Aura Maria Ixchop, Petitioner, v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Respondent, 116 F.3d 1485 (9th Cir. 1997)

MEMORANDUM^* 

Aura Maria Ixchop, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions pro se for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA"), affirming the immigration judge's ("IJ") denial of her applications for asylum and withholding of deportation pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a) and 1253(h). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1105(a)a, and we deny the petition.

Here, the IJ denied Ixchop's applications for asylum and withholding of deportation, finding her testimony at the hearing not credible. The BIA agreed with the IJ and dismissed Ixchop's appeal. In her petition for review, Ixchop does not argue that the BIA erred by finding her testimony not credible. Instead, she merely recites the standards for evaluating asylum and withholding of deportation claims. We therefore agree with the government that Ixchop has waived the right to challenge the BIA's dismissal of her appeal. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 1996) (holding that an issue not discussed in the opening brief is deemed waived).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.