Court Opinion

ID: 218012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-06-03 00:02:26+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:34.699834
License: Public Domain

FILED
                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             JUN 02 2011

                                                                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

YUN WANG,                                        No. 09-70645

               Petitioner,                       Agency No. A097-359-920

  v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM *
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,

               Respondent.

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

                             Submitted May 24, 2011 **

Before:        PREGERSON, THOMAS, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.

       Yun Wang, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board

of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s

(“IJ”) decision denying her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and

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

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual findings, and de novo

due process claims. Husyev v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 2008). We

deny in part and grant in part the petition for review, and we remand.

      The record does not compel the conclusion that Wang established

extraordinary circumstances to excuse her untimely asylum application. See 8

C.F.R. § 1208.4(a), (5); see also Husyev, 528 F.3d at 1181-82. Accordingly, her

asylum claim fails.

      Wang has not “specifically and distinctly argued and raised” the issue of

CAT relief. Castro-Perez v. Gonzales, 409 F.3d 1069, 1072 (9th Cir. 2005)

(failure to raise a claim results in waiver). Accordingly, her CAT claim fails.

      In addition, Wang’s contention that she was denied due process because the

IJ did not act as an impartial fact-finder is not supported by the record. See

Melkonian v. Ashcroft, 320 F.3d 1061, 1072 (9th Cir. 2003). Nevertheless, we

suggest remand to a different IJ.

      With respect to withholding of removal, Wang testified she was arrested,

detained for five days, physically abused, forced to sign a confession letter, fired

from her job, prohibited from practicing her Christian religion, and subjected to

ongoing police surveillance. Substantial evidence does not support the agency’s

determination that Wang failed to establish past persecution because the record

                                           2                                      09-70645
compels a finding of persecution. See Guo v. Ashcroft, 361 F.3d 1194, 1203 (9th

Cir. 2004) (“totality of circumstances” compelled finding of persecution where

Chinese Christian arrested, detained, physically abused, forced to renounce

religion, and fired from job). Wang is therefore entitled to a presumption of a clear

probability of persecution. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(b)(1)(i). Accordingly, we grant

the petition with respect to withholding of removal and remand for further

proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12,

16-18 (2002) (per curiam).

      Each party shall bear its own costs for this petition for review.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; GRANTED in part;

REMANDED.

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