FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAY 17 2013
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
XIQIU HE, No. 11-72309
Petitioner, Agency No. A097-873-132
v.
MEMORANDUM *
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted May 14, 2013 **
Before: LEAVY, THOMAS, and MURGUIA, Circuit Judges.
Xiqiu He, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of
Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s
decision denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have
jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
findings, Gu v. Gonzales, 454 F.3d 1014, 1018 (9th Cir. 2006), and we deny the
petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s finding that He failed to
demonstrate that the harm he suffered when the police interrupted a house church
gathering rose to the level of past persecution. See Gu, 454 F.3d at 1019-21; Li v.
Ashcroft, 356 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (persecution is an
“extreme concept”). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s finding that
He did not establish a well-founded fear of future persecution. See Ladha v. INS,
215 F.3d 889, 897 (9th Cir. 2000) (a petitioner must provide “credible, direct, and
specific evidence” to support a well-founded future fear); Nagoulko v. INS, 333
F.3d 1012, 1016-17 (9th Cir. 2003) (petitioner’s future fear was speculative).
Accordingly, He’s asylum claim fails.
Because He failed to meet the lower burden of proof for asylum, it follows
that he has not met the higher standard for withholding of removal. See Zehatye v.
Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
2 11-72309