Sandeep Singh v. Loretta E. Lynch , 667 F. App'x 175 ( 2016 )


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  •                              NOT FOR PUBLICATION                          FILED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       JUN 22 2016
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    SANDEEP SINGH,                                    No.     14-71724
    Petitioner,                          Agency No. A200-945-577
    v.
    MEMORANDUM*
    LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,
    Respondent.
    On Petition for Review of an Order of the
    Board of Immigration Appeals
    Submitted June 14, 2016**
    Before:        BEA, WATFORD, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges.
    Sandeep Singh, a native and citizen of India, seeks review of the Board of
    Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration
    judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and
    relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under
    *
    This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
    except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
    **
    The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
    without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual
    findings, Wakkary v. Holder, 
    558 F.3d 1049
    , 1056 (9th Cir. 2009), and we review
    for abuse of discretion the agency’s denial of humanitarian asylum, Belayneh v.
    INS, 
    213 F.3d 488
    , 491 (9th Cir. 2000). We review de novo due process
    contentions. Sandoval-Luna v. Mukasey, 
    526 F.3d 1243
    , 1246 (9th Cir. 2008).
    We deny the petition for review.
    The agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Singh’s request for
    humanitarian asylum based on his past mistreatment in India. See 
    Belayneh, 213 F.3d at 491
    (record lacked evidence of atrocious past persecution).
    Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that, even if he
    credibly established past persecution, the presumption of future persecution was
    rebutted by evidence that he could relocate within India and it would be reasonable
    for him to do so. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(1)(i)(B) (asylum); 8 C.F.R.
    § 1208.16(b)(1)(i)(B) (withholding of removal); see also Gonzalez–Hernandez v.
    Ashcroft, 
    336 F.3d 995
    , 999-1000 (9th Cir. 2003) (noting “an individual who can
    relocate safely within his home country ordinarily cannot qualify for asylum”).
    We reject Singh’s contention that the BIA improperly allocated the burden of proof
    for internal relocation. Thus, we deny the petition as to Singh’s asylum and
    2                                     14-71724
    withholding of removal claims.
    Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of Singh’s CAT claim
    because he failed to establish it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or
    with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to India. See
    Silaya v. Mukasey, 
    524 F.3d 1066
    , 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).
    Finally, we reject Singh’s contentions that the BIA ignored evidence, see
    Fernandez v. Gonzales, 
    439 F.3d 592
    , 603 (9th Cir. 2006), or otherwise violated
    his due process rights, see Lata v. INS, 
    204 F.3d 1241
    , 1246 (9th Cir. 2000)
    (requiring error to prevail on a due process claim).
    PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
    3                                    14-71724