Xiaogang Liang v. Holder

MEMORANDUM **

Xiaogang Liang, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of *757 Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, Nagoulko v. INS, 833 F.3d 1012, 1015 (9th Cir.2003), and we deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of asylum because Liang’s five day detention and being hit and slapped did not rise to the level of past persecution. See Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d 336, 339-40 (9th Cir.1995). Furthermore, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Liang has not established a well-founded fear of persecution if he returns to China. See Nagoulko, 333 F.3d at 1018; see also Li v. INS, 92 F.3d 985, 988 (9th Cir.1996) (stating that fear of prosecution for illegal departure does not establish a well-founded fear of persecution). Accordingly, Liang’s asylum claim fails.

Because Liang failed to demonstrate eligibility for asylum, it follows that he did not satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See…