9th Cir.;
13-73098

The court of appeals denied a petition for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. The court held that threats against a former police officer, arising from his involvement in the investigation of a high-profile drug trafficking ring, did not constitute grounds for withholding of removal.

Mongolian police officer Amartsengel Sanjaa was involved in the investigation of a high-profile drug-trafficking operation. As a result of his involvement in the investigation, he was the subject of repeated threats. Fearing for his life, he left the country. He entered the U.S. on a student visa, but overstayed the visa and was eventually served with a notice to appear. Sanjaa conceded removability, but applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture (CAT) relief. The immigration judge (IJ) found Sanjaa's testimony credible, but denied all forms of relief. The Board of Immigration Appeals similarly denied relief, and also rejected Sanjaa's claim for relief from removal under the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UN-CATOC).