Court Opinion

ID: 8626997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 14:13:52.445597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:39.239071
License: Public Domain

SUMMARY ORDER

Elmer Maheli Sosa Palacios, a native and citizen of Guatemala, seeks review of a March 9, 2007 order of the BIA affirming the September 14, 2005 decision of Immigration Judge (“U”) Paul A. DeFonzo, denying Sosa’s application for asylum and withholding of removal. In re Elmer *22Maheli Sosa Palacios, No. A70 811 429 (B.I.A. Mar. 9, 2007), aff'g No. A70 811 429 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Sep. 14, 2005). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case.
We have held that issues not sufficiently argued in the briefs are considered waived and normally will not be addressed on appeal. See Yueqing Zhang v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 540, 541 n. 1, 545 n. 7 (2d Cir.2005). In his counseled brief to this Court, Sosa fails to make any argument that the agency erred in its determination that he had failed to meet his burden of proof to establish that he would suffer persecution at the hands of guerrillas if he were returned to Guatemala. Indeed, the only assertion that can be construed as an argument in Sosa’s brief to this Court is that an excerpt from a human rights report in the record provides “evidence that his return to his country’s rural area would have likely subjected him to persecution.” However, the quote concerns criminality and corruption in Guatemala and does not even mention guerrilla activity. We therefore deem waived any challenge to the agency’s dispositive burden of proof finding. Id.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED.