Singh

MEMORANDUM ***

Ranvir Singh, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), affirming the denial by the immigration judge (IJ) of his application for asylum and withholding of deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158 (1) and 1253(h). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a). 1 Based on the following, we deny the petition.

In order to be eligible for a discretionary grant of asylum, an alien has the burden of demonstrating that he has been persecuted, or has a well-founded fear of persecution in his native country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483-84 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We review credibility findings under a substantial evidence standard of review. See Singh-Kaur v. INS, 183 F.3d 1147, 1149 (9th Cir.1999).

Singh claimed that he is entitled to asylum based upon his Sikh religion and his political opinion, as a member and officer (district supervisor) of the All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF). He also claims he was once arrested and…