Ketevi v. Ashcroft , 88 F. App'x 582 ( 2004 )

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 03-1028
KOSSI JAMES KETEVI,
Petitioner,
versus
JOHN ASHCROFT, Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration
Appeals.
(A78-610-853)
Submitted: September 26, 2003 Decided: February 20, 2004
Before WIDENER, NIEMEYER, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
James A. Roberts, LAW OFFICES OF JAMES A. ROBERTS, Falls Church,
Virginia, for Petitioner. Peter D. Keisler, Assistant Attorney
General, Civil Division, Linda S. Wendtland, Assistant Director,
Luis E. Perez, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division,
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for
Respondent.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Kossi James Ketevi, a native and citizen of Togo,
petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration
Appeals (Board) affirming a decision of the immigration judge (IJ)
that denies his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and
relief under the Convention Against Torture. The Board adopted the
opinion of the IJ that concluded Ketevi failed to present credible
evidence establishing past persecution or a well-founded fear of
future persecution on account of a protected ground. See 8
U.S.C.A. § 1158 (West 1999 & Supp. 2003); 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42)(A)
(2000). We have reviewed the administrative record, the IJ’s
decision, and the Board’s conclusion, and find that substantial
evidence supports the IJ’s ruling that Ketevi failed to establish
his refugee status. We have reviewed the IJ’s credibility
determinations and conclude that they are supported by specific,
cogent reasoning, and therefore are entitled to substantial
deference. Figeroa v. INS, 886 F.2d 76, 78 (4th Cir. 1989).
We conclude as well that Ketevi is not entitled to
withholding of removal under INA § 241 or the Convention Against
Torture. Based on our review of the record and of the IJ’s
decision denying relief, we hold that the IJ did not err in finding
that Ketevi failed to show a “clear probability of persecution,” or
that it is “more likely than not” that he would face torture if he
returned to Togo. See Rusu v. INS, 296 F.3d 316, 324 n.13 (4th
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Cir. 2002) (“To qualify for withholding of removal, a petitioner
must show that he faces a clear probability of persecution because
of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group, or political opinion.”); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2)
(2003) (stating that to qualify for protection under the Convention
Against Torture, an alien must show “it is more likely than not
that he or she would be tortured if removed to the proposed country
of removal”).
We reject Ketevi’s arguments that the Board did not
properly apply the regulations governing affirmance without
opinion, 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(4) (2003). We deny the petition for
review. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal
contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the
court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
PETITION DENIED
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