371 F. App'x 128

ZI YUAN ZHANG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General,* Respondent.

No. 08-6034-ag.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

March 26, 2010.

*129Alexander Kwok-Ho Yu, New York, N.Y., for Petitioner.

Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; James A. Hunolt, Senior Litigation Counsel; Christopher P. McGreal, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

PRESENT: GUIDO CALABRESI, ROBERT A. KATZMANN, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

SUMMARY ORDER

Zi Yuan Zhang, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a November 10, 2008, order of the BIA, affirming the August 8, 2003, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Terry A. Bain, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Zi Yuan Zhang, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Nov. 10, 2008), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Aug. 8, 2003). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review the IJ’s decision as modified by the BIA decision. See Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 522 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See Salimatou Bah v. Muhasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008); Manzur v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 494 F.3d 281, 289 (2d Cir.2007).

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of Zhang’s application for relief. As the BIA had done, we also assume Zhang to be credible for purposes of this analysis. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271-72 (2d Cir.2005). We therefore have no occasion to consider Zhang’s challenge to the IJ’s adverse credibility determination.

Contrary to Zhang’s argument, the BIA did not exceed its authority under the regulations in determining that he did not establish his eligibility for relief. Rather than conducting impermissible fact finding, the BIA applied the appropriate legal standard to an uncontested set of facts. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(h); Matter of A-S-B-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 493, 497 (BIA 2008).

Zhang further argues that the BIA erred in finding that he was not eligible for relief on account of his “other resistance” to China’s family planning policies, because his failure to turn in his girlfriend for a forced abortion constituted such resistance. Even if Zhang’s conduct constituted “other resistance,” the BIA’s determination that he was not eligible for relief because he was not persecuted on account of that resistance was not in error. See Shi Liang Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 494 F.3d 296, 313 (2d Cir.2007). Because the only harm Zhang claimed to have suffered on account of his resistance to the family planning policies was that family planning officials told him he would be sterilized, the BIA did not err in its determination that this unfulfilled threat did not amount to past persecution. See Gui Ci Pan v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 449 F.3d 408, 412-13 (2d Cir.2006). Zhang did not provide any alternative basis for his fear of future persecution. Thus, the BIA did not err in finding that he failed to establish his eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal. See Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178 (2d Cir.2004).

Finally, because Zhang’s CAT claim was based on the same factual predicate as his asylum and withholding claims, the BIA’s finding that he had not met his burden of proof was a sufficient basis to *130deny Zhang’s claim for asylum, withholding, and CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir.2005).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, the pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot.

Zi Yuan Zhang v. Holder
371 F. App'x 128

Case Details

Name
Zi Yuan Zhang v. Holder
Decision Date
Mar 26, 2010
Citations

371 F. App'x 128

Jurisdiction
United States

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