Carlos Humberto Lopez-carrillo, Petitioner, v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Respondent, 133 F.3d 927 (9th Cir. 1998)

MEMORANDUM^* 

Carlos Humberto Lopez-Carrillo, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions pro se for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") dismissing his appeal of the immigration judge's denial of his application for asylum and withholding of deportation. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a), and we deny the petition.¹ 

We review for substantial evidence the BIA's factual findings underlying its decision that an applicant is ineligible for asylum, see Ramos-Vasquez v. INS, 57 F.3d 857, 861 (9th Cir. 1995), and will uphold the BIA's decision unless the evidence compels a contrary result, see Kazlauskas v. INS, 46 F.3d 902, 905 (9th Cir. 1995).

Substantial evidence supports the BIA's determination that Lopez-Carrillo failed to establish his eligibility for asylum. Lopez-Carrillo testified that he joined the Solidarity Action Movement, a Guatemalan political party, in September, 1990. As a party member, Lopez-Carrillo distributed fliers, calendars and other materials with the party seal. On one occasion, two persons driving by in a car told him to stop putting up signs "if we did not want to have an accident." On another occasion, Lopez-Carrillo received a note advising him to " [s]top that, something could happen to [him]." Lopez-Carrillo, however, did not identify the two persons in the car, with whom they were affiliated or why the threat was made. See Fisher v. INS, 79 F.3d 955, 960 (9th Cir. 1996) (en banc) (stating that an applicant must present direct and specific evidence supporting a fear of persecution). Moreover, Lopez-Carrillo did not explain who sent the note or offer any details about the note. See id.

Lopez-Carrillo also testified that members of a rival political party killed his brother on February 27, 1991. However, Lopez-Carrillo could only speculate that he was the intended target and that " [t]hey killed [his brother] ... by mistake. My brother looked a lot like me.... [T]he person they were looking for was me." Lopez-Carrillo failed to offer any direct and specific evidence to support his speculation or otherwise connect his brother's death with Lopez-Carrillo's political activities. See id. In light of this record, we cannot conclude that a reasonable factfinder would be compelled to find that Lopez-Carrillo established his eligibility for asylum. See Kazlauskas, 46 F.3d at 905.

Because Lopez-Carrillo failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily failed to meet the more stringent standard required for withholding of deportation. See Ghaly v. INS, 58 F.3d 1425, 1429 (9th Cir. 1995).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.