WPC RWKINvg&J2e~z^lbv]OT*r_9.P%fGMi]nr÷3>(麽VloFy-!JʁLv>rSfpk]Xngx+l`#sh4ߐ#Ŕ2ΛLwE{w޶N㰍,戍 Ks,F௾l {^ˁHy"XL|DqycxRʟ/&,q6XdA]RJRbH0N諗ϒZC_H˨SC 47Q|צ @k]5}`mbd-` I h$t֕];`((I[ }/zm U F ^ w 4   E f a m 6 UB=b B                                          &HP LaserJet 5/5M - Standard,,,,0X(#$  0  ($XXXX<6X9`("Courier NewTT(F:2$ !XS(XXX        0  <4 9Z+ Courier New <6X9`("Courier NewTTXXx6X@DQX@<6X9`(CourierTTXXw6X@QX@(A Z6Times New Roman RegularQ 9Z+.Courier New Regular//s M/y File3|xTABLE AU  $XVXXX      1    _Petitionersuggeststhatthe_IJ_'sreasoningisflawedbecause  the_IJ_ԀfailedtostatethesignificanceofKhem'sexperiencesin  evaluatinghersubjectivefearofpersecution. Butthe_IJ_Ԁdidnot \  disputethegenuinenessofKhem'ssubjectivefear.Instead,the_IJ_  restedtherejectionofKhem'sasylumclaimonthefindingthather  subjectivefearwasnotobjectivelyreasonable. <6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi- -  4 ' Turner0Turner .    d  $XVXXX      2    _Khemsuggeststhatsheneednotprovidesuchevidencebecause  hermembershipinFUNCINPEC"establishesthatthereisapatternor  practicein[Cambodia]ofpersecutionofgroupsofpersons \ similarlysituated...onaccountof...membershipinaparticular 2 socialgroup."Pet.Br.at19(quoting8_C.F.R._Ԁ208.13(b)(2)). X Buttherecorddoesnotcompeltheconclusionthatall_FUNCINPEC_ . membersaresimilarlysituated. !XVXXX  _=VXXdd=TRY,3'X3' Letter 3' Letter3'T ? * ! XXXXV x&X X     UnitedStatesCourtofAppeals Ȼ x&  FortheFirstCircuit  ` Ȼ XVX `  SA') ` dE< ` A      `     h No.022725 K  @$SOVANNKHEM,  G  @XX%Petitioner,   @tt)v. O  @$ $ JOHNASHCROFT,UnitedStatesAttorneyGeneral, K  @XX%Respondent.  A') ` dE<R` A S @P P ONPETITIONFORREVIEWOFANORDEROFTHE 8 @\ \ BOARDOFIMMIGRATIONAPPEALS 4 A') ` dE<` A  @'Before u   @@((Lynch,Lipez,andHoward,CircuitJudges. !q A') ` dE<` A         RobertM.Warrenwasonbriefforpetitioner. "   RobertD.McCallum,Jr.,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,Civil 4!$ Division,LindaS.Wendtland,AssistantDirector,andAnnCarroll  "Z% Varnon,Attorney,wereonbriefforrespondent. "0& *'ddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,( dd ,( dd ,( dd +  b% )b%  > SI%!* @|@37858@|@SAugust26,2003 &!,  RHCr'"-" @|@37858 @|@ R(%!.  (  * !   |-(4? XVXX XV  8VXXdd8*,X` XX* ` LYNCH,CircuitJudge .SovannKhem,anativeandcitizen  ofCambodia,enteredtheUnitedStatesonJuly13,1997,and x appliedforasylumonDecember3,1997.Khemclaimsawellfounded $t fearofpersecutionbasedonherpoliticaloppositiontothe   CambodianPeople'sParty(CPP)andherhusband'sdeathwhile |  fightingCPPtroops.Herapplicationforasylumandwithholdingof ( x  removalwasdeniedbyanImmigrationJudge(IJ).TheBoardof $  ImmigrationAppeals(BIA)summarilyaffirmedwithoutopinion.Khem   seeksreviewofthisdecision.Weaffirm. ,|  @tt) I.  (  ` BecausetheIJfoundKhem'stestimonycredible, we  describethefactsassherecountedthematherhearingandinher h applicationforasylum. d  ` # XVXXXV #XVXX XVOnJuly5,1997,abloodycouperuptedinCambodiain  whichtheCPP overthrewthe NationalUnitedFrontofan l Independent,Neutral,PeacefulandCooperativeCambodia 4 (FUNCINPEC). # XVXXXV#XVXX XV Atthetime,SovannKhemwasresidinginPhnomPenh, 0  Cambodia,withherhusbandofalmostfouryears. # XVXXXV!#XVXX XVԀAlthoughKhemand !" herhusbandhadneverregisteredtheirmarriagewiththecivil 8#$ authoritiesinCambodia,theyweremarriedinaBuddhistceremony# XVXXXV#XVXX XV. $4 & HerhusbandwasabodyguardandsoldierforFUNCINPEC, andKhem &!