Case Name: LIANG CHEN, 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: 2014-11-20
Citations: 591 F. App'x 9
Docket Number: No. 13-2515
Parties: LIANG CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: PIERRE N. LEVAL, REENA RAGGI and RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 591
Pages: 9–11

Head Matter:
LIANG CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 13-2515.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Nov. 20, 2014.
Dixon Wong, Pasadena, CA, for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General; David V. Bernal, Assistant Director; Jennifer Paisner Williams, Senior Litigation Counsel; Office of Immigration ■ Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: PIERRE N. LEVAL, REENA RAGGI and RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Liang Chen, a native and citizen of the People's Republic of China, seeks review of a May 30, 2013, order of the BIA affirming the December 13, 2011, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Aviva L. Poczter, denying Chen asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Liang Chen, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (BIA May 30, 2013), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig.Ct.N.Y. City Dec. 13, 2011). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed the IJ's decision as the final agency determination. See Shunfu Li v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 141, 146 (2d Cir.2008). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).
Past Persecution: Family Planning Fine
In order for economic harm to constitute persecution, the harm must be "severe," such that it would "constitute a threat to an individual's life or freedom," but an applicant "need not demonstrate a total deprivation of livelihood or a total withdrawal of all economic opportunity in order to demonstrate harm amounting to persecution." Matter of T-Z-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 163, 170-73 (BIA 2007) (quotation marks omitted); see also Guan Shan Liao v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 293 F.3d 61, 70 (2d Cir.2002). Here, the IJ reasonably found that Chen failed to establish that she suffered economic persecution as a result of a 12,000 renminbi family planning fine because she testified that she paid the fine and did not assert that she suffered any disadvantage as a result.
Future Persecution: Religious Practice
Absent past persecution, an applicant may establish eligibility for asylum by demonstrating a well-founded fear of future persecution. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(2). To establish a well-founded fear of persecution, an applicant must show that she subjectively fears persecution and that this fear is objectively reasonable. See Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178 (2d Cir.2004). "[A]n alien must make some showing that authorities in his country of nationality are either aware of his activities or likely to become aware of his activities." Hongsheng Leng v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 135, 143 (2d Cir.2008).
Chen does not claim that Chinese government officials are aware of her religion. Instead, she argues that officials are likely to learn of her religious practice when she joins an unsanctioned "family church" in China. Citing, among other things, the 2010' U.S. Department of State's Interna tional Religious Freedom Report indicating that tens of millions of Christians practice in unregistered Christian churches in China, the IJ reasonably rejected this argument and determined that Chen failed to establish a well-founded fear of being singled out for persecution on account of her religion. See Hongsheng Leng, 528 F.3d at 143.
The IJ also did not err in determining that Chen failed to demonstrate systemic and pervasive persecution of similarly situated Christians sufficient to demonstrate a pattern or practice of persecution. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(2)(iii); see also Matter of A-M-, 23 I. & N. Dec. 737, 741 (BIA 2005). While acknowledging reports that the Chinese government arrested, harassed, and restricted leaders and members of certain groups, the IJ noted that tens of millions of Chinese Christians practice in unregistered churches. Based on the evidence regarding country conditions, the IJ also found that the Chinese government permits family and friends to worship in homes without registering and does not interfere with unregistered religious groups in certain areas of the country.
Finally, because Chen failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on account of her practice of Christianity, the IJ did not err in denying her asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief insofar as those claims were based on the same asserted factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (2d Cir.2006).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot.