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Gjikani v. Holder

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jun 19, 2014
580 F. App'x 518 (9th Cir. 2014)

Opinion

Submitted June 12, 2014

The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 32.1)

On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A088-476-325.

For Eldis Gjikani, AKA: Alberto Cappi, Petitioner: John Martin Pope, Pope & Associates, PC, Phoenix, AZ.

For ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent: Joseph Anthony O'Connell, Oil, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division/Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC; Chief Counsel ICE, Office of The Chief Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA.


Before: McKEOWN, WARDLAW, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Eldis Gjikani, a native and citizen of Albania, 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" ). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We dismiss in part, and deny in part the petition for review.

We lack jurisdiction to review the agency's determination that Gjikani's asylum application was untimely because the facts underlying that determination are disputed. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(3); Sumolang v. Holder, 723 F.3d 1080, 1082 (9th Cir. 2013) (no jurisdiction to review untimeliness determination based on underlying factual dispute).

Gjikani fled Albania in 2004 due to a blood feud with an individual who harassed his family and sought to harm him. Substantial evidence supports the agency's finding that Gjikani failed to establish that he suffered harm or fears harm from the Albanian government or a source that the government was or would be unable or unwilling to control. See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 2005) (record did not compel government was unable or unwilling to control harassers); see also Aguilar-Ramos v. Holder, 594 F.3d 701, 705 n.6 (9th Cir. 2010) (" [c]ountry reports are accorded special weight in removal proceedings" ). Contrary to Gjikani's contentions in his opening brief, it was his burden to demonstrate that the Albanian government was unable or unwilling to control the person he fears. See Nahrvani, 399 F.3d at 1154. Gjikani's contention that the agency failed to consider certain evidence does not overcome the presumption that the agency reviewed all of the evidence he presented. See Larita-Martinez v. INS, 220 F.3d 1092, 1095-96 (9th Cir. 2000). Thus, Gjikani's withholding of removal claim fails.

Finally, Gjikani does not make any arguments in his opening brief regarding the agency's denial of his CAT claim. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259 (9th Cir 1996) (issues not supported by argument are deemed abandoned).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.


Summaries of

Gjikani v. Holder

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jun 19, 2014
580 F. App'x 518 (9th Cir. 2014)
Case details for

Gjikani v. Holder

Case Details

Full title:ELDIS GJIKANI, a.k.a. Alberto Cappi, Petitioner, v. ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr.…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Jun 19, 2014

Citations

580 F. App'x 518 (9th Cir. 2014)