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ZHANG v. GARLAND (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-08-24No. No. 19-72544

Summary

Holding. The petition for review was denied as to the asylum and withholding of removal claims but granted as to the Convention Against Torture claim, with the case remanded for the BIA to reconsider the torture claim consistent with proper consideration of all relevant evidence.

Wei Zhang, a Chinese national, sought asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture after an immigration judge denied his applications. The Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed his appeal. Zhang challenged these decisions on multiple grounds, including whether his conviction under California law constituted a particularly serious crime that would bar his eligibility for protection.

The court upheld the agency's determination that Zhang's conviction qualified as a particularly serious crime, finding that immigration officials properly applied the relevant legal factors in making their case-specific assessment. Consequently, Zhang's asylum and withholding of removal claims failed based on this ground. However, the court identified a problem with how the agency addressed Zhang's Convention Against Torture claim: the agency appeared to mischaracterize the country conditions evidence regarding torture of house church members in detention. Because the agency is required to consider all relevant torture evidence, the court found this error warranted further review.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a California Penal Code conviction constituted a particularly serious crime barring asylum eligibility
  • Whether the agency properly considered country conditions evidence regarding torture of religious detainees in China

Procedural posture

The court reviewed the BIA's dismissal of Zhang's appeal from an immigration judge's denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture relief.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Wei Zhang, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judges decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the agencys particularly serious crime determination. Avendano-Hernandez v. Lynch, 800 F.3d 1072, 1077 (9th Cir. 2015). We review for substantial evidence the agencys factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We deny in part and grant in part the petition for review, and we remand.

We do not consider the country conditions evidence Zhang references in his opening brief that is not part of the administrative record. See Fisher v. INS, 79 F.3d 955, 963-64 (9th Cir. 1996) (en banc).

The agency did not abuse its discretion in determining Zhangs conviction under California Penal Code § 273.5 was a particularly serious crime that barred him from eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal, where it applied the appropriate factors to weigh the seriousness of the crime in a case-specific inquiry. See Avendano-Hernandez, 800 F.3d at 1077 (“Our review is limited to ensuring that the agency relied on the appropriate factors and proper evidence to reach [its] conclusion.” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)); see also 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii), 1231(b)(3)(B)(ii); 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(d)(2). We do no reach Zhangs additional contentions as to his eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal because the BIA did not deny relief on those grounds. See Najmabadi v. Holder, 597 F.3d 983, 986 (9th Cir. 2010) (the courts review is limited to the actual grounds relied upon by the BIA). Thus, Zhangs asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

As to Zhangs CAT claim, it appears the agency misstated the record when it found there is no indication in the country conditions evidence that house church members have been tortured while in detention. See Diaz-Reynoso v. Barr, 968 F.3d 1070, 1089 (9th Cir. 2020) (“CATs implementing regulations require the agency to consider all evidence relevant to the possibility of future torture, and we have reversed where the agency has failed to do so.” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)); Cole v. Holder, 659 F.3d 762, 771-72 (9th Cir. 2011) (indications of the agencys failure to properly consider all of the relevant evidence “include misstating the record.”). Thus, we grant the petition for review as to Zhangs CAT claim and remand for further proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18, 123 S.Ct. 353, 154 L.Ed.2d 272, (2002) (per curiam).

Zhangs removal is stayed pending a decision by the BIA.

The government shall bear the costs for this petition for review.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part, GRANTED in part; REMANDED.