Court Opinion

ID: 4352374
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-19 21:00:29.15151+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:40.027051
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       DEC 19 2018
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

FENG GU,                                        No.    18-70201

                Petitioner,                     Agency No. A201-040-756

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
MATTHEW G. WHITAKER, Acting
Attorney General,

                Respondent.

                     On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                         Board of Immigration Appeals

                          Submitted December 17, 2018**

Before:      WALLACE, SILVERMAN, and McKEOWN, Circuit Judges.

      Feng Gu, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of the

Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration

judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal,

and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual

findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility determinations

created by the REAL ID Act, Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039-40 (9th Cir.

2010). We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a continuance, Sandoval-

Luna v. Mukasey, 526 F.3d 1243, 1246 (9th Cir. 2008), and a motion to remand,

Romero-Ruiz v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 1057, 1062 (9th Cir. 2008). We deny the

petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination

based on inconsistencies between Gu’s testimony and documentary evidence as to

and the timing of and motivation for Gu’s decision to come to the United States,

the date Gu’s father died, and Gu’s address in China, See Shrestha, 590 F.3d at

1048 (adverse credibility determination reasonable under “the totality of

circumstances”). Gu’s explanations do not compel a contrary conclusion. See

Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir. 2000). Substantial evidence also

supports the agency’s additional determination that Gu failed to establish an

objectively reasonable fear of future persecution. See Halim v. Holder, 590 F.3d

971, 977 (9th Cir. 2009) (petitioner “failed to make a compelling showing of the

                                         2                                      18-70201
requisite objective component of a well-founded fear of persecution”). Thus, Gu’s

asylum claim fails.

      In this case because Gu failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he failed to

establish eligibility for withholding of removal. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d

1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006); see also Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th

Cir. 2003).

      Gu’s CAT claim also fails because it is based on the same testimony the

agency found not credible, and Gu does not point to any other evidence in the

record that compels the conclusion that it is more likely than not he would be

tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government in China. See

Farah, 348 F.3d at 1156-57.

      The IJ did not abuse his discretion by denying Gu’s request for a

continuance. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29 (an IJ may grant a continuance for good

cause shown); Sandoval–Luna, 526 F.3d at 1247 (“The decision to grant or deny a

continuance is in the sound discretion of the judge and will not be overturned

except on a showing of clear abuse.” (citation and quotation marks omitted)).

                                          3                                     18-70201
      Finally, the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Gu’s motion to

remand. Cf. Romero-Ruiz, 538 F.3d at 1061 (“The BIA abuses its discretion if its

decision is ‘arbitrary, irrational, or contrary to law.’” (citation omitted).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                            4                                   18-70201