Shuldyakova

MEMORANDUM

Ekaterina Shuldyakova, a native and citizen of Russia, petitions for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision upholding an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of her applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Shuldyakova claims that she fears persecution if returned to Russia because of her association with her family and her father’s high-profile political activity. The IJ denied relief concluding that Shuldyakova failed to meet her burden of proving past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution. The BIA affirmed without opinion. After we remanded the matter on the government’s uncontested motion, the BIA rejected Shuldyakova’s claim in a written opinion. Shuldyakova filed a timely petition for review.

We review the agency’s factual findings for substantial evidence, upholding them unless the evidence in the record compels a contrary result. Mihalev v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 722, 724 (9th Cir.2004). We find that substantial evidence supports the IJ’s and the BIA’s denial of the asylum application.

First, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s and BIA’s…