qu iri ng m or e th an a few i so la te d i nc id en ts of v erb al ha ras sm en t o r in ti m id at io n, an d . . . m ere ha ras sm en t d oe s n otam ou ntto pe rs ecu ti on .” Se pu lv ed a v . U.S. Att ’y Gen ., 40 1 F.3 d 1 22 6, 1 23 1 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 5) (qu ot at io ns an d a lt erat io n o m it te d) . There is no requi rem en t t ha t a p et it io ne r m us t h av e ex pe rie nc edph y si cal ha rm in ord er t o
es tabl is h p ers ecu ti on . Threa ts co m bi ne d wi th othe r fo rm s o f se ve re m is tre at m en t
can co ns ti tu te pe rs ecu ti on ev en if t he pe ti ti on er d idno t s uf fer m ajorin

juri es . Cf

. De Sa nt ama ri a v . U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 52 5 F .3d99 9, 1 00 9 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 8) (ho ld in g th atth e rec or d c om

pe ll eda fi nd in g o f pe rs ecu ti on wher e th e p et it io ne r
ex pe rie nc edrep eat edde at h t hr eat s, t wo p hysic al att ack s, t he m ur de r of a fam il y fri en d, an d aki dn ap pi ng , eve n t ho ug h t he pe ti ti on er s us ta in edon ly m in or in juri es ). Neve rth el es s, t he factth atanap pl ic an t h as rece iv edm en aci ng or th reat en in g p ho ne cal ls , wit ho utm or e, do es no t co m pe l a f in di ng th atth e ap pl ic an t ha s s uf fere d p as t p ers ecu ti on . Se e S ep ul ved a , 40 1 F .3dat 1 23 1 (c on cl ud in g t ha t

7m en aci ng tel ep ho ne cal ls to th e p et it io ne r an d h er fa m il y di d n otris e to th e le ve l of pe rs ecu ti on ). In th e ab se nc e of pa st pe rs ecu ti on , an ap pl ic an t m ay es tabl is h a well -fo un de d fearof p ers ecu ti on by sh owi ng th at th ere is a reas on ab le po ss ib il it y th at sh e wil l b e pe rs ecu te d if sh e is returne d to he r co un try of or ig in
. 8 C.F.R. 20 8.1 3( b) (2 ); Ka ze mza de h , 57 7 F.3 d at 13 52
. The ap pl ic an t m us t sh ow th at he r fear of pe rs ecu ti on is “ subjec ti ve ly gen ui ne an d o bjec ti ve ly reaso nabl e.” Al Na jj ar , 25 7 F .3dat 1 28 9. An ap pl ic an t can sa ti sf

y th e ob jecti ve pr on g by sh owi ng th at sh e “ ha s a go od reas on to fearfut ur e p ers ecu ti on .” Id

. (qu ot at io n o m it te d)
. To qu al ify fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al , an ap pl ic an t m us t es tabl is h th at he r li fe
or free do m wou ld be th reat en ed in he r co un try o f or ig in on acco un t o f a st atut or il y pr ot ect ed gr ou nd
. Se e INA § 24 1( b) (3 )(A); 8 U.S.C. § 12 31 (b )(3 )(A). The ap pl ic an t
m us t de m on st rat e th at sh e wou ld m or e li ke ly th an no t be p e r s e c ut ed up on be in g returne d to he r co un try of or ig in
. Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 32
. An ap pl ic an t who is
u n ab l e to sa ti sf

y th e st an da rd fo r as y lu m ge ne ral ly wil l be un ab le to m eet th e m or e st rin ge ntst an da rdforwit hh ol di ng of r em ov al
. Id

. at 1 23 2- 33
. In th is cas e, subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce supp or ts th e BIA’s fin di ng th at Pen a di d no t
su ffer pa st pe rs ecu ti on in Co lo m bi a. Pen a di d no t pr es en t an y ev id en ce th at th e gu eri ll as pe rs on a l l y c o n fro nt ed he r fam il y or at te m pt ed to in fli ct ph y si cal ha rm on
8th em . Alt ho ug h sh e di d no t ha ve to sh ow th at sh e su ffer ed a ph y si cal in jury, se e De Sa nt ama ri a , 52 5 F.3 d at 1 0 0 9 , sh e di d ha ve to de m on st rat e th at sh e ex pe rie nc ed
ex tre m e m i s t reat m en t, se e Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 31
. W e ha ve ex pl ai ne d th at t h r e a t e ni ng te le ph on e cal ls of th e so rt rece iv ed by Pen a’s fam il y do no t m eet th at st an da rd
. Se e id

