Ran Gyeong Hong v. Holder

MEMORANDUM **

Ran Gyeong Hong, a native and citizen of South Korea, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review de novo questions of law and for substantial evidence factual findings. Husyev v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir.2008). We deny the petition for review.

Hong does not raise any challenge to the agency’s dispositive finding that her asylum application is time-barred. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir.1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived). Thus, we deny her petition as to her asylum claim.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s finding that, even if Hong suffered past persecution on account of a protected ground, her presumption of future persecution was rebutted by a fundamental change in circumstances. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16 (b)(l)(i)(A); Gonzalez-Hernan *621 dez v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 995 , 998 (9th Cir.2003) (substantial evidence…