Opinion
No. 06-72975.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed May 27, 2008.
Jenny Tsai, Esq., Green Tsai, San Francisco, CA, for Petitioner.
Ronald E. Lefevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, James A. Hunolt, Esq., Lindsay L. Chichester, DOJ — U.S. Department of Justice Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A78-185-531.
Before: PREGERSON, TASHIMA, and GOULD, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Sera Fakalawa, a native and citizen of Fiji, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge's ("IJ") decision denying her 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, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n. 1, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), and we deny the petition.
The record does not compel the conclusion that Fakalawa has shown extraordinary circumstances to excuse the untimely filing of her asylum application. See Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 656-58 (9th Cir. 2007); see also 8 C.F.R. § 208.4(a)(5). Accordingly, we deny the petition as to Fakalawa's asylum claim.
Because Fakalawa testified that she only fears a life of poverty if she were to return to Fiji, substantial evidence supports the IJ's and BIA's conclusion that Fakalawa did not establish a clear probability of persecution. See Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1185 (9th Cir. 2003). Accordingly, Fakalawa's withholding of removal claim is denied.
Finally, because Fakalawa has not shown that it is more likely than not that she will be tortured if she returned to Fiji, substantial evidence supports the IJ's and BIA's denial of CAT relief. See Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 993 (9th Cir. 2003).