FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT MAY 19, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H]

I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 13631 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N o. A 75- 864- 921 W I L M E R A R T E A G A , P e titio n e r , v ersu s U .S . A T T O RN E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on f orR e vi e w of

aD e c i s i on of

the B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

_________________________ ( M ay 19, 2008) B efo re H U L L , P R Y O R an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

W i l m e rA rt e a ga , ana t i ve a nd c i t i z e n of V e ne z ue l a , appe a l s the or de rof the B oa r d of I m m i gr a t i on A ppe a l s ( “ B I A ” ) a f f i rm i ng w i thoutopi ni on the i m m i gr a t i on j ud ge’ s ( “ IJ ’ s” ) orderof re m ov al , deni al of as yl um and w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al unde rthe I m m i gr a t i on a nd N a t i ona l i ty A c t( “ I N A ” ) , a nd de ni a l of r e l i e f unde rthe U ni t e d N a t i ons C onve nt i on A ga i ns tT or tur e a nd O the rC rue l , I nhum a n, or D e gr a di ng T r e a tm e ntorP uni s hm e nt( “ C A T ” ) , I N A §§ 208, 241, 8 U . S . C . §§ 1158, 1 2 3 1 , 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 6 ( c ) . A rt eag a arg u es th atth e B IA erred i n fi n d i n g th ath e h ad n o test ab l i sh ed p ast pers ec ut i on or a w el l -f

ou nd ed fe arof future pers ec ut i on on ac coun tof hi s i m pu t ed pol i t i c a l opi ni on. A rt e a gaa l s o a r gue s , f orthe f i r s tt i m e on appe a l , tha the e s t abl i s he d pa s t - pe r s e c ut i on oraw e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on on a c c o u n t o f

h is m e m b e r s h ip in ap a r tic u la rs o c ia l g r o u p . A r te a g af a ils , h o w e v e r , to pr ovi de a ny a r gum e nton the B I A ’ s de ni a l of C A T r e l i e f

. F orthe r e a s ons di sc usse d b el ow , w e deny the pet i t i on as t o A rt ea ga’ s a sy l um and w i thh ol di ng -ofr e m ova l c l a i m s , t o the e xt e ntthe y a r e ba s e d on hi s i m put e d pol i t i c a l opi ni on; de ny th e p etit io n as to A rtea g a’s C A T claim ; an d d ism iss th e p etit io n as to A rtea g a’s a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng- of - r e m ova l c l a i m s ba s e d on hi s m e m be r s hi p i n a p a rtic u la rs o c ia l g r o u p .3 I. In hi s app l i ca t i on for a sy l um , w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al , and C A T re l i ef and at hi s i ndi vi dua l he a r i ng, A rt e a gaa l l e ge d the f ol l ow i ng. H i s f

a the rw a s am e m be rof th e D em o cr atic A ctio n P ar ty o f V en ez u ela, w h ich o p p o se d H u g o C h av ez ’s p r e s id e n c y . A s p a rt o f

h is p o litic a l o p p o s itio n , h is f a th e rp a r tic ip a te d in a n a n tiC ha ve z m a r c h on A pr i l 11, 2002, i n C a r a c a s , V e ne z ue l a . H i s f a the ra l s o s i gne d a p resi d en t i al recal l referen d u m ag ai n stC h av ez i n A u g u st2 0 0 4 . A rt eag a al so op po se s C havez. A s ar e s ul tof

hi s f a the r ’ s pol i t i c a l a c t i vi ty , A r t e a ga ’ s f a m i l y s uf

f e r e d the fol l ow i ng pers ec ut i on . W hi l e hi s f ather m ar ched agai nstC havez, hi s f ather w as

“ s truc k a nd thr e a t e ne d. ” A f t e rthe m a r c h, hi s f

a the rr e c e i ve d “ l a t e - ni ghtt e l e phone ca l l s” atho m e. O ne of the ca l l er s threa t ened hi s f ather’ s l i fe and t ol d h i s f ather tha the ors he “ kne w the w he r e about s of am e m be rof

