Case Name: Jiang De ZHOU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2010-05-05
Citations: 376 F. App'x 58
Docket Number: No. 09-0913-ag
Parties: Jiang De ZHOU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: REENA RAGGI, PETER W. HALL, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 376
Pages: 58–60

Head Matter:
Jiang De ZHOU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 09-0913-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
May 5, 2010.
Yimin Chen, New York, NY, for petitioner.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division; James H. Hunolt, Senior Litigation Counsel; Margaret A. O’Donnell, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
PRESENT: REENA RAGGI, PETER W. HALL, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Jiang De Zhou, a native and citizen of the People's Republic of China, seeks review of a February 9, 2009, order of the BIA affirming the November 30, 2006, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Steven R. Abrams, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Jiang De Zhou, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Feb. 9, 2009), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Nov. 30, 2006). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we review the decision of the IJ as supplemented by the BIA. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See Manzur v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 494 F.3d 281, 289 (2d Cir.2007); Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008).
In order to qualify for asylum, an applicant must show past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42). Withholding of removal requires an applicant to show that, if removed, it is more likely than not that his life or freedom would be threatened on account of one of those protected grounds. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(b)(2). "The applicant bears the burden of demonstrating eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal." Delgado v. Mukasey, 508 F.3d 702, 706 (2d Cir.2007).
Zhou asserts in his counseled brief that he is entitled to asylum and withholding of removal because he is part of the "social group" of "repeated illegal flee," meaning those who have illegally entered another country and are now being repatriated to China. Contrary to Zhou's argument, the agency's determination that such a large group of people, effectively comprising every Chinese citizen who has violated China's immigration law, lacks sufficient particularity to constitute a particular social group under the INA. See Ucelo-Gomez v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 70, 73 (2d Cir.2007). We find no error in the agency's determination that, even if that social group was sufficiently cognizable, Zhou could not establish that Chinese officials would persecute him on account of his membership in that group rather than prosecute him for violating a generally applicable law. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B); see also Qun Yang v. McElroy, 277 F.3d 158, 163 n. 5 (2d Cir.2002); Matter of Sibrun, 18 I & N Dec. 354, 359 (BIA 1983). The agency reasonably denied Zhou's applications for asylum and withholding of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42), 1231(b)(3).
Unlike both asylum and withholding of removal under the INA, CAT relief does not require a nexus to one of the protected grounds; it does not matter why the applicant will be tortured, only that the torture is more likely than not to occur. See Khouzam v. Ashcroft, 361 F.3d 161, 168 (2d Cir.2004); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c), 1208.17. Nonetheless, we find no error in the agency's denial of Zhou's application for CAT relief because Zhou presented no particularized evidence demonstrating that someone in his circumstances would more likely than not be tortured in China. See Mu-Xing Wang v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 130, 143-44 (2d Cir.2003). Rather, Zhou offered evidence that some individuals who illegally depart China are imprisoned and that human rights violations, including torture, occur in Chinese prisons. We have explicitly held that such evidence, without more, is insufficient to support a claim for CAT relief. See Mu Xiang Lin v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 432 F.3d 156, 159-60 (2d Cir.2005). The same result obtains here.
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(b).