Bihasa
Bihasa v. Immigration & Naturalization Service
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Antonio Janolo Bihasa, a native and citizen of the Philippines, petitions pro se for review of a final decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) dismissing his appeal of an immigration judge’s denial of his application for asylum and withholding of deportation. We have jurisdiction to review a final order of the BIA pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a), 1 and we deny the petition.
We review the BIA’s factual findings, including whether a petitioner has demonstrated past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution, for substantial evidence, and we uphold the BIA ruling unless the evidence compels a contrary result. Pedro-Mateo v. INS, 224 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.2000).
Because the record does not compel the conclusion that Bihasa was persecuted or reasonably fears persecution on account of political opinion or any other prohibited ground, the BIA’s conclusion that he did not establish eligibility for asylum is supported by substantial evidence. See id. It follows that Bihasa did not satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of deportation. See id.