( herselfhadbeenamemberofFUNCINPECsince1994. Sheservedas <(#* anelectioncampaignworker,receivingasalaryofsixtydollars )8%, permonthtotravelfromhometohomerecruitingforFUNCINPEC.  +&.  ` OnJuly6,1997,duringthefightingthataccompaniedthe  coup,# XVXXXV#XVXX XVԀKhem'shusbandwaskilledincombatbyCPPforceswhile \ guardingaweaponswarehouseforFUNCINPEC. AfewofKhem'sco X workerstoldherthatallFUNCINPECmemberswereindangerandthat   sheshouldgointohiding. Afterattendingherhusband'sfuneral `  service,KhemleftCambodiaonJuly11,1997. Sheenteredthe  \  UnitedStatesonatouristvisatwodayslater.     ` KhemappliedforasylumonDecember3,1997. Conceding d  thatshewasremovable, Khemstatedthatshebelievedshewasin `  dangerbecauseofhersupportforFUNCINPECandherstatusasthe   widowofaFUNCINPECsoldier. AfterreviewingKhem'sasylum h applicationandconductingahearinginwhichKhemtestified,the 0 IJdeniedherclaimsforasylumandwithholdingofremoval,but , grantedherrequestforvoluntarydeparture. TheIJcredited  Khem'stestimonyastoherinvolvementinFUNCINPECandher 4 husband'sdeath,butdeterminedthat"hertestimonyfailsto 0 establishthatareasonablepersoninhercircumstanceswouldfear   persecutioninCambodia,orthatshehas,infact,sufferedpast 8!" persecution." TheIJconcludedthattherewasnoevidencethat "4$ Khem'shusbandhadbeensingledoutforpersecution;hewaskilled $& duringanarmedbattle. Moreover,theIJfoundthatevenifhehad <&!( beensingledout,therewasnoevidencethatKhemherselfhadbeen (T#* orwouldbetargetedbecauseofherhusband'spoliticalbeliefs. )%,  Finally,relyingoncountryconditionsreports,theIJdetermined \+&. thatKhem'sfearsbasedonherownmembershipinFUNCINPECwerenot  objectivelyreasonablebecauselowlevelpartymemberssuchas \ herselfhavenotbeentargetsofpersecution.  X  ` TheBIAaffirmedtheIJ'sdecisionwithoutopinion,   citing8C.F.R.1003.1(a)(7)(2003)(formerly8C.F.R. `  3.1(e)(4)).Onappeal,KhemchallengestheBIA'ssummary  \  affirmance,arguingthattheIJ'sopinionisnotsupportedby   substantialevidence.  d   @88) II.  `    ` TheBIA'sdeterminationsonthemeritsforclaimsof ( asylumorwithholdingofremovalareconclusiveif"supportedby  # XVXXXV #reasonable,substantial,andprobativeevidenceontherecord 0 consideredasawhole."INSv.Elias-Zacarias,502U.S.478,481 , (1992)(internalquotationmarksomitted);Albathaniv.INS,318  F.3d365,372(1stCir.2003).  ToreversetheBIA,wemustbe 4 persuadedthat"theevidencenotonlysupportsthatconclusion,but 0 compelsit."Elias-Zacarias,502U.S.at481n.1;Albathani,318   F.3dat371. 8!"  ` WheretheBIAhasissuedasummaryaffirmanceunder8 "4$ C.F.R.1003.1(a)(7),"wetreatthefindingsandconclusionsof $& theIJastheBoard'sownopinion."Herbertv.Ashcroft,325F.3d <&!( 68,71(1stCir.2003).LikeaBIAdecision,anIJdecisionthat '8#* hasbeenaffirmedwithoutopinionmaybereversedonlyif"the )$, evidenceissocompellingthatnoreasonablefactfindercouldfail @+&. toreachthecontraryconclusion."OlivaMurallesv.INS,328F.3d  25,27(1stCir.2003). \  ` TherecordinKhem'scasedoesnotcompeltheconclusion X thatKhemisentitledtoasylum.Tobeeligibleforasylum,an   applicantbearstheburdenofestablishingthatheorshequalifies `  asa"refugee"withinthemeaningof8U.S.C.1101(a)(42)(A).  \  Id.1158(b)(1);8C.F.R.208.13(a)(2003).Applicantscanmeet   thisburdenintwoways.First,theycandemonstratepast d  persecutiononthebasisofrace,religion,nationality,membership `  inaparticularsocialgroup,orpoliticalopinion.Yatskinv.   