Case Name: ZHEN DONG, Petitioner v. Michael B. MUKASEY, U.S. Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-07-11
Citations: 286 F. App'x 146
Docket Number: No. 07-60524
Parties: ZHEN DONG, Petitioner v. Michael B. MUKASEY, U.S. Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 286
Pages: 146–148

Head Matter:
ZHEN DONG, Petitioner v. Michael B. MUKASEY, U.S. Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 07-60524
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
July 11, 2008.
Gary J. Yerman, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Linda Susan Wendtland, John Clifford Cunningham, Don George Scroggin, Kohe-sei Ugumori, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before JOLLY, DENNIS and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Zhen Dong, a native and citizen of China, has filed a petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' (BIA) denial of his motion to reopen removal proceedings as time- and number-barred. Dong argues that the BIA abused its discretion in finding that Dong's allegations of increased enforcement of China's population control laws were insufficient to qualify as changed country conditions un der 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii), so as to exempt Dong's motion to reopen from the time and number bars. Dong also argues that the BIA mischaracterized his argument to refer to changes in his personal circumstances rather than the country's. He further avers that, given the rise of persecutive measures to enforce family planning practices and the birth of his children, he or his wife will be subjected to forced abortions and/or sterilization if returned to China, thus warranting the grant of asylum and withholding of removal. For this reason, Dong argues, he and his wife have a reasonable fear of persecution if they return to China.
In its decision, the BIA considered Dong's arguments and evidence as to conditions in China and Dong's personal circumstances. However, Dong's own evidence supports the BIA's conclusion. Dong's evidence shows that abortions and forced sterilizations continued to be documented, although officially not permitted, but not that they increased. Furthermore, Dong's two prior motions to reopen argued the same "changed" circumstances. In those motions, Dong argued that he and his wife feared China's coercive family planning policies. Dong fails to show an increase in the threat that he describes in those prior motions. Dong has failed to show that the BIA abused its discretion. See Lara v. Trominski, 216 F.3d 487, 496 (5th Cir.2000); Singh v. Gonzales, 436 F.3d 484, 487 (5th Cir.2006).
Dong additionally asserts that the BIA erred in requiring him to show changed circumstances in China under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a and 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii). Dong argues that, under 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(D), aliens with changed personal circumstances after a removal order may file a successive asylum application without having to show a change in country conditions. In Matter of C-W-L, 24 I. & N. Dec. 346, 351 (BIA 2007), the BIA rejected this argument and we reject it as well. Section 1158(a)(2)(D) governs asylum applications only and is not applicable to the reopening of removal proceedings. 8 U.S.C. § 1229a and 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii), on the other hand, expressly applies to aliens under final orders of removal seeking to apply or reapply for asylum. Dong fails to show that the BIA analysis of his motion to reopen under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a and 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(3)(ii), rather than § 1158(a)(2)(D), was arbitrary, capricious, or manifestly contrary to the statutes. See Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 844, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984).
For these reasons, Dong's petition for review of the decision of the BIA is DENIED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.