Mark V. Immigration & Naturalization Service
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Abraham Mark, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision dismissing his appeal from an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum and withholding of deportation under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158 (a) and 1253(h). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a). 1 We review factual determinations concerning a petitioner’s eligibility for asylum under a substantial evidence standard, and we must uphold the BIA’s decision unless the evidence compels a contrary result. INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We deny the petition for review.
Because petitioner failed to provide specific, direct evidence of persecution, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that petitioner neither suffered past persecution nor has a well-founded fear of future persecution. See Singh v. INS, 134 F.3d 962, 966 (9th Cir.1998).
Because petitioner failed to qualify for asylum, he cannot satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of deportation. See Ghaly v. INS, 58 F.3d 1425, 1429 (9th Cir.1995).