hi s f a m i l y w ho l i ve d i n the [ U ni t e d] [ S ] t a t e s . ” T he s e “ c ons t a nt ” thr e a t e ni ng t e l e phone c a l l s c ont i nue d f r om D e c e m b e r2 0 0 2 u n til F e b ru a ry 2 0 0 3 . A r te a g a ’s f a th e ra ls o r e c e iv e d c a lls in F e b ru a ry 2 0 0 4 , w a rn in g h im to b e c a r e f u l b e c au s e h e w a s b e in g w a tc h e d . W h ile m os tof the c a l l e r s w e r e a nony m ous , othe r s i de nt i f i e d the m s e l ve s a s be i ng m em bers of the pro-C havez “ M ov em entof the F i fth R epub l i c. ” A f t e rhi s f a the rs i gne d the r e f

e r e ndum , hi s f

a the rw a s “ bl a c kl i s t e d” a nd m ad e u n em p lo ya b le, an d A rtea g a’s f am il y w as co n stan tl y s u rv eill ed b y C h av ez ’s4

party. B ec ause of the stre ss of the ph on e c al l s and other e vent s, hi s f ather s uffe re d a neurom uscul arpara l ys i s i n O ct ob er20 02 . T he i l l ness l ef thi s f ather i ncapaci t at ed f o rf o u rmo n th s a n d h i s f

a th e rc o n t i n u e d t o s u f

f e rt o al e s s e rd e g r e e u n t i l th e t i me of A rt e a ga ’ s he a r i ng. I n F e brua ry 2004, hi s f a the rw a s “ t a ke n a tgunpoi nti n a p ic ku p tru c k ,” to ld th a t h e s h o u ld c e a s e h is o p p o s itio n a c tiv ity o rA r te a g a ’s f a m ily w oul d s uf

f e r“ s e r i ous c ons e que nc e s , ” a nd “ s tr i ppe d of hi s pos s e s s i ons [ ] a nd the m on eythathe w as abou tt o d eposi ti n the bank . ” M o r e o v e r , th e p e r s e c u tio n w a s n o t lim ite d to A r te a g a ’s f a th e ra n d h is im m e d ia te f

a m ily . I n 2 0 0 5 , th e h o m e o f o n e o f A r te a g a ’s c o u s in s w a s b r o k e n in to . W h ile th e p o lic e s a id th a t it w a s a“r e g u la rr o b b e ry ,” A r te a g a ’s c o u s in a n d f a m ily kn ew thati tw as C havez s up po rt er s A rt ea ga adm i tt ed, ho w ever , thathi s f ather no l on ger i s a s a ct i ve i n the D e m o c r a tic A c tio n P a rty b e c au s e o f h e a lth p r o b le m s a n d th a t n o o th e rf a m ily m e m be rc urr e nt l y pa rt i c i pa t e d. A r t e a gaa l s o a dm i tt e d tha t , a tthe t i m e of the h eari n g , h i s d au g h t er, m o th er, fath er, b ro th er, an d si st er rem ai n ed i n C aracas, V enez uel a. T he I J de ni e d A rt e a ga ’ s r e que s tf orr e l i e f . T he I J f

ound tha tA r t e a gaha d not d e m o n s tr a te d p a s t p e r s e c u tio n . T h e I J r e a s o n e d th a t A r te a g a“w a s n e v e rin V e ne z ue l adur i ng the t i m e of H ugo C ha ve z ” a nd thus ne ve rw a s “ a f f e c t e d, bothe r e d, j a i l e d, orputa tr i s k a ta l l i n V e ne z ue l a . ” R e ga r di ng A r t e a ga ’ s f a the r , the5

I J r e a s one d tha tthe phone c a l l s t o A r t e a ga ’ s f a the rc ons t i tut e d m e r e ha r a s s m e nt and thatA rt ea ga had n otprov i ded any evi dence corr ob orat i ng hi s t es t i m on y that hi s f ather w as i nj ured, such as m edi ca l re cords, or thathi s c ou si n’ s hom e w as br oke n i nt o, s uc h a s pol i c e r e port s . T he I J a l s o f ound tha tA r t e a gaha d not d e m o n s tr a te d th a t h e h a d ar e a s o n ab le f e aro f b e in g p e r s e c u te d if

h e r e tu rn e d to V en ez u ela. T h e I J r ea so n ed th at th e r ec o rd p ro v id ed n o in d icatio n th at A rtea g a’s m o th er, b ro th er, o r si st er ev er w ere h arm ed ev en th o u g h th ey rem ai n ed i n C aracas, V e ne z ue l a . O n appe a l , the B I A a f f i rm e d and a dopt e d the I J ’ s opi ni on. II. W h en th e B IA af

