Opinion
No. 06-74015.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed December 28, 2010.
Randy J. Tunac, Allen, Tunac Coughlon, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ, for Petitioner.
Mark Lenard Gross, Esquire, Deputy Chief Counsel, Ali Manuchehry, Esquire, Trial, Oil, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel Ice, Office of the Chief Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A079-517-766.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Muamet Kacalniku ("Kacalniku"), a native and citizen of Macedonia, petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") adopting and affirming the denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). We deny the petition for review.
The parties are familiar with the facts and we repeat them here only as necessary to explain our decision.
A. Asylum
1. Changed Country Conditions
We review findings of fact concerning changed country conditions for substantial evidence. Mutuku v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1210, 1213 (9th Cir. 2010). We have noted that "a State Department report on counry conditions, standing alone, is not sufficient to rebut the presumption of future persecution when a petitioner has established past persecution." Kamalyan v. Holder, 620 F.3d 1054, 1057 (9th Cir. 2010). We have also recognized, however, that U.S. Department of State country reports are the most appropriate and perhaps "the best resource for information on political situations in foreign nations." Sowe v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 1281, 1285 (9th Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). If the IJ or BIA determines that the evidence presented successfully rebuts the presumption, it "must provide an individualized analysis of how changed conditions will affect the specific petitioner's situation." Mutuku, 600 F.3d at 1213 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
The IJ undertook an individualized analysis of how changes in country conditions would affect Kacalniku. He cited: (1) the Human Rights Watch report on Macedonia for the year 2005; (2) a U.S. State Department Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Macedonia for the year 2004; (3) the U.S. State Department Background Note on Macedonia from May 2005; and (4) BBC news articles. The IJ also discussed the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian government forces. He further noted specific changes in conditions for ethnic Albanians, including the fact that Albanians are represented in the coalition government and Parliament, they are finding employment in much greater numbers, their language is officially recognized, and the Macedonian police force is required by law to be ethnically diverse.
These changes relate specifically to Kacalniku's testimony and the reasons he claims make him fear returning to Macedonia. We recently found this type of individualized analysis sufficient to rebut the fear of future persecution. See Tamang v. Holder, 598 F.3d 1083 (9th Cir. 2010). We hold, therefore, that the IJ's individualized analysis concluding that Kacalniku is not eligible for asylum based on changed country conditions in Macedonia is supported by substantial evidence, and that Kacalniku is accordingly not eligible for asylum. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006).
2. Humanitarian Asylum
Denials of humanitarian asylum are reviewed for substantial evidence. See, e.g., Lal v. INS, 255 F.3d 998, 1010 (9th Cir. 2001) (determining BIA's "denial of asylum under the humanitarian exception was not supported by substantial evidence."); Vongsakdy v. INS, 171 F.3d 1203, 1207 (9th Cir. 1999). An applicant is eligible for a grant of humanitarian asylum if he can show either "compelling reasons for being unwilling or unable to return to the country [that he fled] arising out of the severity of the past persecution" or "a reasonable possibility that he or she may suffer other serious harm upon removal to that country." Hanna v. Keisler, 506 F.3d 933, 939 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(iii)(A), (B)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Humanitarian asylum is generally reserved for applicants who "suffered under atrocious forms of persecution." See Lai v. INS, 255 F.3d 998, 1005 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Matter of Chen, 20 I. N. December 16, 19 (BIA 1989)).
Kacalniku's evidence of past persecution does not rise to the level of severe treatment that warrants a grant of humanitarian asylum. We therefore deny the petition with respect to this claim.
B. Withholding of Removal and CAT
Assuming that Kacalniku has not waived review of his claims for withholding of removal and CAT relief, see ArreguinMoreno v. Mukasey, 511 F.3d 1229, 1232 (9th Cir. 2008) (holding arguments not exhausted before the BIA are waived), he has nonetheless not established his entitlement to such relief. The evidence supporting the IJ's determination that changed country conditions rebutted Kacalniku's claim for asylum also defeats his claim for withholding of removal. Sowe, 538 F.3d at 1288 ("When the government rebuts an applicant's well-founded fear of future persecution, it defeats the applicant's asylum claim, and his or her claim for withholding of removal."). Similarly, in light of the changed country conditions, Kacalniku has not demonstrated the likelihood of torture required for CAT relief. Id. at 1288-89.