Fakalawa v. Mukasey

279 F. App'x 573

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: May 27, 2008
• Docket: No. 06-72975
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

**

Sera Fakalawa, a native and citizen of Fiji, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s (“U”) decision denying her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n. 1, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), and we deny the petition.

The record does not compel the conclusion that Fakalawa has shown extraordinary circumstances to excuse the untimely filing of her asylum application. See Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 656-58 (9th Cir.2007); see also 8 C.F.R. § 208.4(a)(5). Accordingly, we deny the petition as to Fakalawa’s asylum claim.

Because Fakalawa testified that she only fears a life of poverty if she were to return to Fiji, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s and BIA’s conclusion that Fakalawa did not establish a clear probability of persecution. See Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1185 (9th Cir.2003). Accordingly, Fakalawa’s withholding of removal claim is denied.

Finally, because Fakalawa has not shown that it is more likely than not that she will be tortured if she returned to Fiji, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s and BIA’s denial of CAT relief. See Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 993 (9th Cir.2003).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.