FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT A pr i l 27, 2006 T HOM AS K. KAHN CL E RK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

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________________________ B I A N o. A 95- 551- 284 M A U R I C I O A N D R E S R A M I R E Z B A R C O , P e titio n e r , v ersu s U .S . A T T O R N E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e ti ti on forR e vi e w of

aD e c i s i on of

the B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

_________________________ ( A p r i l 27, 2006) B efo re B IR C H , D U B IN A an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: M a ur i c i o A ndr e s R a m i r e z - B a r c o pe ti ti ons forr e vi e w of the f i na l or de rof

the B oa r d of I m m i gr a ti on A ppe a l s ( “ B I A ” ) , w hi c h a dopt e d the de c i s i on of the2

i m m i gr a ti on j udge ( “ I J ” ) or de r i ng r e m ova l , de ny i ng a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l unde rthe I m m i gr a ti on a nd N a tur a l i z a ti on A c t( “ I N A ” ) , 8 U . S . C . §§ 1158, 12 31 , and d enyi ng re l i ef un der the U ni t ed N ati on s C on vent i on A gai nstT orture ( “C A T ” ) , 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 6 ( c ) . B e c a u s e R a m ir e z - B a r c o fa ile d to e x h a u s t h is a dm i ni s tr a ti ve r e m e di e s , w e l a c k j ur i s di c ti on t o r e vi e w R a m i r e z ’ s c ha l l e nge of the I J ’ s de ni a l of

r e l i e f unde rC A T orof

the I J ’ s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng, upon w h i ch th e d en i al o f asyl u m an d w i th h o l d i n g o f rem o v al w as b ased . A cco rd i n g l y, w e D I S M I S S th e p e titio n a s to C A T r e lie f a n d D E N Y it a s to r e lie f u n d e rth e I N A . I . B AC KG RO UN D A . A ppl i c a ti on forA s y l um O n 2 4 M ay 20 02 , R am i re z- B ar co, a nati ve and ci ti ze n o f C ol om bi a, fi l ed an a p p lic a tio n fo ra s y lu m a n d w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l. T h e a p p lic a tio n lis te d h is r e s id e n c e s in C o lo m b iafo rth e p e r io d f r o m D e c e m b e r1 9 8 0 th r o u g h J u n e 2 0 0 1 . A dm i ni stra ti ve R ec ord (“ A R ”) at17 2. Ital so i nd i ca t ed thathe had l as tl ef t C ol om bi aon 17 J une 2001, butha d pr e vi ous l y vi s i t e d the U ni t e d S t a t e s i n 1993 a n d 1 9 9 9 a n d th a t h e n o w s o u g h t a s y lu m o rw ith h o ld in g o f r e lie f b a s e d o n h is po l i ti ca l op i ni on . Id. at16 9, 17 3. M ore s peci fi ca l l y, he as se rt ed thathi s father had been m urdered i n C ol om bi a i n 1 99 3, “ po ss i bl y” i n con necti on w i th h i s pol i ti ca l ac ti vi ty a nd thatR am i re z- B ar co had rece i ved “ threa t eni ng t el epho ne ca l l s” and h ad3

been vi si t ed by t w o h oo ded m en. Id. at17 3. T he appl i ca ti on expl ai ned that R a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d be e n par tof ay outh gr oup of

c om m uni ty l e a de r s s uppor ti ng the C ons e r va ti ve P a r ty , a nd tha thi s fa the ra nd a untha d both a l s o be e n a c ti ve i n the C on se rvati ve P ar ty. Id. at17 4. H e a ss er t ed thathe and h i s fam i l y had been m ent al l y t ortured by the threa t s they had rec ei ved. Id. R am i re z- B ar co expl ai ned th a t, a s am e m b e ro f

