Court Opinion

ID: 175987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-09-27 18:34:24+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:37.491191
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT           FILED
                     ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                        ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                            No. 10-10749                   SEPT 27, 2010
                        Non-Argument Calendar               JOHN LEY
                                                              CLERK
                      ________________________

                        Agency No. A098-727-783

FEDERICO BAUTISTA RAYMUNDO,

                                                                  Petitioner,

                                  versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                                Respondent.

                      ________________________

                  Petition for Review of a Decision of the
                       Board of Immigration Appeals
                       ________________________

                          (September 27, 2010)

Before TJOFLAT, BLACK and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Federico Bautista Raymundo, a native and citizen of Guatemala proceeding

pro se, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) decision

affirming the Immigration Judge’s (IJ) order denying his application for asylum

and withholding of removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

8 U.S.C. §§ 1158, 1231.1 On appeal, Raymundo argues the BIA erred in denying

his application for withholding of removal because he established that, as a

Mayan, he will be discriminated against and persecuted if he returns to Guatemala.

After review, we dismiss in part and deny in part Raymundo’s petition.2

       In a withholding of removal claim, an alien shall not be removed to a

country if his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his “race,

religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”

8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). Absent past persecution, the alien must show it is

       1
         The IJ denied Raymundo’s application as untimely filed. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B).
Raymundo failed to argue to the BIA that his untimely filing was excusable due to “extraordinary
circumstances” under 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). Because Raymundo failed to exhaust his
administrative remedies, we lack jurisdiction to review the denial of his application for asylum.
See Amaya-Artunduaga v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 463 F.3d 1247, 1250 (11th Cir. 2006).
       2
          Where, as here, the BIA issues its own decision without expressly adopting the IJ’s
findings, we review only the BIA’s decision. Arboleda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 434 F.3d 1220, 1222
(11th Cir. 2006). We review the BIA’s factual determinations under the substantial evidence test
and will affirm if the decision is supported by “reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on
the record considered as a whole.” Adefemi v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 1022, 1027 (11th Cir. 2004).
Under the substantial evidence test, we will reverse a finding of fact by the BIA “only when the
record compels a reversal; the mere fact that the record may support a contrary conclusion is not
enough to justify a reversal of the administrative findings.” Id.

                                                2
“more likely than not” he will be “persecuted or tortured upon being returned to

[his] country.” Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1232 (11th Cir.

2005); 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b). The alien may make this showing by demonstrating

there is a “pattern or practice of persecution of a group of persons similarly

situated to the applicant” on account of a statutorily protected ground, and the

alien’s inclusion in that group will make it more-likely-than-not that his “life or

freedom would be threatened upon return to that country.” See 8 C.F.R.

§ 208.16(b)(2).

      While the INA does not define persecution, we have held persecution is an

“extreme” concept, mere harassment is not persecution, and persecution requires

“more than a few isolated incidents of verbal harassment or intimidation.”

Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at 1231. We have previously concluded an alien failed to

show a future threat to his life or freedom when his family members remained

unharmed in his country of origin. See Ruiz v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 440 F.3d 1247,

1259 (11th Cir. 2006). Furthermore, evidence of general conditions of violence

and criminal activity, without more, is insufficient to compel a contrary conclusion

from that reached by the BIA. See Silva v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 448 F.3d 1229, 1238

(11th Cir. 2006).

                                          3
      Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s finding that Raymundo failed to

demonstrate eligibility for withholding of removal. First, his general complaints

of being discriminated against do not rise to the level of past persecution. Silva,

448 F.3d at 1238. Second, his asserted fear that, as a Mayan, his life or freedom

would be threatened upon his return to Guatemala is undermined by the fact that

his family members, who are also Mayan, remain in Guatemala unharmed. Ruiz,

440 F.3d at 1259. Moreover, Raymundo personally returned to Guatemala for

several months in 2000 without incident. Finally, Raymundo’s fear that he may be

the victim of general crime is insufficient to compel reversal of the administrative

findings. Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at 1231.

      PETITION DISMISSED IN PART, DENIED IN PART.

                                          4