Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-18-03437/USCOURTS-ca8-18-03437-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
William P. Barr
Respondent
Tito Michael Uzodinma
Petitioner

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

For the Eighth Circuit

___________________________

No. 18-3437

___________________________

Tito Michael Uzodinma

lllllllllllllllllllllPetitioner

v.

William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States

lllllllllllllllllllllRespondent

 ____________

Petition for Review of an Order of the

Board of Immigration Appeals

 ____________

 Submitted: November 14, 2019

Filed: March 5, 2020

____________

Before COLLOTON, WOLLMAN, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

____________

BENTON, Circuit Judge. 

An immigration judge ruled that Tito M. Uzodinma, a Nigerian citizen, merited

asylum because he had a well-founded fear of future persecution for his political

opinions. The Board of Immigration Appeals reversed, denying asylum. Uzodinma

appeals. Having jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, this court denies the petition for

review. 

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I.

The Department of Homeland Security began removal proceedings against

Uzodinma for a student visa violation. He applied for asylum, which the immigration

judge initially granted. On appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals remanded for

further explanation and factual support, criticizing the “complete lack of any

supporting documentation specific to the respondent.”

On remand, the IJ again granted asylum, finding Uzodinma had a well-founded

fear of future persecution for his political opinions. He supported the Biafran state,

which advocates independence from Nigeria. He also supported the LGBTQ

community (although not a member of it). The IJ relied on Uzodinma’s testimony

and an affidavit from his mother, finding both credible. The IJ found that Uzodinma

had voiced his political opinions on social media. 

The Department of Homeland Security again appealed. The BIA denied

asylum, ordering Uzodinma removed to Nigeria. The BIA adopted the IJ’s credibility

findings. The BIA held, however, that Uzodinma did not meet his burden of

establishing a well-founded fear of future persecution, because he had not

corroborated his claim that he would be harmed in Nigeria. The BIA ruled there was

no objective evidence he stated his political opinionsto others, and it was reasonable

to expect him to provide corroborating evidence. According to the BIA, Uzodinma

did not demonstrate he faces a particularized threat of persecution in light of the fairly

large population of Biafran supporters and members of his Igbo tribe in Nigeria. 

This court reviews a BIA decision as a final agency action, reviewing the IJ’s

findings or reasoning only to the extent the BIA adoptsthem. Degbe v. Sessions, 899

F.3d 651, 655 (8th Cir. 2018). Legal determinations are reviewed de novo, but the

BIA’s interpretation of a federal statute receives substantial deference unless

inconsistent with the statute’s plain language or an unreasonable interpretation of an

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ambiguous statute. Mansour v. Holder, 739 F.3d 412, 414 (8th Cir. 2014), citing

Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-45

(1984). This court reviews the BIA’s denial of asylum under the deferential

substantial evidence standard. Degbe, 899 F.3d at 655. This court does not reweigh

the evidence and “will uphold the denial of relief unless the alien demonstrates that

the evidence [i]s so compelling that no reasonable fact finder could fail to find the

requisite fear of persecution.” Osonowo v. Mukasey, 521 F.3d 922, 927 (8th Cir.

2008).

II.

To obtain asylum, an applicant must demonstrate either past persecution or a

well-founded fear of future persecution on account of his race, religion, nationality,

political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Castillo-Gutierrez v.

Lynch, 809 F.3d 449, 452 (8th Cir. 2016); 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(i). On appeal,

Uzodinma claims a fear of future persecution. An applicant must show that this fear

is both subjectively genuine and objectively reasonable. Baltti v. Sessions, 878 F.3d

240, 245 (8th Cir. 2017). The parties here dispute only the objective reasonableness

of Uzodinma’s fear—a legal question reviewed de novo by the BIA and this court. 

Lemus-Arita v. Sessions, 854 F.3d 476, 480-81 (8th Cir. 2017). To be objectively

reasonable, an applicant’s fear must have a basis in reality and be neither irrational

nor so speculative or general as to lack credibility. Baltti, 878 F.3d at 245.

Uzodinma argues that he has shown a threat particularized to him as an

individual, based on his political opinions.

1

See Agha v. Holder, 743 F.3d 609, 617

1An applicant need notshow particularized harm if the applicant demonstrates

a pattern or practice of persecuting similarly situated persons. 8 C.F.R.

§ 1208.13(b)(2)(iii); Feleke v. INS, 118 F.3d 594, 598 (8th Cir. 1997). Because

Uzodinma did not argue a pattern or practice of persecution in his briefs to this court,

he has waived that claim. See Hasalla v. Ashcroft, 367 F.3d 799, 805 (8th Cir. 2004).

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(8th Cir. 2014) (holding that harm suffered must be particularized to the individual

applicantrather than suffered by the entire population). Although Uzodinma received

threatening text messages, they did not pertain to his political opinions. See Cubillos

v. Holder, 565 F.3d 1054, 1058 (8th Cir. 2009) (holding applicant did not establish

persecution because he could notshow nexus between his political partymembership

and threatening letters and phone calls he received). Uzodinma’s parents hold high

government positions in Nigeria, undermining the potential of harm. See MejiaRamos v. Barr, 934 F.3d 789, 793-94 (8th Cir. 2019) (noting that fear of future

persecution was undermined by the applicant’s family residing unharmed in the

country). Although the BIA explicitly addressed a particularized threat only for

Uzodinma’s pro-Biafran opinion, the BIA implicitly included his pro-LGBTQ

opinions by discussing the lack of evidence of potential harm they would cause him. 

The BIA need not separately analyze a claim where the court can infer its implicit

reasons for denying the claim. See Pulisir v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 302, 308 (1st Cir.

2008); Roy v. Ashcroft, 389 F.3d 132, 140 (5th Cir. 2004). 

Uzodinma arguesthat the BIA exceeded its authority by ruling he did not meet

his burden of proof with corroborating evidence for his claimed fear of future harm

in Nigeria. An applicant has the burden to show eligibility for asylum, which may

require corroborating evidence. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B); Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I.

& N. Dec. 516, 519 (BIA 2015). An applicant’s uncorroborated testimony may be

sufficient if it satisfies the trier of fact that the testimony is credible, persuasive, and

fact-specific enough to show that the applicant is a refugee. 8 U.S.C.

§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(ii). When the trier of fact determines that the applicant should

corroborate otherwise credible testimony, the applicant must provide corroborating

evidence unless the applicant does not have it and cannot reasonably obtain it. Id.;

8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3) (designating the IJ as the trier of fact). 

No regulation or statute prohibits the BIA from ruling based on the absence of

corroborating evidence. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3). The IJ

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here implicitly ruled that corroborating evidence was unnecessary. This ruling

receives no deference. Cf. 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b), 1252(b)(4). The applicant has the

burden to corroborate an asylum claim, even if the uncorroborated testimony is

deemed credible. See Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519; 8 U.S.C.

§ 1158(b)(1)(B). The BIA did not exceed its authority by requiring corroborating

evidence for Uzodinma to meet his burden of proof. 

Uzodinma argues that the BIA violated the standard of review by substituting

its findings for the IJ’s. Whether the BIA applied the proper standard of review is a

question of law this court reviews de novo. Etenyi v. Lynch, 799 F.3d 1003, 1007

(8th Cir. 2015). 

At issue are the IJ’s findings that the Nigerian government is aware, or could

become aware, of Uzodinma’s political opinions from his past social media

communications. The BIA may review these factual findings, including predictive

findings of future events, only for clear error. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(i); Matter

of Z-Z-O-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 586, 590 (BIA 2015). To conclude there was clear error,

the BIA must expressly conclude that the IJ’s factual findings were clear error and

squarely address the supporting evidence. Waldron v. Holder, 688 F.3d 354, 360

(8th Cir. 2012); Ramirez-Peyro v. Gonzales, 477 F.3d 637, 641 (8th Cir. 2007).

Here, the BIA did address some of the evidence that the IJ relied

on—Uzodinma’s testimony—by observing that a printout of his Facebook page did

not support his assertions. See Waldron, 688 F.3d at 360. But the BIA did not

squarely address Uzodinma’s mother’s affidavit, which the BIA agreed was credible. 

See id. Most importantly, the BIA did not expressly find clear error in the IJ’s finding

that Uzodinma had stated his political opinions to others. See id. The BIA thus

improperly substituted its own finding that there was no objective evidence that

Uzodinma had stated his political opinion to others.

 

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Although the BIA violated the standard of review, this error is harmless

because Uzodinma did not show he faced a particularized threat of persecution. See

Puc-Ruiz v. Holder, 629 F.3d 771, 780 (8th Cir. 2010) (holding that harmless error

applies when an applicant cannot show prejudice). Despite the harmless error of

substituting its own findings about communicating his political opinions, the BIA’s

ruling that Uzodinma is ineligible for asylum is supported by substantial evidence.

III. 

Uzodinma contends that the BIA violated his due process rights by failing to

notify him of the need for corroborating evidence and denying him an opportunity to

provide it. Aliens have a procedural due processinterest in deportation proceedings. 

Ramirez v. Sessions, 902 F.3d 764, 771 (8th Cir. 2018), citing Reno v. Flores, 507

U.S. 292, 306 (1993). To establish a due process violation, an alien must show (1)

fundamental procedural error and (2) resulting prejudice, meaning that the outcome

of the proceedings, without the procedural irregularities, may well have been

different. Camishi v. Holder, 616 F.3d 883, 886 (8th Cir. 2010). Procedural due

process challenges receive de novo review. Ramirez, 902 F.3d at 770. 

When an asylum applicant must provide corroborating evidence, the IJ must

afford an opportunity to explain its unavailability, ensuring the explanation is in the

record. Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 521-22. This requirement facilitates

review by the BIA and court of appeals. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3); 8 U.S.C.

§ 1252(b)(4). At a merits hearing, the IJ need not identify the specific corroborating

evidence that would be persuasive. Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 520. Nor

must the IJ grant an automatic continuance for the applicant to present corroborating

evidence later. Id. Cf. Singh v. Lynch, 803 F.3d 988, 992 (8th Cir. 2015) (holding

that a petitioner “received sufficient notice and a fair opportunity to obtain and

present evidence to corroborate his claims” where the IJ denied his claim without a

continuance to obtain more evidence). The asylum application form and related

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statutes provide sufficient notice that corroborative evidence may be required and the

consequences for failing to provide it. Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519-20. 

Uzodinma was on notice he needed to corroborate his claim of a particularized

threat of persecution. Before his final merits hearing, the IJ told him at a master

calendar hearing that the BIA had remanded the case for lack of supporting

documentation “specific to the respondent.” See id. at 521 (noting that master

calendar hearings, prior to merits hearings, provide an opportunity to ask questions

and request a continuance to obtain evidence). Uzodinma responded he understood

he must provide corroborating evidence, mentioning the case later codified into the

statutory requirement, In Re S-M-J-, 21 I. & N. Dec. 722 (BIA 1997). See Matter of

L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519; 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(ii). 

Although the IJ did not require corroborating evidence, Uzodinma had an

opportunity to explain its unavailability—and did—at hissecond merits hearing. See

Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519. Questioned about the absence of

corroboration for his support of the Biafran state and LGBTQ rights, Uzodinma

explained why he thought his evidence was sufficient and that in detention, he could

not access his social media accounts to provide further evidence. 

Uzodinma asserts that this court should follow its cases predating the REAL

ID Act’s 2005 amendments to the Immigration and Naturalization Act, such as ElSheikh v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 643, 647 (8th Cir. 2004). However, this court has

applied pre-REAL ID Act standards only where the applicant petitioned for asylum

before that Act took effect on May 11, 2005. See Khrystotodorov v. Mukasey, 551

F.3d 775, 784 n.2 (8th Cir. 2008) (stating that the REAL ID Act did not apply);

Damkam v. Holder, 592 F.3d 846, 851 n.2 (8th Cir. 2010) (same); Omondi v.

Holder, 674 F.3d 793, 797 (8th Cir. 2012) (same). Uzodinma applied for asylum on

May 30, 2017, long after the effective date of the REAL ID Act. 

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Replacing previous standards, the REAL ID Act placed the burden on the

petitioner to corroborate otherwise credible testimony. See 8 U.S.C.

§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(ii); Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519. The BIA here

satisfied the REAL ID Act’s standard. Cf. Matter of L-A-C-, 26 I. & N. Dec. at 519

n.1 (recognizing abrogation of pre-REAL ID Act Ninth Circuit case law); Wei Sun

v. Sessions, 883 F.3d 23, 28 (2d Cir. 2018) (deferring to BIA interpretation of REAL

ID Act). 

Even if the BIA committed a fundamental procedural error, reversal would

require Uzodinma to show prejudice. See Camishi, 616 F.3d at 886. He does not

show that additional notice and opportunity would have enabled him to obtain

corroborating evidence. In fact, he said that “there is no possible way I can access

this evidence” because he was detained. Because Uzodinma cannot show that the

outcome of proceedings would have differed with notice and opportunity, he cannot

demonstrate prejudice from any error. 

* * * * * * *

The petition for review is denied.

______________________________

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