Lina Wang v. Merrick Garland

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: January 23, 2023
• Docket: 16-70175
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JAN 23 2023 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

LINA WANG, No. 16-70175

Petitioner, Agency No. A088-328-907

v. MEMORANDUM* MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General,

Respondent.

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

Submitted January 18, 2023**

Before: GRABER, PAEZ, and NGUYEN, Circuit Judges.

Lina Wang, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of the

Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration

judge’s decision denying her 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 Ninth Circuit Rule 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 the agency’s factual

findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility determinations

under the REAL ID Act. Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039-40 (9th Cir.

2010). We deny the petition for review.

As to Wang’s claim of past harm, substantial evidence supports the agency’s

adverse credibility determination based on inconsistencies between Wang’s

testimony and written declaration regarding the location of her arrest. See id. at

1048 (adverse credibility determination reasonable under “the totality of

circumstances”). Wang’s explanations do not compel a contrary conclusion. See

Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir. 2000).

Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Wang did

not establish a well-founded fear of future persecution, because even under a

disfavored group analysis, Wang did not show sufficient individualized risk. See

Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1065 (9th Cir. 2009) (“[S]ome evidence of

individualized risk is necessary for the petitioner to succeed.”). Further, on this

record, Wang failed to establish a pattern or practice of persecution of Christians in

China. See id. at 1060-62 (discussion of the standard for establishing a pattern or

practice of persecution). Thus, Wang’s asylum claim fails.

2 16-70175 In this case, because Wang failed to establish eligibility for asylum, she

failed to establish eligibility for withholding of removal. See Zehatye v. Gonzales,

453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).

Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of CAT protection

because Wang failed to show it is more likely than not she will be tortured by or

with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to China. See Aden

v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

We do not consider the materials Wang references in her opening brief that

are not part of the administrative record. See Fisher v. INS, 79 F.3d 955, 963 (9th

Cir. 1996) (en banc) (court’s review is limited to the administrative record).

The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the mandate issues.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

3 16-70175