Case ID: f-appx_499/html/0148-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Diego Antonio SACOTO-RIVERA, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES.
    No. 12-1588.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Aug. 22, 2012.
    Opinion Filed Aug. 22, 2012.
    Regis Fernandez, Esq., Newark, NJ, for Petitioner.
    Jeffrey Bernstein, Esq., Eric H. Holder, Jr., Esq., Thomas W. Hussey, Esq., United States Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, Washington, DC, for Attorney General of the United States.
    Before: SLOVITER, GREENAWAY, JR., and COWEN, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Diego Sacoto-Rivera petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). For the reasons below, we will deny the petition for review.

Sacoto-Rivera, a native of Ecuador, entered the United States in December 2001 as a visitor. In December 2008, he was charged as removable for overstaying his admission period. He conceded remova-bility and applied for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. He alleged that he feared a Ecuadorean smuggling group which was involved with a former ICE agent, Pedro Cintron, who pleaded guilty to receiving a gratuity as a public official. Sacoto-Rivera contended that his wife was smuggled into the United States by this group and had “denounced” the leader of the group, a man named “Dr. Zumba.” After a hearing, an Immigration Judge (IJ) denied relief. Sacoto-Rivera appealed and filed a motion to remand.

The BIA dismissed the appeal and denied the motion to remand. It determined that despite his credible testimony, Saco-to-Rivera had not shown a clear probability that he would be persecuted based on a protected ground. The BIA found unsatisfactory Saeoto-Rivera’s explanation that his wife did not testify at his immigration hearing because she was pregnant. The BIA concluded that Sacoto-Rivera’s torture claim was speculative. The BIA denied his motion to remand, concluding that he had not submitted any material evidence that was unavailable at the time of his hearing. Sacoto-Rivera filed a petition for review.

We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We may not reverse the BIA’s decision unless the record evidence would compel a reasonable fact-finder to conclude that Sacoto-Rivera had met his burden. I.N.S. v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). To establish eligibility for withholding of removal, Sacoto-Rivera needed to demonstrate that it was more likely than not that his life or freedom would be threatened in Ecuador on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). To be eligible for withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture, he needed to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured if removed to Ecuador. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2).

Sacoto-Rivera argues that he provided adequate corroboration for his claims for withholding of removal and CAT relief. The BIA concluded that, although credible, he did not meet his burden of proof for relief. The BIA may require credible applicants to supply corroborating evidence. See Abdulai v. Ashcroft, 239 F.3d 542, 554 (3d Cir.2001). Under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4), we may not reverse a determination made with respect to the availability of corroborating evidence • unless a reasonable trier of fact would be compelled to conclude that such evidence is unavailable. The BIA rejected Sacoto-Rivera’s explanation that his wife, who was sitting outside the courtroom, could not testify because she was pregnant. Thus, a witness who could purportedly give corroborating testimony was available, but Sacoto-Rivera declined to call her.

Sacoto-Rivera asserts that he submitted evidence from his wife’s removal proceedings as corroboration. He contends that his testimony was corroborated by the IJ’s and BIA’s decisions in his wife’s proceedings. However, the IJ in his wife’s case concluded that she had not met her burden on proof. A.R. at 308. The BIA agreed and also concluded that her allegations concerning money paid to undercover ICE agents were not relevant. A.R. at 291.

Sacoto-Rivera has not shown that the record compels a finding that his evidence was sufficient to support his claim for withholding without corroboration. Given that his testimony consisted mostly of his recounting hearsay statements made by his wife, it was not unreasonable for the BIA to expect corroboration of his claims. Sacoto-Rivera has also not shown that the record compels a finding that he will be tortured if removed to Ecuador.

With respect to his claim pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, he has not shown that he falls within the scope of its protection. The Convention provides for protection for witnesses in criminal proceedings concerning covered offenses or victims of those offenses. A.R. at 384-85. Sacoto-Rivera does not allege that he has been a victim or witness in any criminal proceedings covered by the Convention.

Next, Sacoto-Rivera argues that the IJ should have compelled the Government to disclose any evidence that could corroborate his claim. However, he does not explain why he could not have obtained any such information on his own. He did not ask the IJ to compel the Government to provide any information, and his counsel admitted that “[w]e’re just speculating as to whether this was a sting operation, or it involved, you know, corrupt Immigration Officials, you know, with regards to the money, for example, that the respondent went and deposited so that his wife could be released.” A.R. at 191. He did not explain how such evidence would support his claim, and his counsel conceded that the evidence may not be relevant.

I think there’s a part of the puzzle that only the Government would have, which is what was the Immigration Officers [sic] roles in smuggling the wife into the country. That’s basically it. Whether it’s relevant? Whether you determine whether we have the information or not, it’s not relevant, than that’s fine. But I just think that that’s something that we can’t provide, you know, what exactly happened with the Immigration Officers.

A.R. at 192. In response, the IJ noted that Sacoto-Rivera could have his wife testify.' The Government noted that his wife could make a FOIA request for documents in her file. Neither the IJ nor the BIA erred in failing to compel the Government to produce any evidence.

Finally, Sacoto-Rivera contends that the BIA should have remanded his case to be consolidated with his wife’s immigration proceedings. A motion to remand is the functional equivalent of a motion to reopen. Korytnyuk v. Ashcroft, 396 F.3d 272, 282 (3d Cir.2005). We review the denial of a motion to reopen for an abuse of discretion. Filja v. Gonzales, 447 F.3d 241, 251 (3d Cir.2006). The BIA noted that Sacoto-Rivera had not submitted any material evidence that was not available at the time of his hearing. Sacoto-Rivera merely repeats his argument that the Government should be compelled to produce corroborative evidence. The BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to remand.

For the above reasons, we will deny the petition for review. 
      
      . Sacoto-Rivera argues that the Government has the responsibility to provide evidence to support his claim instead of requiring his pregnant wife to testify without an acknowl-e'dgement that the testimony she gives will be protected. Brief at 19. However, Sacoto-Rivera never asked for any protection for his wife's testimony.