th e c o n s e r v a tiv e y o u th , h e h a d to ld p e o p le to s u p p o r t s ta te i nsti tut i on s a nd t o rej ec tthe gu erri l l a group s. Id. at17 9. H e c l ai m ed thaton 4 M ay 20 01 , he had rece i ved a t el epho ne ca l l fr om a m an i dent i fy i ng hi m se l f a s am em ber of the N ati on al L i bera ti on A rm y ( “ E L N ”) w ho sa i d thathe w ou l d si l ence R am i re zB a r c o i f he c onti nue d hi s w ork i n c e r t a i n di s tr i c t s . I d. R a m i r e z - B a r c o a s ke d t o be a s s i g n e d t o a n o th e rd i s tr i c t , b u tr e c e i v e d a n o th e rt e l e p h o n e c a l l f r o m th e s a me p e r s o n a f t e rh i s tr a n s fe r . I d . O n 2 8 M a y 2 0 0 1 , t w o me n w e a r i n g s k i ma s k s c a me to h is h o u s e lo o k in g fo rh im a n d le f t ath r e a te n in g m e s s a g e w ith h is s is te r . I d . R a m ir e z - B a r c o s a id th a t h is m o th e ra n d s is te rth e n b e g g e d h im to le a v e C o lo m b ia . I d . W i th h i s app l i ca ti on , R am i re z- B ar co subm i tt ed a 13 N ov em ber 200 1 l ett er ab o u t th e th r e a ts m a d e a g a in s t h im , ad e a th c e r tif ic a te fo rh is fa th e r , M a r io R a m i r e z Q ui nt e r o, w hi c h i ndi c a t e d tha thi s de a th ha d be e n c a us e d by i nj ur i e s f r om af i r e a r m , a nd s e ve r a l doc um e nt s r e l a ti ng t o hi s a unt ’ s pol i ti c a l a c ti vi ty . I d. a t181-On 25 November 2002, President B ush signe d into law the Homeland Security Act of 1 2002 (“H SA”), Pub. L . No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2125. The HSA created a new Depa rtment of Homeland Security

(“D HS”), a

bolished the INS, and transf erred its functions to the new depa rtment. Ho wever, be c aus ethi s c a sewa s initi ate d whil etheINS w a s stillin existenc e , this memorandum re fers to theag enc y a s theINS. 4 8 4 , 1 9 1 -2 0 1 . H e att ach ed a 4 Ju n e 2 0 0 1 p o l i ce rep o rtl i sti n g a d i fferen tad d ress fr om any l i st ed on the appl i ca ti on . Id. at18 5, 18 8. T he re po rtst at es thatR am i re zB ar co had b ee n rec ei vi ng t el epho ne threa t s for si x m on ths and thatt w o “ ho od ed m e n” ha d c om e t o hi s hous e on 28 M a y t o thr e a t e n hi m i n pe r s on. I d. a t186, 189- 90. B . N ot i c e t o A ppe a ra nd A s y l um H e a r i ng O n 9 Jul y 200 2, the Im m i grati on and N atural i za ti on S er vi ce (“ IN S ”) i ss ued 1 aN o tic e T o A p p e a r( “N T A ” ) to R a m ir e z - B a r c o , c h a r g in g h im w ith r e m o v ab ility u n d e r8 U S C § 1 2 2 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) . I d . a t 2 0 7 . R a m ir e z - B a r c o c o n c e d e d r e m o v ab ility a nd the I J de s i gna t e d hi m r e m ovabl e t o C ol om bi a . I d. a t39, 41- 42. A thi s a s y l um h e a r i n g , Ra mi r e z - Ba r c o t e s ti f i e d , th r o u g h a n i n t e rp r e t e r , t o mu c h o f th e s a me i nfor m a ti on he ga ve i n hi s a ppl i c a ti on. H e r e por t e d ha vi ng f i r s tr e c e i ve d a threa t eni ng t el epho ne ca l l fr om an E L N gu erri l l a on 4 M ay 20 01 . H e t es ti fi ed that th e c a lle rth r e a te n e d to k ill h im if h e c o n tin u e d h is w o rkfo rth e C o n s e r v a tiv e P a r ty i n the t w o n ei gh bo rhoo ds i n w hi ch he had b ee n w orki ng . Id. at56 . H e r ec ei ved another t el epho ne ca l l fr om the sa m e per son o n 1 8 M ay 20 01 . Id. at57 . R am i re z-5

B a r c o te s tif

ie d th a t h e h a d r e p o r te d th e f ir s t th r e a t to th e p o lic e , w h o to ld h im to h a n g u p th e p h o n e if

h e r e c e iv e d o th e rth r e a ts a n d s a id th e y c o u ld n o t o f fe rh im p r o te c tio n . I d . H e d id n o t r e p o r t th e s e c o n d te le p h o n e c a ll. I d . a t 5 8 . R a m ir e z - B a r c o d e s c r ib e d in m o r e d e ta il h o w , o n 2 8 M a y 2 0 0 1 , tw o p e o p le h ad co m e t o h i s h o m e an d t o l d h i s si st er th ati f h e co n ti n u ed t o w o rki n th o se ne i ghbor hoods , the n the ne xtt i m e “ the y w oul dn’ tw a s t e the i rti m e c om i ng t o the h o u s e .” I d . W h e n R a m ir e z - B a r c o c a m e h o m e , h is m o th e ra n d s is te rto ld h im ab o u t th e tw o m e n a n d th e r e w a s ap o lic e o f f ic e rp r e s e n t. I d . a t 5 9 . A t th is p o in t, R a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d a l r e a dy be e n r e a s s i gne d t o othe rne i ghbor hoods forw ork, al tho ug h h e s ti l l occa si on al l y r eturned t o the ori gi nal t w o. Id. at58 . H i s m other a nd s i s t e rt ol d hi m tha tthe t w o m e n ha d be e n dr e s s e d i n bl a c k, w e a r i ng hoods on thei r hea ds, and carryi ng w eapo ns. Id. at60 . R am i re z- B ar co adm i tt ed thathe had no corr ob orati ng evi dence fr om hi s m other or s i st erre gardi ng thi s 28 M ay in c id e n t. I d . a t 6 8 . R a m ir e z - B a r c o a lle g e d th a t h e c o u ld n o t r e lo c a te w ith in C ol om bi abe c a us e the gue rr i l l a s “ ha ve a n e xt e ns i ve da t aba s e , a nd onc e y ou b e c o m e th e iro bje c tiv e , w h e r e v e ry o u g o , th e y f in d y o u .” I d . a t 6 2 . R am i re z- B ar co t es ti fi ed abou thi s father’ s dea th, bu tconceded thathe w as u n ab le to p r o d u c e ap o lic e r e p o r t o ra n y e v id e n c e o f h is fa th e r ’s p o litic a l a c tiv itie s . Id. at66 -67. R am i re z- B ar co conceded thathe had n everbeen t ortured by the6

C ol om bi a n gove r nm e nt . I d. a t71. I n r e s pons e t o que s ti ons r e ga r di ng di s c r e pa nc i e s i n the a ddr e s s e s l i s t e d a s hi s r e s i de nc e on va r i ous doc um e nt s i n the r e c or d, R a m i r e z - B a r c o c l a i m e d tha tthe r e w e r e s om e m i s t a ke s i n hi s a s y l um a p p lic a tio n th a t n e e d e d to b e c o rr e c te d . I d . a t 7 1 - 7 2 . H e a ls o a s s e r te d th a t, in h is c ity , as in g le a d d r e s s c o u ld b e w r itte n in tw o c o m p le te ly d if fe r e n t w a y s . I d . a t 7 3 . W hen asked t o exp l ai n w hy the po l i ce re po rtl i st ed a form eraddres s w hen h e had m ov ed by the t i m e of the re po rt , R am i re z- B ar co as se rt ed thathi s uncl e had fi l ed th e r e p o r t a n d m u s t h a v e m is ta k e n ly lis te d h is o ld a d d r e s s . I d . a t 7 4 . A tthe he a r i ng, R a m i r e z - B a r c o t e s ti f i e d tha the di d notr e c e i ve a ny t e l e phone thr e a t s pr i ort o M a y 4, 2001. I d. W he n a s ke d w hy the J une 4 r e por ts a y s tha the h a d b e e n r e c e iv in g th r e a ts fo rth e p r e v io u s s ix m o n th s , R a m ir e z - B a r c o a g a in as se rt ed thathi s uncl e had fi l ed the re po rtand m usthave confused the fa ctthat s om e boy s i n the ne i ghbor hood ha d be e n w a r ni ng R a m i r e z - B a r c o t o w a t c h outfor s i x m onths . I d. T he I J poi nt e d outtha tthe r e por tga ve no i ndi c a ti on of ha vi ng been fi l ed by anyone other than R am i re z- B ar co hi m se l f. Id. at74 -75. R am i re zB a r c o c onc e de d tha the ha d no e vi de nc e t o c orr obor a t e thi s pa r ti c ul a ra s s e r ti on. I d. a t 7 5 . H e a ls o te s tif

ie d th a t h e h a d n o t p e r s o n a lly r e c e iv e d a n y te le p h o n e th r e a ts af t er28 M ay 20 01 . Id. at76 . T he IJ po i nt ed ou tthatthe 4 Jun e r eportst at ed that h e h a d r e c e iv e d th r e a ts b e tw e e n M a y 2 8 a n d J u n e 4 . I d .7

R a m ir e z - B a r c o d e n ie d e v e rh a v in g h a d a n y p r o b le m s in C o lo m b iain c onne c ti on w i th hi s a untL uc i aR a m i r e z Q ui nt e r o. I d. H e a l s o c onc e de d tha the w a s u n ab le to p r o d u c e a n y p r o o f th a t h e h a d b e e n am e m b e ro f th e y o u th m ov em entof the C on se rvati ve P ar ty bec ause “ the m an w ho w as i n charge of that type of i nform ati on [had] advi se d [hi m ] thatthey c ou l d n ot[provi de i t ] . Itw as a g a in s t th e la w .” I d . T he r e c or d be for e the I J a l s o i nc l ude d the 2002 a nd 2003 U . S . D e pa r tm e nt o f S ta te C o u n tr y R e p o r t o n H u m a n R ig h ts P r a c tic e s fo rC o lo m b ia( “ R e p o r ts ” ) . B oth R eport s i nd i ca t e s i gn i fi ca ntgu erri l l a a cti vi ty – i ncl ud i ng “ po l i ti ca l m urders [] an d fo rced d i sap p earan ces. ” Id . at8 2 , 1 3 3 . R am i rez-B arco su b m i tt ed d o cu m en t s, i ncl ud i ng , am on g o ther thi ng s: (1) a10 Jul y 200 3 l ett erfr om the C ol om bi an m ilita r y s ta tin g th a t R a m ir e z - B a r c o w a s a d v is e d to le a v e th e c o u n tr y b e c a u s e h is fa th e rh a d b e e n a s s a s s i n a t e d b y n a r c o - t e rr o r i s t s ; ( 2 ) a9 J u l y 2 0 0 3 l e tt e rf r o m a c h u r c h s ta tin g th a t R a m ir e z - B a r c o h a d r e c e iv e d th r e a ts d u e to h is c o m m u n ity ac ti vi ti es ; and (3) a l ett eri nd i ca ti ng thathi s a un tL uci a R am i re z Q ui nt er o h ad been gr a nt e d a s y l um . I d. a t119- 29. C . D eci si o n o f th e IJ T he I J found tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d “ fa i l e d t o m e e thi s bur de n of e s t abl i s hi ng tha the s uf