firm s w ith o u t o p in io n th e I J’s d ec isio n , as h er e, th e I J’s deci si on becom es the fi nal agencydet erm i nat i on subj ec tt o revi ew . S ee M endo za v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 32 7 F . 3d 12 83 , 12 84 n. 1 (11 th C i r. 20 03 ). T o the ext entthat th e I J ’s d e c is io n w a s b a s e d o n ale g a l d e te rm in a tio n , o u rr e v ie w is d e n o v o . D -M uh um ed v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 7 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). W e r evi ew th e I J ’ s f a c tu a l d e t e rm i n a t i o n s , h o we v e r , u n d e rth e s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e t e s t . Al N a jja rv . A s h c r o f

t, 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 2 6 2 , 1 2 8 3 - 8 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . U n d e rth is te s t, w hi ch i s “ hi gh l y def

er ent i al , ” w e “ m ustaf

fi rm the [I J’ s] deci si on i f i ti s s up po rt ed b y reaso n ab l e, su b st an t i al , an d p ro b at i v e ev i d en ce o n th e reco rd co n si d ered as a w h o l e. ” Id . (q u o t at i o n o m i tt ed ). In o rd er t o rev erse a find i n g o f fact , “ w e m u st6

f i nd tha tthe r e c or d notonl y s uppor t s r e ve r s a l , butc om pe l s i t . ” M e ndoz a , 327 F . 3d a t1287. In cond uct i ng ou r r evi ew , w e w i l l no tconsi der a rgum ent s pre se nt ed before the I J orB I A butnotdi s c us s e d on appe a l . S e pul ve dav. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 12 26 , 12 28 n. 2 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ) ( expl ai ni ng that“ [w ] hen an app el l antfa i l s t o o ff er a r g u m e n t o n a n is s u e , th a t is s u e is ab a n d o n e d ” ) . A ls o , w e la c kju r is d ic tio n to c ons i de ra r gum e nt s r a i s e d f orthe f i r s tt i m e on appe a l . A l N a jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1294 (ex p l ai n i n g th at“ a co u rtl ack s j u ri sd i ct i o n t o co n si d er a cl ai m w h i ch h as n o tfi rst been prese nt ed t o the B oard, as an al i en m ustexhaustthe adm i ni stra t i ve re m edi es a v a ilab le to h im p r io rto o b ta in in g ju d ic ia l r e v ie w ” ) . A n al i en w ho arri ves i n o r i s pre se nti n the U ni t ed S t at es m ayappl y f or, i nt er a l i a , a s y l u m a n d w i th h o l d i n g o f r e mo v a l . I N A § § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 2 4 1 , 8 U . S. C. §§ 1158( a ) ( 1) , 1231( b) ( 3) ( A ) , 8 C . F . R . § 208. 16( c ) . T o qua l i f y f ora s y l um , the a l i e n mu s tp r o v e th a th e i s ar e f u g e e . A l N a

jj a r , 2 5 7 F. 3 d a t1 2 8 4 ( c i t i n g 8 U . S. C. § 1 1 0 1 (a)(4 2 )(A )). A refu g ee i s d efi n ed i n th e IN A as: a n y p e r s o n w h o is o u ts id e a n y c o u n try o f s u c h p e r s o n ’s n a tio n a lity . . . a nd w ho i s unabl e orunw i l l i ng t o r e turn t o, a nd i s unabl e orunw i l l i ng t o a va i l hi m s e l f

orhe r s e l f

of the pr ot e c t i on of

, tha tc ountry be c aus e of pers ec ut i on or a w el l -f

ou nd ed fe arof pers ec ut i on on ac coun tof ra ce , r e l i gi on, na t i ona l i ty , m e m be r s hi p i n apa r t i c ul a rs oc i a l gr oup, or pol i t i c a l opi ni on.7

I N A § 101( a ) ( 42) ( A ) , 8 U . S . C . § 1101( a ) ( 42) ( A ) . T o e s t abl i s h r e f uge e s t a tus , the a l i e n m us te s t abl i s h, thr ough s pe c i f i c , de t a i l e d f

a c t s , ( 1) hi s pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof

apr ot e c t e d gr ound, or( 2) hi s “ w e l l - f ounde d f e a r ” tha the w i l l be pers ec ut ed i n the future because of aprot ec t ed grou nd . 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 13 (a ), (b); s e e A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . A w e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on m a y be e s t abl i s he d by s how i ng ( 1) pa s tpe r s e c ut i on tha tc r e a t e s ar e butt abl e pr e s um pt i on of aw e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on ba s e d on apr ot e c t e d gr ound, ( 2) ar e a s onabl e pos s i bi l i ty of pe r s ona l pe r s e c ut i on ba s e d on apr ot e c t e d gr ound, or( 3) apa tt e rn orpr a c t i c e i n the s ubj e c tc ountryof

pe r s e c ut i ng m e m be r s of as t a tut or i l y de f

i ne d gr oup of

w hi c h the a l i e n i s apa rt . 8 C . F . R § 208. 13( b) ( 1) , ( b) ( 2) ( i ) a nd ( i i i ) . I n e s t abl i s hi ng the p o s s ib ility o f

p e r s o n a l p e r s e c u tio n , th e a lie n m u s t p r e s e n t “s p e c if ic , d e ta ile d f

a c ts show i ng a goo d rea son t o fea r thathe or she w i l l be si ng l ed ou tfor per se cut i on . ” H ua ng v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 429 F . 3d 1002, 1009 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( quot a t i on o m i tt ed ). W e h av e su g g est ed th atan al i en ’ s al l eg at i o n s o f a fu tu re th reatare l ess p e r s u a s iv e if

th e a lie n ’s f

a m ily r e m a in s in h is c o u n try w ith o u t in c id e n t. S e e R u iz v . U .S . A tt’y G e n ., 4 4 0 F .3 d 1 2 4 7 , 1 2 5 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 6 ) . I n e s t abl i s hi ng apa tt e rn orpr a c t i c e of pe r s e c ut i on, the a l i e n ne e d notpr ove tha the w oul d be s i ngl e d outf orpe r s e c ut i on i f

he de m ons tr a t e s ( 1) apa tt e rn or p r a c tic e o f

p e r s e c u tio n o f

s im ila r ly s itu a te d in d iv id u a ls a n d ( 2 ) th a t h is in c lu s io n in8

th a tg r o u p o f

i n d i v i d u a l s ma k e s h i s f e a ro f p e r s e c u t i o n r e a s o n ab l e . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 2 08 . 13 (b)( 2)(i i i ). In es t abl i shi ng any of the abov e, w e have hel d thatthe al i en m u s t d e m o n s tr a te th a t h is f e a r“is s u b

je c tiv e ly g e n u in e a n d o b je c tiv e ly r e a s o n ab le .” A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 9 . W hi l e the IN A do es no texpres sl y def i ne “ pers ec ut i on , ”w e have re cogn i ze d tha ti ti s “ a n e xtr e m e c onc e pt , r e qui r i ng m or e tha n af e w i s ol a t e d i nc i de nt s of v e rb a l h a r a s s m e n t o rin tim id a tio n , a n d th a t [ m ]e r e h a r a s s m e n t d o e s n o t a m o u n t to pe r s e c ut i on. ” S e pul ve dav. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1226, 1231 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( quot a t i ons om i tt e d) ( c onc l udi ng tha t“ m e na c i ng” t e l e phone c a l l s a nd thr e a t s t o the a l i e n a nd he rbr othe rdi d notc ons t i tut e pa s tpe r s e c ut i on) . I nde e d, i n Dj ondav. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 514 F . 3d 1168, 1174 ( 11th C i r . 2008) , w e he l d tha ta“ m i nor beat i ng ” does notconst i tut e per se cut i on . W e a l so have re cogn i ze d thatevi dence that“ m er el y s ho w s thata per son h as been the vi ct i m of cr i m i nal ac t i vi ty[ ] do es no tconst i tut e e vi dence of pers ec ut i on base d o n a st atut ori l y prot ec t ed grou nd . ” R u iz , 4 4 0 F .3 d a t 1 2 5 8 . T o q u a lif y f o rw ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l, th e a lie n s im ila r ly m u s t s h o w th a t it i s m or e l i ke l y tha n nottha thi s l i f e orf r e e dom w oul d be thr e a t e ne d on a c c ountof ra ce , re l i gi on , nat i on al i ty, m em bers hi p i n a part i cul arsoci al grou p, or po l i t i ca l opi ni on. M e ndoz a , 327 F . 3d a t1287 ( c i t i ng 8 U . S . C . § 1231( b) ( 3) ( A ) ) . W e ha ve e x p la in e d th a t, b e c au s e th e m o r e - lik e ly - th a n - n o t s ta n d a r d th a t ap p lie s to9

