Case Name: MU REN ZHENG, 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: 2012-03-22
Citations: 467 F. App'x 73
Docket Number: No. 10-1468-ag
Parties: MU REN ZHENG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 467
Pages: 73–75

Head Matter:
MU REN ZHENG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 10-1468-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
March 22, 2012.
G. Victoria Calle, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Terri J. Scadron, Assistant Director; Lisa M. Damiano, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation; U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for for Respondent.
PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, ROSEMARY S. POOLER, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Mu Ren Zheng, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a March 22, 2010, decision of the BIA affirming the May 6, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Noel Ferris, which denied Zheng's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Mu Ren Zheng, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Mar. 22, 2010), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City May 6, 2008). 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 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Corovic v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 90, 95 (2d Cir.2008); Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008).
As an initial matter, Zheng has waived any challenge to the agency's determination that he failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution or his eligibility for withholding of removal or CAT relief. See Yueqing Zhang v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 540, 541 n. 1, 545 n. 7 (2d Cir.2005). Therefore, we consider only whether Zheng demonstrated past persecution based on "other resistance" to China's family planning policy as required to establish eligibility for asylum.
Zheng's argument that he suffered persecution based on his wife's forced abortion is unavailing, as "applicants can become candidates for asylum relief only based on persecution that they themselves have suffered or must suffer." Shi Liang Lin v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 494 F.3d 296, 308 (2d Cir.2007) (en banc). Zheng further asserts that he was persecuted on account of "other resistance" to China's family planning policy, contending that his actions of conceiving a second child without government authorization and arguing with family planning officials amount to "other resistance." Although individuals whose spouses were forcibly aborted may be entitled to relief where they demonstrate persecution based on their "other resistance to a coercive population control program," Shao Yan Chen v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 417 F.3d 303, 304 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted), merely impregnating one's spouse is not an act of "resistance," see, e.g., Shi Liang Lin, 494 F.3d at 313 (citing Ru Jian Zhang v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 531, 532 (5th Cir.2004)); Matter of S-L-L-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 1, 11 (2006). As to Zheng's assertion that his argument with the family planning officials constituted "other resistance," Zheng testified repeatedly that the officials would have arrested him even if he had not argued with them. Accordingly, the record does not compel the conclusion that the argument constituted "other resistance" precipitating any subsequent mistreatment. See Shi Liang Lin, 494 F.3d at 313 (indicating that, to be eligible for asylum, the spouse of a woman who was forcibly aborted must "prove past persecution or a fear of future persecution for 'resistance' that is directly related to his . own opposition to a coercive family planning policy") (emphasis added). Because the agency reasonably concluded that Zheng failed to demonstrate other resistance, and that finding is dispositive, we need not reach Zheng's challenge to the agency's finding that his detention did not rise to the level of persecution.
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.