fe r e d pa s tpe r s e c uti on ortha the ha s aw e l l - founde d fe a rof8

pers ec ut i on i n C ol om bi a on accountof hi s . . . po l i ti ca l op i ni on . ” I d. at22 . M ore spec i fi ca l l y, the IJ foun d thatR am i re z- B ar co had fai l ed t o p re se ntcr edi bl e det ai l ed t e s ti m ony tha tw oul d “ pr ovi de apl a us i bl e a nd c ohe r e ntba s i s forhi s a l l e ge d fe a rof p er se cu ti o n .” Id . at 2 3 . T h e I J fo u n d in co n sisten cies b etw ee n R am irez -B ar co ’s t es ti m on y a nd the 4 Jun e r eportand b et w ee n h i s t es ti m on y a nd hi s c orre ct ed a s y lu m a p p lic a tio n . I d . T h e I J f u rth ern o ted th at th e 4 Ju n e r ep o rt d id n o t co n firm R am irez -B ar co ’s t es ti m on y thathi s uncl e had fi l ed the po l i ce re po rton hi s behal f a nd thatR am i re zB ar co prov i ded n o corrobo ra ti ng evi dence. Id. at25 . T he IJ po i nt ed t o the further i nc ons i s t e nc i e s tha t( 1) R a m i r e z - B a r c o’ s t e s ti m ony tha the f i r s tr e c e i ve d a t el epho ne threa ton 4 M ay 20 01 confl i ct ed w i th the st at em enti n the June 4 report thathe had b ee n rec ei vi ng t el epho ne threa t s for the si x m on ths prec edi ng the re po rt and (2) R am i re z- B ar co’ s t es ti m on y thathe di d n otre ce i ve any threa t s a ft er28 M ay c onf l i c t e d w i th the s t a t e m e nti n the r e por ttha tthe thr e a t s ha d c ont i nue d up t o the ti m e the r e por tw a s f

i l e d. I d. a t26. T he IJ w as further c on ce rned by the abse nce of docum ent ar y e vi dence in d icatin g th at g u er rill as h ad b ee n re sp o n sib le fo r th e d ea th o f R am irez -B ar co ’s fa the ra nd poi nt e d outtha tthe de a th c e r ti f i c a t e onl y s t a t e d tha the ha d di e d f r om i nj uri es ca used by a f

i re ar m . Id. at27 . T he IJ further not ed thatR am i re z- B ar co9

had fai l ed even t o sub m i tany e vi dence re gardi ng hi s father’ s pol i ti ca l ac ti vi ti es a n d th a t h e h a d n o t s o u g h t a s y lu m u n til e ig h t y e a r s a f te rh is fa th e r ’s d e a th , d e s p ite the fa ctthathe had v i si t ed the U ni t ed S t at es t w i ce bet w ee n 1 99 3 and 20 01 . Id. at 27- 28. S he c onc l ude d tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d thus fa i l e d t o pr ove ane xus be t w e e n hi s a s y l um c l a i m a nd hi s fa the r ’ s de a th. I d. a t27. T he I J a l s o obs e r ve d tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o’ s a untw a s pr e s e ntdur i ng the he a r i ng, buttha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o di d notpr e s e ntt e s ti m ony f r om he rr e ga r di ng ei ther hi s father’ s dea th o r hi s ow n p ol i ti ca l ac ti vi ti es . Id. at28 . T he IJ further no t ed thatR am i re z- B ar co’ s s i st erand m other w er e pre se nti n the U ni t ed S t at es at the ti m e of

the he a r i ng, buttha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o di d notpr e s e nta ny e vi de nc e f r om e ith e ro f th e m to c o rr o b o r a te h is c la im s r e g a r d in g th e th r e a ts to h is life . I d . a t 2 9 . T he I J c onc l ude d tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d a l s o fa i l e d t o de m ons tr a t e ane xus bet w ee n h i s a sy l um cl ai m and the as yl um approv al of hi s a un t , and even adm i tt ed th a t h is c la im w a s b a s e d o n h is o w n a c tio n s . I d . a t 2 9 - 3 0 . T he I J a l s o s pe c i f

i c a l l y a ddr e s s e d the othe rdoc um e nt a r y e vi de nc e i n the reco rd an d fo u n d th at(1 ) th e m i l i t ary l ett er l ack ed an y si g n o f au th en ti ci ty, p a r tic u la r ly s in c e R a m ir e z - B a r c o h a d n e v e rin d ic a te d th a t h e h a d a n y c o n ta c t w ith tha ts pe c i f

i c ba tt a l i on of

the m i l i t a r y ; ( 2) the l e tt e rf r om the c hur c h m e r i t e d no w e ig h t b o th b e c a u s e it w a s n o t s u bje c t to v e r if ic a tio n a n d b o r e ad a te s u b s e q u e n t to10