. Thu s, th e r e c o r d d oe s no t co m pe l a fin di ng th at th e gu eri ll as ’
m en aci ng be ha vi orto ward s Pe na ’s fam il y ros e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . Subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce al so supp or ts th e BIA’s fin di ng th at Pen a di d no t ha ve a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe r s e c u t i o n . Pen a m ay ha ve a subjec ti ve fear th at he r fam il y wil l b e h arm edby the FARC if th ey return to Co lo m bi a, bu t t he reco rddo es
no t co m pe l th e co nc lu si on th at he r fear is ob jecti ve ly reas on ab le
. Se e Al Na jj ar , 25 7 F.3 d at 12 89
. Pen a’s fam il y rece iv ed th e in it ia l th reat s fro m th e FARC in Nov em be r 19 97 , bu t Pen a di d no t co m e to th e Uni te d St at es un ti l Nov em be r 19 99
. Dur in g th at t w o- y ear pe rio d, th e FARC di d no t m ak e an y at te m pt s to fo ll ow th ro ug h on t h e i r th reat s, ev en th ou gh th e gu eri ll as ap pa ren tl y kn ew whe re th e fam il y was li vi ng . It is far fro m cl ear th at th e FARC wou ld be in te res te d in ha rm in g Pen a’s fam il y no w, aft er th ey ha ve be en go ne fro m

Co lo m bi a fo r ov er t en y ears . Bec au se th e reco rd do es no t co m pe l a fin di ng th at P e n a s u f f ered pa st pe rs ecu ti on or ha s a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on , th e BIA pr op erl y de ni ed he r c l a i m fo r as y lu m . Se e 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 3( b) ; Ka ze mza de h , 57 7 F.3 d at 13 51 ;
9Ade

fe mi , 38 6 F.3d at 10 27
. Giv en Pen a’s in ab il it y to m eet th e st an da rd fo r as y lu m , sh e can no t m eet th e hi gh er st an da rd fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al
. Se e Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d a t 1 23 2- 33
.

III. As n ot edab ov e, we rev ie w th e BIA’s fac tu al de te rm in at io ns to de te rm in e whe th er t he y

are s up po rte d b y

subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. Ade fe mi , 38 6 F .3dat 10 26 -2 7. To est ab li sh eli gi bi li ty for CAT rel ie f, th e ap pl ic an t m us t d em on st rat e th atitis m or e li ke ly tha n n otth atsh e wou ldbe to rtu redif s he is rem ov edto th e de si gn at edco un try of rem ov al . 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 6( c)(2 ). An ap pl ic an t wh o i s n ot el ig ib le forasylu m

ge ne ral ly w il l b e u nabl e to m eetth e h ig he r st an da rdforCAT rel ie f. Al Na

jj ar , 25 7 F .3dat 1 30 3. In th is cas e, th e BIA ex pr es sl y ad dr es se d P en a’s cl ai m

for CAT rel ie f. Thu s, the re i s n o m eri t t o P en a’s arg um en t t ha t t he BIA fai le d t o c on si de r th at cl ai m . The BI A pro pe rly den ie d P en a’s cl ai m forCAT rel ie f be cau se sh e fai le d t o
es tabl is h t ha t s he wou ldbe to rtu redby, orwit h t he acqui es cen ce o f, a g ov ern m en t of fic ia l. The reco rddo es no t s ho w th atth e Co lo m bi an go ve rn m en t s up po rte d o r acq ui es cedin th e FARC ’s act iv it ie s. To th e co nt rary, the C ol om bi an go ve rn m en t
co ns id ers th e FARC to be a te rro ris t o rg an iz at io n andis cu rren tl y en ga ge d i n a n
10arm edco nf

li ctwit h t ha t g ro up . Mor eo ve r, as no te d abo ve , itis far fr om cle ar t ha t th e FARC wou ldno w be i nt eres te d i n h arm in g P en a an d h er fa m il y . Becau se th e
reco rddo es no t co m

pe l the co nc lu si on th atPen a wou ldbe to rtu redby, orwit h t he acq ui es cen ce o f, a g ov ern m en t o ffi ci al , subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce s up po rts th e BIA’s de ni al of C AT reli ef. Se e 8 C.F .R. § 2 08 .16 (c)( 2) ; Ade fe mi , 38 6 F .3dat 1 02 7. Acco rd in gl y , aft er re vi ew of th e ad m in is tra ti ve reco rdan d t he pa rti es ’ br ie fs , we den y

th e p et it io n fo r rev ie w. PETI TI ON DENI ED.

11