Case Name: Shkelzen SYLAJ, Ariana Sylaj, 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: 2013-09-16
Citations: 538 F. App'x 33
Docket Number: Nos. 11-1206 L, 11-4879 CON
Parties: Shkelzen SYLAJ, Ariana Sylaj, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 538
Pages: 33–35

Head Matter:
Shkelzen SYLAJ, Ariana Sylaj, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Nos. 11-1206 L, 11-4879 CON.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Sept. 16, 2013.
Michael P. DiRaimondo (Marialaina L. Masi, Stacy A. Huber, on the brief), DiRaimondo & Masi, LLP, Melville, NY, for Petitioners.
Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Leslie McKay, Assistant Director; Christopher Buchanan, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
PRESENT: JON 0. NEWMAN, ROSEMARY S. POOLER, CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioners Shkelzen Sylaj ("Shkelzen") and Ariana Sylaj, natives and citizens of Albania, seek review of a February 25, 2011, order of the BIA affirming the May 13, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Steven R. Abrams, denying their application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Shkelzen Sylaj, Ariana Sylaj, Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/84 (B.I.A. Feb. 25, 2011), aff'g Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/84 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City May 13, 2009). Petitioners additionally seek review of an October 31, 2011 order of the BIA denying their motion to reopen the immigration proceedings. In re Shkelzen Sylaj, Ariana Sylaj, Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ]/84 (B.I.A. Oct. 31, 2011). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the IJ's and BIA's decisions. See Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam). 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).
The agency's determination that Petitioners have not demonstrated past persecution on account of their family membership is supported by substantial evidence. Shkelzen's uncle committed the crime that started the "blood feud," and Shkelzen was only lightly wounded when his uncle was murdered, which suggest that Shkelzen was not a target of his uncle's murderers. Furthermore, neither Shkelzen nor any member of his family in Albania has been harmed since his uncle's death in 1995. The agency's determination that Petitioners do not have a well-founded fear of persecution is also supported by substantial evidence. Shkelzen was not a target of his uncle's murderers. Neither Shkelzen nor any member of his family in Albania has been harmed since the uncle's death in 1995. The Albanian government has recently increased the penalties for committing murder in furtherance of a blood feud, and has criminalized mere participation in a blood feud. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Yanqin Weng, 562 F.3d at 513.
In its February 2011 decision, the BIA did not abuse its discretion by denying Petitioners' request for remand to the IJ for consideration of additional evidence, because the BIA considered the additional evidence, and it did not negate the substantial evidence supporting the agency's factual determinations that Petitioners had not established past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. See Sanusi v. Gonzales, 445 F.3d 193, 201 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam).
Since the agency did not err in finding that Petitioners failed to demonstrate either past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution, it reasonably denied them withholding of removal and CAT relief, as those claims were based on the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).
Similarly, the evidence that Petitioners submitted with their motion to reopen, taken together with previously submitted evidence, did not establish a prima facie case for the relief sought, since it also did not negate the substantial evidence supporting the agency's factual determinations that Petitioners had not established past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. See INS v. Abudu, 485 U.S. 94, 104, 108 S.Ct. 904, 99 L.Ed.2d 90 (1988). Therefore, the BIA did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion to reopen. Kaur v. BIA 413 F.3d 232, 233 (2d Cir.2005) (per curiam). Moreover, contrary to Petitioners' contention, the BIA's October 2011 decision reflects that the BIA considered the entire record in deciding the motion to reopen. See Ke Zhen Zhao v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 265 F.3d 83, 97 (2d Cir.2001) ("[W]hen faced with a motion to reopen, the Board has an obligation to consider the record as a whole.").
For the foregoing reasons, the petitions for review are DENIED and the pending motion for a stay of removal in these petitions is DISMISSED as moot. The pending request for oral argument in these petitions is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).