R am i re z- B ar co’ s depar ture f rom C ol om bi a; and (3) the 13 N ov em ber 200 1 l ett er in clu d ed w ith th e a sy lu m ap p li ca ti o n , w h ich re p o rted R am irez -B ar co ’s u n cle’s re po rt s of dea th threa t s a gai nstR am i re z- B ar co, w as “ very general , ” w as “ i ss ued subsequentt o [R am i re z- B ar co’ s] departure f rom C ol om bi a, ” a nd di d “ no ti dent i fy th e g ro u p o r g ro u p s th atal l eg ed l y th reat en ed [h i m ] . ” Id . at3 0 -3 1 . A cco rd i n g l y, the I J found tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o ha d “ fa i l e d t o pr e s e nta n ove r a l l c r e di bl e c l a i m for a s y l um ” a nd de ni e d a s y l um ba s e d on al a c k of c r e di bi l i ty a nd fa i l ur e of pr oof . I d. a t31. T he I J f

ur the rfound tha tR a m i r e z - B a r c o fa i l e d t o m e e thi s bur de n of e lig ib ility fo rw ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l o rC A T r e lie f . I d . D . A p p e a ls R am i re z- B ar co appeal ed the IJ ’ s dec i si on t o the B IA , as se rti ng thatthe IJ erre d i n d enyi ng as yl um and w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al beca use R am i re z- B ar co had d e m o n s tr a te d th a t h e w a s am ilita r y ta r g e t a n d th a t h e h a d b e e n th r e a te n e d w ith de a th due t o hi s pol i ti c a l a c ti vi ty . I d. a t14. I n the br i e f i n s uppor tof

hi s a ppe a l , he a r g u e d o n ly th a t h e h a d d e m o n s tr a te d aw e ll- fo u n d e d fe a ro f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . I d. a t6- 7. R a m i r e z - B ar c o di d notr e fe r e nc e the I J ’ s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng, upon w hi c h the de ni a l of a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l ha d be e n ba s e d, nor di d h e r ef

ert o the deni al of C A T re l i ef i n ei ther hi s not i ce of appeal or bri ef . S ee i d. a t5- 7, 13- 15. T he B I A a f f i r m e d the I J ’ s de c i s i on w i thoutopi ni on.11

In h i s p et i ti o n fo r rev i ew , R am i rez-B arco n o w ch al l en g es th e IJ’ s ad v erse c r e di bi l i ty f

i ndi ng. H e a l s o a r gue s the m e r i t s of hi s a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m o v a l c la im s , a r g u in g th a t h e e s tab lis h e d p a s t p e r s e c u tio n o n a c c o u n t o f h is pol i ti c a l opi ni on ba s e d on the N a t i ona l L i be r a ti on A r m y ’ s ( “ E L N ” ) thr e a t e ni ng ph on e c al l s a nd vi si tt o h i s hou se . F i nal l y, R am i re z- B ar co ar gu es thatthe IJ abus e d he rdi s c r e ti on by de ny i ng C A T r e l i e f be c a us e he fa c e d m e nt a l t or m e nt throu gh the E L N ’ s threa t eni ng ph on e c al l s a nd vi si tt o h i s hou se . I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . J ur i s di c ti on W e f ir s t e x a m in e o u rju r is d ic tio n to r e v ie w R a m ir e z - B a r c o ’s a r g u m e n ts . “W e r ev iew su bject m atter ju risd icti o n d e n o v o .” O rteg a v . U n it ed S tates A tt ’y Ge n . , 4 1 6 F . 3 d 1 3 4 8 , 1 3 5 0 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2 0 0 5 ) ( p e rc u r i a m ) . We m a y o n l y r e v i e w a fi nal order of re m ov al i f “ the al i en has e xh aust ed al l adm i ni stra ti ve re m edi es av ai l ab l e t o th e al i en as o f ri g h t . ” 8 U . S . C . § 1 2 5 2 (d )(1 ). T h u s, th e fai l u re t o rai se a c l ai m w i th the B IA prevent s us f rom exer ci si ng j uri sdi cti on ov erthatcl ai m . S ee F er nand ez -B er nal v. A tt ’ y G en. of the U . S . , 25 7 F . 3d 13 04 , 13 17 n. 13 (11th C i r. 2 0 0 1 ). M o re sp eci fi cal l y, w e h av e h el d th atth e fai l u re o f asyl u m ap p l i can tt o rai se ce rt ai n chal l enges before the B oard of Im m i grati on A pp ea l s i n a depo rt ati on appeal proceedi ng const i tut es a fai l ure t o exh austadm i ni stra ti ve re m edi es , w hi ch12

