Chufu Wan v. Gonzales

MEMORANDUM **

Chufu Wan, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 .

Where, as here, it is unclear whether the BIA conducted a de novo review, we may “look to the IJ’s oral decision as a guide to what lay behind the BIA’s conclusion.” Avetova-Elisseva v. INS, 213 F.3d 1192, 1197 (9th Cir.2000). We review for substantial evidence, Lin v. Gonzales, 434 F.3d 1158, 1160 (9th Cir.2006), and we dismiss the petition in part, grant it in part, and remand.

We lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s finding on Wan’s untimely asylum application because it was based on disputed facts. See Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 650, 656-57 (9th Cir.2007). Accordingly, we dismiss Wan’s asylum claim.

With regard to Wan’s claim for withholding of removal, substantial evidence does not support the BIA’s nexus finding because the record compels the conclusion that the police arrested and detained Wan on account of an imputed…