Court Opinion

ID: 3018047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:18:31.587497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:57.559551
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Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

12-21-2006

Jana v. Atty Gen USA
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-3829

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"Jana v. Atty Gen USA" (2006). 2006 Decisions. Paper 51.
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                                                     NOT PRECEDENTIAL

          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
               FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                        ___________

                        No. 05-3829
                        ___________

                         Johan Jana,

                                   Petitioner

                              v.

            Attorney General of the United States,

                                   Respondent

                        ___________

            Petition for Review of an Order of the
                Board of Immigration Appeals
                      (No. A95 433 947)
            Immigration Judge: Donald V. Ferlise

                        ___________

          Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                     November 7, 2006

Before: SLOVITER, CHAGARES, and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.

                 (Filed December 21, 2006)
                        ___________

                 OPINION OF THE COURT
                      ___________
NYGAARD, Circuit Judge.

                                             I.

       Johan Jana, a native and citizen of Indonesia, was admitted to the United States on

October 28, 2000. Jana overstayed his temporary visa, and the Immigration and

Naturalization Service brought removal proceedings against him on September 27, 2002.

       During the proceedings, Jana conceded removability, but requested withholding of

removal pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §1231 and protection from removal pursuant to the

Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its implementing regulations. Jana claimed that,

should he return to Indonesia, native, Muslim Indonesians would persecute him because

of his Chinese ancestry and Christian religious beliefs. Jana presented documentary

evidence and testified that, in 1998, Muslim rioters threw stones at him, threatened to

burn him alive and chased him through the streets. He also asserted that he and his father

witnessed Muslim rioters burn area churches. In response, the Government presented

various State Department reports revealing improved treatment of ethnic and religious

minorities in Indonesia.

       The Immigration Judge found Jana credible, but concluded his asylum application

was untimely and that his fears of persecution were no longer well-founded. The

Immigration Judge denied Jana’s requests for relief and ordered him removed. The BIA

affirmed the IJ’s findings and dismissed Jana’s appeal. Jana filed a timely petition for

review with this Court. For the reasons that follow, we will deny review.

                                             2
                                             II.

                                             A.

       An alien may still apply for asylum beyond the one-year filing deadline if he

demonstrates, “to the satisfaction of the Attorney General,” 1) changed circumstances

which materially affect his eligibility; or 2) extraordinary circumstances relating to his

delay in filing. 8 U.S.C.A. §1158(a)(2)(D) (2006).

       Before the IJ, Jana indicated he no longer wished to pursue his application for

asylum, and did not claim changed or extraordinary circumstances excused his failure to

meet the one-year deadline. Regardless, the IJ and BIA determined Jana’s application for

asylum was untimely. We lack jurisdiction to review that determination. 8 U.S.C.A.

§1158(a)(3) (2006); Sukwanputra v. Gonzales, 434 F.3d 627, 635 (3d Cir. 2006).

                                             B.

       The Attorney General may not remove an alien if he decides the alien’s life or

freedom would be threatened in the country of deportation because of the alien’s race,

religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. 8

U.S.C.A. §1231(b)(3)(A) (2006). To obtain relief under this section, Jana must

demonstrate there is a clear probability his life or freedom would be threatened in

Indonesia. Zubeda v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 463, 470 (3d Cir. 2003).

       We will affirm the BIA’s decision if it is supported by reasonable, substantial, and

probative evidence on the record considered as a whole. Zhang v. Gonzales, 405 F.3d

                                              3
150, 155 (3d Cir. 2005). Substantial evidence supports the determinations made by the IJ

and BIA. The State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report for 2003

indicates the Indonesian government has reduced violence against religious minorities,

and effectively promotes reconciliation between Muslims and Christians. The State

Department Country Report on Indonesia’s human rights practices indicates that although

ethnic Chinese remain subject to instances of discrimination, the central government is

responsive to their complaints. The Report does not indicate ethnic Chinese remain

vulnerable to the sort of violence which plagued the country in 1998.

                                             C.

       Jana also seeks relief from removal under the Convention Against Torture and its

implementing regulations. To obtain CAT relief, Jana must demonstrate it is “more likely

than not” he would be tortured if removed to Indonesia. 8 C.F.R. §208.16(c)(2) (2006);

Tarrawally v. Ashcroft, 338 F.3d 180, 187 (3d Cir. 2004). The alleged torture must be

inflicted “by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public

official or other person acting in an official capacity.” 8 C.F.R. §208.18(a)(1) (2006). In

reviewing such allegations, we consider “evidence of gross, flagrant or mass violations of

human rights” and “[o]ther relevant information regarding conditions” in Indonesia. 8

C.F.R. §208.16(c)(3) (2006).

       The Government presented substantial evidence that Indonesia has made

significant improvements in its treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in recent

                                              4
years. Jana presented no evidence to contradict the State Department reports, and failed

to present any evidence the Indonesian authorities remain engaged in, or acquiescent to,

torture of Chinese Christians. The BIA properly concluded Jana was not entitled to CAT

relief.

                                             III.

          We lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s determination that Jana’s asylum

application was untimely and we will therefore dismiss that portion of his petition. We

will deny the remainder of his petition for review.

                                              5