Zara v. Ashcroft

Petitioner Erlinda Gerardo Zara petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") affirmance without opinion of the immigration judges ("IJ") denial of her applications for asylum, withholding of removal, voluntary departure and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In her appeal to the BIA, the only issue Zara raised was her challenge to the IJs finding that the Aquino Party was no longer in power when she left the Philippines and the impact that alleged error had on her other applications for relief. Zara did not present to the BIA the critical issue she now presents to us concerning the IJs adverse credibility finding, nor did she challenge the IJs determination that she presented insufficient evidence of torture as defined by the CAT, nor did she contend the IJ abused his discretion in denying her request for voluntary departure.