Opinion ID: 1232168
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Withholding of Removal and Protection Under the CAT

Text: Finally, we briefly address Hassan's claims for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The INA prohibits the Attorney General from removing an alien to a country where the alien's life or freedom would be threatened . . . because of the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). An applicant seeking withholding of removal must demonstrate a clear probability of harm by showing that it is more likely than not that he will suffer persecution if removed. BinRashed, 502 F.3d at 670. Because this clear probability requirement is more stringent than the requirements for asylum eligibility, our rejection of Hassan's asylum petition necessarily dooms his withholding of removal claim. Shmyhelskyy, 477 F.3d at 481; see also Bolante, 539 F.3d at 795 (Because we find that Bolante cannot meet his burden of proof on his asylum claim, his withholding of removal claim must fail a fortiori. ). As for Hassan's CAT claim, in order to obtain relief under the CAT, the applicant must show that it is more likely than not that he or she would be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2). Although the torture need not be on account of one of the enumerated traits required for asylum claims, the burden of proof for CAT protection is nonetheless more stringent than the burden for establishing asylum eligibility. Shmyhelskyy, 477 F.3d at 481. Just as Hassan's evidence fails to establish a well-founded fear of persecution, it fails to show that it is more likely than not that he will be tortured upon being returned to Ethiopia.