w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al cl ai m s i s m ore s tri ng entthan the w el l -f ou nd ed-f ear st andard thatappl i es t o asy l um cl ai m s, i nel i gi bi l i ty f or as yl um general l y pre cl ud es w ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l e lig ib ility . A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 9 2 - 9 3 . III. R egar di ng A rt ea ga’ s i m pu t ed-pol i t i ca l -opi ni on as yl um cl ai m , w e hol d that s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s upport s the I J ’ s f i ndi ng tha tA r t e a gadi d note s t abl i s h tha the suff er ed pastpers ec ut i on or had a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof suff

er i ng future pe r s e c ut i on. S e e A l N a jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1283- 84. A s t o pa s tpe r s e c ut i on, A r t e a ga of f e r e d no e vi de nc e tha the pe r s ona l l y s uf f e r e d a ny tr e a tm e ntr e s e m bl i ng pe r s e c ut i on. A l s o, a l though w e r e c ogni z e tha tw e ha ve notc l a r i f i e d w he the rthe tre atm entof A rt ea ga’ s f am i l y by i t se l f i s r el evantt o w hether A rt ea ga dem on stra t ed pa s tpe r s e c ut i on f

ora s y l um purpos e s , w e f i nd tha tw e ne e d notr e s ol ve thi s i s s ue here because the tre atm entof A rt ea ga’ s f ather a nd cousi n d i d n otri se t o the l evel of pers ec ut i on . S peci fi ca l l y, the threa t eni ng t el epho ne ca l l s thatA rt ea ga’ s f ather re ce i ved, tho ug h “ const ant , ” c on st i tut e m er e verbal hara ss m ent . S ee S epul veda, 401 F . 3d a t1231. A l s o, w i thouta ny e vi de nc e be y ond w ha tA r t e a gaof f e r e d, the r e c o r d d o e s n o t c o m p e l af in d in g th a t th e b e a tin g th a t A r te a g a ’s f a th e ra lle g e d ly re ce i ved atthe ant i -C havez m ar ch w as som ethi ng m ore than “ m i no r. ” S ee Dj on da, 51 4 F . 3d at11 74 ; M endo za , 32 7 F . 3d at12 87 . L i kew i se , the po l i ce det erm i ned thatthe break-i n o f A rt ea ga’ s c ou si n’ s hou se si m pl y w as “ re gu l ar ” c ri m i nal10

a c tiv ity , a n d A rte a g ad id n o t o f f e ra n y e v id e n c e c o m p e llin g af in d in g th a t h is co u sin ’s h o u se w as b ro k en in to b y C h av ez su p p o rter s b ec au se o f h is co u sin ’s p o l i t i cal o p i n i o n s. S ee R u i z, 4 4 0 F . 3 d 1 2 5 8 ; M en d o za, 3 2 7 F . 3 d at1 2 8 7 . T h u s, A rt e a gadi d note s t abl i s h tha the s uf f e r e d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on. A s t o aw e l l - f

ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on, A r t e a gai s note nt i t l e d t o the r e butt abl e pr e s um pt i on of thi s f e a rba s e d on as how i ng of pa s tpe r s e c ut i on, f

orthe r e a s ons di s c us s e d above . S e e 8 C . F . R . § 208. 13( b) ( 1) . T he r e c or d a l s o doe s not i nc l ude the ne c e s s a ry f

a c t s s ugge s t i ng tha tA r t e a gal i ke l y w i l l be s i ngl e d outf or p o litic a l p e r s e c u tio n . S e e 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 3 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( i) ; H u a n g , 4 2 9 F .3 d a t 1 0 0 9 . S pe c i f i c a l l y , A rt e a gat e s t i f

