Kebede v. Ashcroft

88 F. App'x 649

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Alem Tesfaye Kebede, a native and citizen of Ethiopia, seeks review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) affirming without opinion the immigration judge’s denial of her application for asylum. We have reviewed the administrative record and the immigration judge’s decision, designated by the Board as the final agency determination, and find that substantial evidence supports the immigration judge’s conclusion that Kebede failed to establish the past persecution or well-founded fear of future persecution necessary to establish eligibility for asylum. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(a) (2003) (stating that the burden of proof is on the alien to establish eligibility for asylum); INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992) (same). We will reverse the Board only if the evidence “ ‘was so compelling that no reasonable fact finder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution.’ ” Rusu v. INS, 296 F.3d 316, 325 n. 14 (4th Cir.2002) (quoting Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. at 483-84). We have reviewed the immigration judge’s credibility determinations and find them supported by specific, cogent reasoning and therefore entitled to substantial deference. See Figeroa v. INS, 886 F.2d 76, 78 (4th Cir.1989). Thus, the administrative record supports the immigration judge’s conclusion that Kebede failed to establish her eligibility for asylum.

We deny Kebede’s petition for review. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED