Andrew Sawboh v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner Andrew Sawboh petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 (a)(1) and review for substantial evidence. See Gonzalez-Hernandez v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 995, 998 (9th Cir.2003). As the BIA’s holdings regarding country conditions are nearly identical to those of the IJ, “we treat the IJ’s statement of reasons as the BIA’s and review its decision.” Sowe v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 1281, 1285 (9th Cir.2008) (quoting Gonzalez v. INS, 82 F.3d 903, 907 (9th Cir.1996)). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of withholding of removal based on changed country conditions. The IJ provided an individualized analysis of Saw-boh’s situation and rationally construed the country reports in the record, which stated that conditions have improved in Liberia since Charles Taylor’s regime was no longer in power, and that persecution by the government on account of political opinion and ethnic group has greatly…