ARAM DIPLOSHYAN v. LORETTA LYNCH (2016)

MEMORANDUM*

Aram Diploshyan petitions for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismissing his appeal of the denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Diploshyan asserts that the BIA erred when it held that he failed to establish past persecution, a well-founded fear of future persecution, and a likelihood of torture if he returned to Armenia.

1. Substantial evidence supports the BIA's determination that Diploshyan failed to establish past persecution. We have described persecution as “an extreme concept that does not include every sort of treatment our society regards as offensive.” Halim v. Holder, 590 F.3d 971, 975 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). Viewed separately or cumulatively, Diploshyan's reported incidents do not compel a finding of past persecution. See id. at 975-76 (denying an asylum claim under similar circumstances). Further, as the BIA noted, the fact that Diploshyan returned to Armenia after three of the four events underlying his claims had occurred severely undermines his claim that he fears future persecution. See Tamang v. Holder, 598 F.3d 1083, 1094 (9th Cir. 2010). Diploshyan's failure to establish eligibility for asylum necessarily precludes “withholding of removal, which imposes a heavier burden of proof.” Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).

2. Substantial evidence also supports the denial of CAT relief. Diploshyan failed to produce any evidence illustrating a clear probability of an individualized risk of torture if he returns to Armenia. See Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1068 (9th Cir. 2009).

PETITION DENIED.