INS,255F.3d5,9(1stCir.2001);8C.F.R.208.13(b)(1).Such h ashowingcreatesthepresumptionofawellfoundedfearoffuture d persecution.Id.Second,applicantscanestablishthattheyhave  awellfoundedfearoffuturepersecutionbasedononeofthefive l statutorygrounds.ElMoraghyv.Ashcroft,331F.3d195,20203 h (1stCir.2003).Todoso,theymustdemonstratethattheirfear  isbothgenuineandobjectivelyreasonable.Seeid.at203. p  XVXX XV ` Khemmakesnoclaimofpastpersecution.Instead,she !l" arguesthatshefearsfuturepersecutionbecauseofherhusband's "$ roleasasoldierinFUNCINPECandherownpartymembership. The t$& recorddoesnotcompelarejectionoftheIJ'sdeterminationthat <&!( Khem'sfearisnotobjectivelyreasonable. #  1      ׀AstoKhem'sfearof '8#* persecutionforherhusband'sactivities,thereisnoevidencethat  herhusbandwaseveratargetofpersecution.Althoughkilledby \ CPPforces,hediedinanarmedconflictthateruptedaftertheCPP X coup;hewasnotoneoftheFUNCINPECmemberssingledoutfor   persecutionbytheCPP.Also,Khempresentednoevidenceofa `  threattoherbasedonherhusband'spoliticalviews. She  \  testifiedthatsheattendedherhusband'scremationceremonyata   pagodabeforeleavingthecountry andthatnoretaliationresulted. d   TheIJhadsufficientevidencetoconcludethatKhem'sfearsof `  persecutiononthebasisofherhusband'sroleinFUNCINPECwere   notobjectivelyreasonable. h  ` Similarly,astoKhem'sownmembershipinFUNCINPEC,the d evidencedoesnotcompeltheconclusionthatherfearsof  persecutionwereobjectivelyreasonable.Khemwasalowlevel l partymember.Shetestifiedthatshenevermadepublicspeeches h aboutthepartyandneverheldapartyoffice. Shefurther  concededthatshewas"nottoosure"aboutFUNCINPEC'sbeliefsand p  thatshe"d[id]n'tknowmuch"aboutitsoppositiontotheCPP.  !l" SubstantialevidencesupportstheIJ'sconclusionthatlowlevel "$ partymemberssuchasKhemarenotlikelytofacefuture t$& persecution.CountryconditionsreportsindicatethattheCPP  &p!( targetedactiveandvisibleFUNCINPECmembersaftertheJuly1997 '#* coup,suchasFUNCINPECsecurityandpoliticalofficialsandparty  sympathizersintheCambodianmilitaryandpoliceforce. Although \ KhemtestifiedthatcoworkerswarnedherthatallFUNCINPEC X memberswereindanger,thecountryconditionsreportsdonot   documentpersecutionoflowlevelpartymembers,andKhemprovided `  neitherevidenceofsuchpersecutionnorareasonforthe  \  difficultyofobtainingsuchevidence.Q #  2      ׀Tothecontrary,Khem   admittedinhertestimonythatherolderbrotherisamemberof d  FUNCINPECbuthassufferednoharmdespitecontinuingtolivein `  Cambodia. Asthiscourthaspreviouslynoted,"[t]hefactthat   closerelativescontinuetolivepeacefullyinthealien'shomeland h undercuts[her]claimthatpersecutionawaits[her]return." d Guzmanv.INS,327F.3d11,16(1stCir.2003)(citingAguilar  Solisv.INS,168F.3d565(1stCir.1999)).Herclaimisfurther l undercutbythefact,notedintheIJ'sopinion,thatviolencehas h subsidedinCambodiafollowingtheformationofacoalition  governmentbetweenFUNCINPECandtheCPPinNovember1998.  p   ` Forthesamereasons,therecorddoesnotcompelthe !l" conclusionthatKhemisentitledtowithholdingofremoval.See "$ Guzman,327F.3dat16("[A]petitionerwhofailstosatisfythe t$& asylumstandardautomaticallyfailstosatisfythestandardfor  withholdingofdeportation."(citingAlvarezFloresv.INS,909 \ F.2d1,4(1stCir.1990))).# XVXXXV*#XVXX XV X  ` @( III.     ` We affirm thedenialoftheapplicationforasylumand |  withholdingofremoval.Theordergrantingvoluntarydeparture D   stands. @  (#(#K(## XVXXXV!<#