Opinion
No. 08-72223.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed April 13, 2011.
Houman Varzandeh, VHF Law Group, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner.
David V. Bernal, Assistant Director, Lindsay Elizabeth Williams, DOJ — U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division/Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, CAS-District Counsel, Esquire, Ronald E. Lefevre, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Diego, CA, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A075-660-448.
Before: B. FLETCHER, CLIFTON, and BEA, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Lucas Budiono, a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law and review for substantial evidence factual findings. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009). We deny in part and grant in part the petition for review, and we remand.
Substantial evidence supports the agency's denial of CAT relief because Budiono failed to establish it is more likely than not that he will be tortured in Indonesia by or with the acquiescence of a public official or other individual acting in an official capacity. See Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1068.
Further, the record does not compel the conclusion that Budiono experienced harms in Indonesia that rise to the level of past persecution. See Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1182 (9th Cir. 2003); Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1059-60. However, in analyzing Budiono's fear of future persecution, the agency did not apply the disfavored group analysis set forth in Sael v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 922, 927-29 (9th Cir. 2004). In light of this and our intervening decisions in Tampubolon v. Holder, 610 F.3d 1056 (9th Cir. 2010), and Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049 (9th Cir. 2009), we remand for the agency to assess Budiono's asylum and withholding of removal claims under the disfavored group analysis in the first instance. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18, 123 S.Ct. 353, 154 L.Ed.2d 272 (2002) (per curiam).
Each party shall bear its own costs for this petition for review.