Hugo Avianto v. ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
HUGO AVIANTO,
Petitioner,
v.
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
No. 12-71283
Agency No. A099-777-203
MEMORANDUM*
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted November 19, 2013**
Before: CANBY, TROTT, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.
Hugo Avianto, a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of the
Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration
judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and
protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction
FILED
DEC 5 2013
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

-- 1 of 3 --

under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual
findings, Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009), and we deny the
petition for review.
The agency denied Avianto’s claim on credibility grounds and on the merits.
With respect to the harms Avianto suffered from his ex-wife and her family,
substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Avianto did not
establish past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution, because he
failed to show the government was unwilling or unable to protect him. See Castro-
Martinez v. Holder, 674 F.3d 1073, 1080-82 (9th Cir. 2011). With respect to the
1997 motorcycle attack, the harm Avianto’s family suffered during the 1998 riots,
and the 2002 bombing of Avianto’s church, substantial evidence supports the
agency’s conclusion that Avianto failed to establish these incidents rose to the level
of persecution, even considered cumulatively. See Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1059-60.
Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s conclusion that Avianto failed to
establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on these incidents. See
Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003) (fear of future harm is too
speculative). Accordingly, even if credible, Avianto’s asylum claim fails.
Because Avianto failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily
fails to meet the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Zehatye
2

-- 2 of 3 --

v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).
Finally, Avianto has not “specifically and distinctly argued and raised” the
issue of CAT relief. See Castro-Perez v. Gonzales, 409 F.3d 1069, 1072 (9th Cir.
2005) (failure to raise a claim results in waiver) (quotation marks and citation
omitted).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
3

-- 3 of 3 --