pr e c l ude s r e vi e w of

thos e c ont e nti ons on a ppe a l . S e e N a jj arv. A s hc r of

t , 257 F . 3d 12 62 , 12 85 n. 14 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). I n hi s br i e f

t o the B I A , R a m i r e z - B a r c o di s c us s e d hi s pol i ti c a l a c ti vi ti e s a nd the thr e a t s he ha d r e c e i ve d, a nd a s s e r t e d tha tthe I J e rr e d i n notgr a nti ng a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l be c a us e he ha d de m ons tr a t e d aw e l l - founde d fe a rof p e r s e c u tio n b a s e d o n m e m b e r s h ip in ap r o te c te d c la s s . H e fa ile d , h o w e v e r , to chal l enge ei ther the di stri ctcourt ’ s a dv er se cr edi bi l i ty det er m i nat i on or the deni al of C A T r e l i e f

i n i t s a ppe a l t o the B I A . T he B I A di d notc ons i de rthe s e i s s ue s a nd, thu s, there i s no fi nal agency deci si on w i th res pectt o them . A cc ordi ng l y, w e l ac k j u ri sd i ct i o n t o rev i ew th ese i ssu es. B . A sy l um and W i thh ol di ng of R em ov al R a m i r e z - B a r c o’ s m or e ge ne r a l a r gum e nttha tthe I J e rr e d i n de ny i ng a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l be c a us e he ha d de m ons tr a t e d aw e l l - founde d fe a rof pers ec ut i on base d u po n m em bers hi p i n a prot ec t ed cl as s w as addres se d i n h i s bri ef o n a p p e a l t o th e BI A . Th u s , w e h a v e j u r i s d i c ti o n t o r e v i e w i t . Se e 8 U . S. C. § 1252( d) ( 1) . W he n the B I A i s s ue s ade c i s i on, w e r e vi e w onl y tha tde c i s i on,

“ exce ptt o the ext entthati texpres sl y a do pt s the IJ ’ s opi ni on . ” N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at 1 2 8 4 . W e r e v ie w th e I J ’s o p in io n in th is c a s e b e c a u s e th e B I A h a s a d o p te d it in ful l . S ee D -M uh um ed v. U ni t ed S t at es A tt ’ y G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 8 (11 th C i r.13

2 0 0 4 ) . I n s o d o in g , w e r e v ie w le g a l d e te r m in a tio n s b y th e I J d e n o v o . I d . a t 8 1 7 . W e e x a m in e fa c tu a l f

in d in g s u n d e rth e s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e te s t. I d . a t 8 1 7 - 1 8 . A n a l i e n w ho a rr i ve s i n ori s pr e s e nti n the U ni t e d S t a t e s “ m a y a ppl y for as yl um . ” 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 8(a) (1). T o q ual i fy for a sy l um , the al i en m ustbe a “r e f u g e e .” I d . § 1 1 5 8 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) . A “r e f u g e e ” is a n y p e r s o n w h o is u n w illin g to retu rn t o h er h o m e co u n try o r t o av ai l h i m sel f o f th atco u n try’ s p ro t ect i o n “ b ecau se of pe r s e c ut i on oraw e l l - founde d fe a rof pe r s e c uti on on a c c ountof r a c e , r e l i gi on, n a tio n a lity , m e m b e r s h ip in ap a r tic u la rs o c ia l g r o u p , o rp o litic a l o p in io n .” I d . § 11 01 (a )( 42 )( A ). T he as yl um appl i ca nt“ bear s the bu rden of prov i ng such st atut ory

