Filed: Apr. 14, 2004
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS April 14, 2004 FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 03-60598 Summary Calendar RAOUL SAINVIL, Petitioner, versus JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. - Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals BIA No. A79 419 919 - Before JOLLY, WIENER, and PICKERING, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Raoul Sainvil, a native and citizen of Haiti, petitions this court f
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS April 14, 2004 FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 03-60598 Summary Calendar RAOUL SAINVIL, Petitioner, versus JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. - Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals BIA No. A79 419 919 - Before JOLLY, WIENER, and PICKERING, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Raoul Sainvil, a native and citizen of Haiti, petitions this court fo..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS April 14, 2004
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 03-60598
Summary Calendar
RAOUL SAINVIL,
Petitioner,
versus
JOHN ASHCROFT, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondent.
--------------------
Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
BIA No. A79 419 919
--------------------
Before JOLLY, WIENER, and PICKERING, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Raoul Sainvil, a native and citizen of Haiti, petitions this
court for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”)
decision affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) decision
denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and
relief under the Convention Against Torture. When, as in this
case, the BIA adopts the IJ’s decision without a written opinion,
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 03-60598
-2-
this court reviews the IJ’s decision. Mikhael v. INS,
115 F.3d
299, 302 (5th Cir. 1997).
Sainvil contends that the IJ erroneously found that he
failed to present any evidence in support of his own testimony.
According to Sainvil, the IJ either ignored his sister’s
testimony and the evidentiary packet filed in support of his
applications, or discounted the evidence without reason. A
review of the record reflects that the IJ considered the evidence
introduced by Sainvil, but concluded that it was not sufficient
to corroborate his testimony and establish that he had a well-
founded fear of persecution on account of his political opinion
or membership in a particular social group. Thus, the IJ’s
decision reflects a meaningful consideration of the relevant
substantial evidence supporting Sainvil’s claims. See Abdel-
Masieh v. INS,
73 F.3d 579, 585 (5th Cir. 1996).
Sainvil also contends that the IJ erroneously found that his
sister’s testimony contradicted and was fatal to his asylum
claim. This court will uphold the IJ’s determination that an
alien is not eligible for asylum if it is supported by
substantial evidence. Ontunez-Tursios v. Ashcroft,
303 F.3d 341,
350 (5th Cir. 2002). Further, this court will not substitute its
judgment for that of the IJ with respect to credibility
determinations, and this court will not review decisions turning
solely on the IJ’s assessment of the petitioner’s credibility.
No. 03-60598
-3-
See Efe v. Ashcroft,
293 F.3d 899, 905 (5th Cir. 2002); Chun v.
INS,
40 F.3d 76, 78 (5th Cir. 1994).
After careful review of the record and the briefs, this
court concludes that the IJ’s determination that Sainvil’s
testimony was not sufficiently detailed, consistent, or
believable to provide a plausible and coherent account of the
basis for his fears and that he was not eligible for asylum is
supported by substantial evidence. See
Ontunez-Tursios, 303 F.3d
at 350.
Finally, because Sainvil does not challenge the IJ’s denial
of his applications for withholding of removal or relief under
the Convention Against Torture, these issues are deemed
abandoned. See Calderon-Ontiveros v. INS,
809 F.2d 1050, 1052
(5th Cir. 1986).
PETITION DENIED.