Court Opinion

ID: 3036452
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:54:21.795457+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:48:41.871696
License: Public Domain

FILED
                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION                               APR 19 2010

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

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JIANLI ZHANG,                                     No. 07-70917

               Petitioner,                        Agency No. A097-351-563

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

               Respondent.

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

                              Submitted April 5, 2010 **

Before:        RYMER, McKEOWN, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.

       Jianli Zhang, 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 decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and

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

          *
             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).
under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence, INS v. Elias-Zacarias,

502 U.S. 478, 481 n1. (1992), and we grant in part and deny in part the petition for

review.

      Zhang suffered three detentions where he was beaten, physical harm

requiring medical treatment, a prohibition on practice of his religion, including

bible study and church activities, and ongoing harassment by the police.

Substantial evidence does not support the agency’s determination that Zhang failed

to establish past persecution because the record 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 twice, physically abused, and forced to renounce religion). Zhang is

therefore entitled to a presumption both of a well-founded fear of persecution and

of eligibility for withholding of removal. See Mousa v. Mukasey, 530 F.3d 1025,

1029-30 (9th Cir. 2008).

      Accordingly, we grant the petition in part and remand Zhang’s asylum and

withholding of removal claims to the BIA for further proceedings consistent with

this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18 (2002) (per curiam).

      In his opening brief, Zhang does not challenge the agency’s denial of his

application for CAT relief. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60

                                          2                                     07-70917
(9th Cir. 1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief

are waived).

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

      PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED in part; DENIED in part.

                                          3                                    07-70917