Opinion ID: 1305040
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Protection

Text: Thu next claims the IJ erred in denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection. To obtain asylum, Thu must either show he has suffered past persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion or he has a well-founded fear of future persecution on the basis of one of these grounds. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b). If an applicant establishes past persecution, he is entitled to a rebuttable presumption of a well-founded fear of future persecution. See id. § 1208.13(b)(1). In the absence of past persecution, an applicant can demonstrate entitlement to asylum if he shows there is a reasonable possibility he will experience persecution upon removal. See id. § 1208.13(b)(2). The standard for withholding of removal is a clear probability of persecution. Guled v. Mukasey, 515 F.3d 872, 881 (8th Cir.2008) (citation omitted). An alien may not be removed if he can show his life or freedom would be threatened upon removal because of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). An alien may demonstrate eligibility for withholding of removal by demonstrating he suffered past persecution on account of one of the five statutory grounds. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(b)(1). An applicant who fails to demonstrate past persecution may be eligible for withholding of removal if he can establish that it is more likely than not that he or she would be persecuted on account of one of the five grounds upon removal. Id. § 1208.16(b)(2). A threat of future persecution can be established by demonstrating either an individualized risk or a pattern of persecution of similarly situated persons based on one of the five grounds. Id. An applicant seeking relief under the [CAT] bears the burden of establishing `it is more likely than not that he . . . would be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.' Guled, 515 F.3d at 881 (citing 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2)). In making this assessment, the following should be considered: (i) Evidence of past torture inflicted upon the applicant; (ii) Evidence that the applicant could relocate to a part of the country of removal where he or she is not likely to be tortured; (iii) Evidence of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights within the country of removal, where applicable; and (iv) Other relevant information regarding conditions in the country of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(3). The IJ found Thu's adverse credibility determination was dispositive of Thu's past persecution asylum claim. The IJ similarly found Thu failed to establish a well-founded fear of future persecution in Burma, citing Thu had only recently become involved in political organizations in the United States. The IJ denied Thu's application for withholding of removal because Thu could not meet the higher burden of proof. Finally, the IJ denied Thu's CAT protection claim because Thu's credibility issues went to the core of Thu's persecution claim, and he had not established it was more likely than not Thu would be tortured or harmed if returned to Burma. The BIA upheld the IJ's findings on Thu's entitlement to asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection. Reviewing the IJ's and the BIA's decisions under the deferential substantial evidence standard, we conclude the evidence in the record was not so compelling that no reasonable factfinder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution. See Alanwoko, 538 F.3d at 913. We uphold the BIA's denial of Thu's applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection.