Esteves

Esteves v. Holder

Good Law
316 F. App'x 623
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMarch 4, 2009No. 06-74489California237 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Joice de Oliveira Esteves, a native and citizen of Brazil, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence factual findings, Cruz-Navarro v. INS, 232 F.3d 1024, 1028 (9th Cir.2000), and deny the petition for review.

Even accepting Esteves’ testimony as true, see Mansour v. Ashcroft, 390 F.3d 667, 672 (9th Cir.2004), substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of asylum because Esteves failed to show she was harmed in the past or has a fear of future persecution on account of an actual or imputed political opinion. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481-82 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992); Cruz-Navarro, 232 F.3d at 1030 . Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s finding that she did not have a well-founded fear of future persecution because Esteves was able to travel freely without interference from the Brazilian authorities. See Gu v. Gonzales, 454 F.3d 1014, 1022 (9th Cir. 2006).

Because Esteves failed to establish…

Sign in to read the full opinion

Create a free account to read the complete opinion text, citation history, and good-law status for this case.