“ r e f uge e ” s t a tus . A l N a

jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1284 ( c i ti ng 8 C . F . R . § 208. 13( a ) ) . “ T he t e s ti m ony of

the a ppl i c a nt , i f

c r e di bl e , m a y be s uf

f i c i e ntt o s us t a i n the bur de n of proo f w i tho utcorr ob orati on . ” I d. §§ 20 8. 13 (a ), 20 8. 16 (b). O n the other hand, “ an a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na ti on a l one m a y be s uf f i c i e ntt o s uppor tthe de ni a l of an as yl um appl i ca ti on , ” a l tho ug h i tdo es no t“ al l evi at e the IJ ' s dut y t o con si der o th er ev i d en ce p ro d u ced b y an asyl u m ap p l i can t . ” F o rg u e v . U n i t ed S t at es A tt ’ y. G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1282, 1287 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . F i na l l y , be c a us e the s t a nda r d for w i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l i s m or e s tr i nge nttha n the w e l l - founde d fe a rs t a nda r d for a s y lu m , a n a p p lic a n t u n ab le to m e e t th e s ta n d a r d fo ra s y lu m , is g e n e r a lly u n ab le to qua l i f y forw i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l . S e e A l N a

jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1292- 93.14

H ere, th e IJ d en i ed R am i rez-B arco rel i ef, i n p art , b ased o n an ad v erse c r e di bi l i ty f

i ndi ng w i th r e s pe c tt o hi s t e s ti m ony . T he I J a l s o c a r e f ul l y c ons i de r e d the e vi de nc e R a m i r e z - B a r c o s ubm i tt e d i n s uppor tof hi s c a s e a nd r e

j e c t e d i tfor s p e c if ic , c o g e n t r e a s o n s , g r o u n d e d in th e r e c o r d . B e c a u s e w e la c kju r is d ic tio n to r e vi e w the a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng, be c a us e a n a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na ti on i s s uffi ci entt o sup po rtthe deni al of an as yl um appl i ca ti on , as l on g as a l l evi dence has bee n t aken i nt o acc ou nt , se e F orgu e, 40 1 F . 3d at12 87 , and b ec ause an a ppl i c a ntw ho doe s notqua l i f y fora s y l um i s ge ne r a l l y unabl e t o qua l i f y for w i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l , s e e A l N a

jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1292- 93, w e m us tde ny the pet i ti on t o the ext enti tgeneral l y c hal l enges the deni al of re l i ef . I I I . CONCL US I ON R a m i r e z - B a r c o pe ti ti ons forr e vi e w of the f i na l or de rof

the B I A de ny i ng a s y lu m a n d w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l u n d e rth e I N A , a n d r e lie f u n d e rC A T . B ec ause R am i re z- B ar co fa i l ed t o exh austhi s a dm i ni stra ti ve re m edi es , w e l ac k j ur i s di c ti on t o r e vi e w R a m i r e z ’ s c ha l l e nge of the I J ’ s de ni a l of

r e l i e f unde rC A T or o f th e I J ’s a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f in d in g , a n d w e m u s t D I SM I SS th e p e titio n a s to the s e i s s ue s . B e c a us e the a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na ti on pr ovi de s as uf f i c i e nt basi s for deni al of re l i ef, w e DE NY th e p e titio n a s to r e lie f u n d e rth e I N A . PETI TI O N D I SM I SSED I N PA R T A N D D EN I ED I N PA R T.