Muriithi v. Immigration & Naturalization Service , 22 F. App'x 679 ( 2001 )


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  •                      United States Court of Appeals
    FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
    ___________
    No. 01-1068
    ___________
    Antony Gathitu Muriithi,                *
    *
    Appellant,                 *
    * Petition for Review of
    v.                                * an Order of the Immigration
    * and Naturalization Service.
    Immigration and Naturalization          *
    Service,                                *     [UNPUBLISHED]
    *
    Appellee.                  *
    ___________
    Submitted: November 26, 2001
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    ___________
    Before BOWMAN, BRIGHT, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.
    ___________
    PER CURIAM.
    Antony Muriithi, a Kenyan citizen, petitions for review of a final order of the
    Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismissing his appeal of an Immigration Judge’s
    decision finding him removable and ineligible for asylum, withholding of removal,
    or relief under the legislation implementing Article 3 of the United Nations
    Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
    Punishment (Torture Convention). Muriithi argues that the lack of counsel or access
    to a law library during the immigration proceedings denied him due process, his
    conviction for domestic battery--a ground for removal--was unconstitutional, and he
    met his burden of proving that it is more likely than not he will be subjected to torture
    if returned to Kenya.
    We cannot consider Muriithi’s first argument because he did not present it to
    the BIA, see Valadez-Salas v. INS, 
    721 F.2d 251
    , 252 (8th Cir. 1983) (per curiam),
    but we note there is no Sixth Amendment right to counsel at a deportation hearing,
    see United States v. Torres-Sanchez, 
    68 F.3d 227
    , 230 (8th Cir. 1995).
    We need not consider Muriithi’s claim that his domestic-battery conviction was
    unconstitutional, because he is also deportable for failing to comply with the
    conditions of his nonimmigrant status--a finding he did not appeal. See 8 U.S.C.
    § 1227(a)(1)(C)(i). Finally, substantial evidence supports the determination that
    Muriithi failed to show he more likely than not would be tortured upon his return to
    Kenya. See 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2); cf. INS v. Elias-Zacharias, 
    502 U.S. 478
    , 481
    & n.1 (1992) (BIA’s denial of relief will be upheld unless alien demonstrates that
    evidence not only supports contrary conclusion but compels it, such that reasonable
    factfinder would have to conclude alien established eligibility for relief).
    Accordingly, we deny the petition.
    A true copy.
    Attest:
    CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.
    -2-
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 01-1068

Citation Numbers: 22 F. App'x 679

Judges: Bowman, Bright, Loken, Per Curiam

Filed Date: 12/5/2001

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/5/2024