i e d tha thi s f

a the rno l onge rpa r t i c i pa t e s w i th the D e m oc r a t i c A c t i on P a rty , s uc h tha ti ti s pos s i bl e the C ha ve z s uppor t e r s i n que s t i on n o lo n g e ra r e in te r e s te d in A rte a g a ’s f a th e r , m u c h le s s A r te a g a . A ls o , A r te a g ad id no tt es t i fythathe ever part i ci pat ed i n o pp osi t i on po l i t i cs l i ke hi s f ather. L i kew i se , w hi l e A rt ea ga t es t i fi ed thathe do es op po se C havez l i ke hi s f ather, he offe re d no thi ng t o sug gestthatC havez’ s s up po rt er s kno w of thi s pol i t i ca l bel i ef . S ee E l i as -Z ac ar i as , 50 2 U . S . at48 2-83 , 11 2 S . C t . at81 6. T hu s, i ti s very possi bl e that the C havez s up po rt er s i n q uest i on never w er e i nt er es t ed i n A rt ea ga. F urtherm ore, w h ile A rte a g a ’s m o th e r , b r o th e r , a n d s is te rliv e in C a r a c a s , V e n e z u e la , A r te a g ad id n o t te s tif y th a t th e y e v e rh a v e b e e n h a rm e d b y th e C h a v e z s u p p o r te r s , s u c h th a t it is11

pos s i bl e tha tthe C ha ve z s upport e r s i n que s t i on di d notha ve i nt e r e s ti n a ny one b e y o n d A rte a g a ’s f

a th e r . S e e R u iz , 4 4 0 F .3 d a t 1 2 5 9 . T h e reco rd fu rth er d o es n o ti n cl u d e th e n ecessary facts th atA rt eag a i s a m e m be rof

agr oup tha tC ha ve z ’ s s uppor t e r s ha ve apa tt e rn a nd pr a c t i c e of p er se cu ti n g . S ee 8 C .F .R § 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )( 2 )( ii i). E v en as su m in g th at C h av ez ’s s u p p o rte r s h a v e ap a tte rn a n d p r a c tic e o f p e r s e c u tin g th e o p p o s itio n , A r te a g ad id no tes t abl i sh thathe i s am em ber of the op po si t i on thatC havez’ s s up po rt er s pe r s e c ut e . S e e 8 C . F . R § 208. 13( b) ( 2) ( i i i ) . A s s t a t e d above , A r t e a gadi d not t es t i fythathe ever a tt ended o pp osi t i on m ee t i ng s or thatthe C havez s up po rt er s k n e w o f h is p o litic a l b e lie f

s . T h u s , A r te a g ad id n o t e s tab lis h th a t h e h a s aw e llf o u n d e d f e a ro f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . R egar di ng A rt ea ga’ s i m pu t ed-pol i t i ca l -opi ni on w i thh ol di ng -of- re m ov al c l a i m , w e hol d tha ts ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e a l s o s uppor t s the I J ’ s f i ndi ng tha tA r t e a ga d id n o t q u a lif

y f o rth is f o rm o f r e lie f . S e e A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 3 - 8 4 . B ec ause A rt ea ga di d n otes t abl i sh thathe had a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof future pers ec ut i on , as st at ed abov e, he ca nn otes t abl i sh thati ti s m ore l i kel y than n otthat h e w i l l b e p ersecu t ed i f retu rn ed t o V en ezu el a. S ee i d . at1 2 9 2 -9 3 . A cco rd i n g l y, w e de ny the pe t i t i on a s t o A rt e a ga ’ s c l a i m tha the m e r i t e d a s y l um orw i thhol di ng o f r e m o v a l o n a c c o u n t o f

h is im p u te d p o litic a l o p in io n .12

R egar di ng A rt ea ga’ s s oci al -group as ylum and w i thh ol di ng -of- re m ov al c l a i m s , we h o l d th a twe l a c kj u r i s d i c t i o n t o c o n s i d e rth i s r e q u e s tf o rr e l i e f . S e e Al N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 9 4 . A rte a g ad id n o t r a is e th is a r g u m e n t b e f o r e th e I J o rB I A . A c c or di ngl y , w e di s m i s s the pe t i t i on a s t o A r t e a ga ’ s c l a i m tha the m e r i t e d a s y l um or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al on ac coun tof hi s m em bers hi p i n a part i cul arsoci al g r o u p . R egar di ng A rt ea ga’ s C A T -r el i ef re qu es t , w e hol d thatA rt ea ga abando ned a n y a r g u m e n t th a t th e I J e rr e d in d e n y in g h is ap p lic a tio n a s to th is f o rm o f r e lie f . S e e S e pul ve da , 401 F . 3d a t1228 n. 2. A r t e a gaf a i l e d t o pr ovi de a ny a r gum e nton thi s m att eri n h i s bri ef

on appeal . S ee i d. A cc ordi ng l y, w e a ff i rm the IJ ’ s deni al o f C A T r e lie f

. PETI TI O N D EN I ED I N PA R T, D I SM I SSED I N PA R T.