Case Name: Pasang Dawa SHERPA, Ang Chhokpa Sherpa, Petitioners, 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: 2011-11-15
Citations: 446 F. App'x 347
Docket Number: No. 10-3496-ag
Parties: Pasang Dawa SHERPA, Ang Chhokpa Sherpa, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 446
Pages: 347–350

Head Matter:
Pasang Dawa SHERPA, Ang Chhokpa Sherpa, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 10-3496-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Nov. 15, 2011.
Ramesh K. Shrestha, New York, NY., for Petitioners.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Terri J. Scadron, Assistant Director; Genevieve Holm, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Pasang Dawa Sherpa and Ang Chhokpa Sherpa, natives and citizens of Nepal, seek review of an August 3, 2010, decision of the BIA affirming the January 14, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Steven R. Abrams, which denied their applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Pasang Dawa Sherpa, Ang Chhokpa Sherpa, Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/046 (B.I.A. Aug. 3, 2010), aff'g Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/046 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Jan. 14, 2009). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we have considered both the IJ's and the BIA's opinions "for the sake of completeness." Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008) (internal citation omitted). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).
Petitioners failed to appeal the IJ's denial of CAT relief to the BIA, and, as a result, we are without jurisdiction to consider this unexhausted claim. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir.2006) (citing Beharry v. Ashcroft, 329 F.3d 51, 59 (2d Cir.2003)). Moreover, we do not have jurisdiction to review the agency's finding that Petitioners' asylum application was untimely under 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B), or its finding that neither changed nor extraordinary circumstances excused Petitioners' untimeliness under 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(3). Although we retain jurisdiction to review constitutional claims and "questions of law," see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D), Petitioners' challenge to the IJ's finding that they did not establish either changed or extraordinary circumstances is simply a challenge to the agency's fact-finding determination and exercise of discretion, over which we do not have jurisdiction, see 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a); Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 329 (2d Cir.2006). Accordingly, the only issue before us is whether the agency erred in denying withholding of removal.
The BIA has defined persecution as a "threat to the life or freedom of, or the infliction of suffering or harm upon, those who differ in a way regarded as offensive." Matter of Acosta, 19 I. & N. Dec. 211, 222 (BIA 1985), overruled, in 'part, on other grounds, INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 107 S.Ct. 1207, 94 L.Ed.2d 434 (1987); accord Ivanishvili v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 433 F.3d 332, 342 (2d Cir.2006). The harm must be sufficiently severe, rising above "mere harassment." Ivanishvili, 433 F.3d at 341. Here, the agency addressed the harassment and intimidation described by Petitioners, including visits at their home, threats by the Maoists, and one incident in which a Maoist hit Pasang Sawa Sherpa on the shoulder with the butt of a gun. The agency reasonably concluded that, considered cumulatively, these incidents were insufficiently severe to constitute persecution. See id.; see also Gui Ci Pan v. U.S. Attorney Gen., 449 F.3d 408, 412 (2d Cir.2006).
Petitioners also argued that, in addition to their past persecution, they fear future persecution if they return to Nepal, because a Maoist was allegedly killed by the police after leaving Petitioners' home, and the Maoists allegedly thought Petitioners were responsible. However, as noted by the IJ, Petitioners conceded that they did not witness the alleged incident, and provided no corroboration even though evidence was reasonably available. We have held that the agency may require corroboration despite otherwise credible testimony. See Chuilu Liu v. Holder, 575 F.3d 193, 198 n. 5 (2d Cir.2009) (holding that "while a failure to corroborate can suffice, without more, to support a finding that an alien has not met his burden of proof, a failure to corroborate cannot, without more, support an adverse credibility determination"). Despite Petitioners' arguments that their testimony was sufficient to demonstrate that they would be persecuted in Nepal, it was not unreasonable for the agency to require corroborating evidence, as Petitioners' testimony consisted solely of recounting what they had been told by other individuals. See id. at 196-97; see also 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(i).
When an IJ "determines that the applicant should provide evidence that corroborates otherwise credible testimony, such evidence must be provided unless the applicant does not have the evidence and cannot reasonably obtain the evidence." 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(ii). Here, the IJ identified the type of corroborating evidence that Petitioners should have presented, including documentation regarding the death of the Maoist, as well as any evidence indicating that the Maoists have come looking for them, harmed their family, or confiscated their property. In their appeal to the BIA, Petitioners did not sufficiently address or explain why such evidence was not reasonably available. Consequently, substantial evidence supports the agency's determination that Petitioners could have reasonably provided corroborating evidence, and without any corroborating evidence, failed to meet their burden of showing they would be persecuted in Nepal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4); Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 290 (2d Cir.2000); see also Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005). Because Petitioners were unable to show either past persecution or a clear probability of future persecution in Nepal, the agency did not err in denying their application for withholding of removal. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(b)(1); Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178 (2d Cir.2004).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DISMISSED in part and DENIED in part. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in connection with 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).