Filed: Aug. 18, 2011
Latest Update: Feb. 22, 2020
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS U.S. _ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT AUG 18, 2011 No. 10-10877 JOHN LEY Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ Agency No. A097-663-376 MODUPE DELE WANGBOJE, lllllllllllllllllllll Petitioner, versus U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, lllllllllllllllllllllRespondent. _ Petition for Review of a Decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals _ (August 18, 2011) Before HULL, PRYOR and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Modupe Dele
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS U.S. _ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT AUG 18, 2011 No. 10-10877 JOHN LEY Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ Agency No. A097-663-376 MODUPE DELE WANGBOJE, lllllllllllllllllllll Petitioner, versus U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, lllllllllllllllllllllRespondent. _ Petition for Review of a Decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals _ (August 18, 2011) Before HULL, PRYOR and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Modupe Dele W..
More
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
U.S.
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
AUG 18, 2011
No. 10-10877 JOHN LEY
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
Agency No. A097-663-376
MODUPE DELE WANGBOJE,
lllllllllllllllllllll Petitioner,
versus
U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
lllllllllllllllllllllRespondent.
________________________
Petition for Review of a Decision of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
________________________
(August 18, 2011)
Before HULL, PRYOR and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Modupe Dele Wangboje, a native and citizen of Nigeria, petitions for
review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) final order affirming the
Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of asylum pursuant to the Immigration and
Nationality Act (“INA”) § 208, 8 U.S.C. § 1158, withholding of removal under
INA § 241(b)(3), 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3), and relief under the United Nations
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (“CAT”), 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c). In her petition, Wangboje argues
that the BIA and IJ erred by denying her asylum application as untimely, as she
alleges that she established an exception to the one-year time limit. She also
argues that the BIA and IJ erred by denying her application for withholding of
removal and CAT relief. She contends that she demonstrated past persecution and
showed that she had a well-founded fear of future persecution.
I.
An asylum application must be “filed within 1 year after the date of the
alien’s arrival in the United States.” INA § 208(a)(2)(B), 8 U.S.C. §
1158(a)(2)(B). Nevertheless, an untimely application “may be considered . . . if
the alien demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General either the
existence of changed circumstances which materially affect the applicant’s
eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing
an application. . . .” INA § 208(a)(2)(D), 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). However,
2
section 1158(a)(3) “divests [us] of jurisdiction to review a decision regarding
whether an alien complied with the one-year time limit or established
extraordinary circumstances that would excuse his untimely filing.” Mendoza v.
U.S. Att’y Gen.,
327 F.3d 1283, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003).
Because we lack jurisdiction to review the determination that an asylum
application is untimely, that portion of the instant petition seeking review of
Wangboje’s claim for asylum is dismissed. See INA § 208(a)(3), 8 U.S.C.
§ 1158(a)(3); see also
Mendoza, 327 F.3d at 1287.
II.
Where the BIA issues a decision, we review that decision, except to the
extent that the BIA expressly adopts the IJ’s opinion. Al Najjar v. Ashcroft,
257
F.3d 1262, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001). Here, the BIA issued its own decision that did
not expressly adopt the opinion of the IJ, so we review only the BIA’s decision.
We review de novo conclusions of law by the BIA, but review findings of fact for
substantial evidence. Kazemzadeh v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,
577 F.3d 1341, 1350 (11th
Cir. 2009). Under the substantial evidence test, we must affirm the BIA’s decision
if it is “supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record
considered as a whole.” Al
Najjar, 257 F.3d at 1284.
To qualify for withholding of removal, an alien must show that, if returned
3
to her country, her life or freedom would be threatened on account of race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
INA § 241(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). An applicant for withholding of
removal may satisfy this burden of proof by establishing either (1) past
persecution on account of a protected ground, or (2) demonstrating that it would
be more likely than not that she would be persecuted on account of a protected
ground were she removed. Tan v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,
446 F.3d 1369, 1375 (11th Cir.
2006). A showing of past persecution gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that
the applicant’s life or freedom will be threatened upon return to her country.
Id.
This presumption may be rebutted if the government shows that the conditions in
the country have changed or that the alien could avoid a future threat through
relocation within the country.
Id.
To be eligible for relief under the Convention Against Torture, an applicant
must “establish that it is more likely than not that he or she would be tortured if
removed to the proposed country of removal.” 8 C.F.R. §§ 208.16(c)(2).
Persecution is not defined in the INA, but it is “an extreme concept,”
requiring more than mere harassment. De Santamaria v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,
525 F.3d
999, 1008 (11th Cir. 2008). In assessing persecution we consider all the evidence
of mistreatment as a whole, and are “required to consider the cumulative impact of
4
the mistreatment the petitioner[ ] suffered.” Mejia v. U.S. Att’y. Gen.,
498 F.3d
1253, 1258 (11th Cir. 2007). Mere threats do not constitute persecution. See Silva
v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,
448 F.3d 1229, 1237 (11th Cir. 2006) (holding that a
“condolence note” and threatening phone calls, without more, were mere
harassment, rather than persecution).
Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s conclusion that Wangboje did not
suffer past persecution. Looked at individually, none of the incidents alleged by
Wangboje constituted persecution on account of a protected ground. There is also
no indication that the BIA did not consider the totality of the circumstances in
evaluating Wangboje’s alleged persecution. Rather, the incidents suffered by
Wangboje, taken cumulatively, do not rise to the level at which we have found
persecution.
Because Wangboje has not shown past persecution, she has not created a
presumption that her life or freedom will be threatened upon return to Nigeria.
See
Tan, 446 F.3d at 1375. Wangboje has also not demonstrated directly either a
well-founded fear of persecution or that her life or freedom will be threatened
upon return to Nigeria. From the record, it seems clear that Wangboje could avoid
any potential persecution by relocating within Nigeria. See Mazariegos v. U.S.
Att’y Gen.,
241 F.3d 1320, 1325-27 (11th Cir. 2001) (holding that a well-founded
5
fear of persecution does not exist where a petitioner can safely relocate within a
country).
Additionally, Wangboje presented no evidence that the Nigerian authorities
were unable or unwilling to protect her. She presented no evidence that she ever
informed the authorities of the crimes or threats committed against her, most
notably the attack that injured her leg. See
id. at 1327 (holding that a failure to
contact law enforcement regarding alleged persecution supported a BIA finding
that an applicant did not face a threat of persecution). Because Wangboje never
contacted the authorities, she cannot convincingly argue that the government of
Nigeria was unable or unwilling to protect her.
Because Wangboje failed to meet her burden of showing past persecution or
that it was more likely than not that she would be persecuted if removed, she does
not meet her burden of showing eligibility for withholding of removal. See
Tan,
446 F.3d at 1375.
Wangboje’s claim for CAT relief also fails. Because Wangboje failed to
establish a well-founded fear of persecution, she is not entitled to CAT relief. See
Mehmeti v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,
572 F.3d 1196, 1201 (11th Cir. 2009) (providing that
“[i]f an alien cannot establish a well-founded fear of persecution, the alien also
cannot establish that it is more likely than not that he will be tortured based on a
6
protected factor”).
Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we
dismiss her petition in part, and deny in part.
PETITION DISMISSED in part, DENIED in part.
7