FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT JUNE 22 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK

Honora ble Will iam S. Duffey, Jr., United States District Judge f or the Nor

thern District * of Ge org ia, sitting by

designation. [ 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

________________________ N o. 06- 13968

________________________ A ge nc yN o. A 95- 255- 313 C A R L O S A U G U S T O A L Z A T E - Z U L E T A , F R A N C Y T R U J I L L O , J U L I A N D A V I D A L Z A T E , C A R L O S A U G U S T O A L Z A T E - T R U J I L L O , N A T A L I A A L Z A T E , P e titio n e r s , v ersu s U .S . A T T O RN E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on f orR 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

_________________________ ( Ju n e 22, 2007) B ef ore B IR C H and F A Y , C i rc ui tJudg es , and D U F F E Y , D i stri ctJudg e. *Alzate’s petition is derivative on behalf of his wife, Francy Trujillo, and his minor 1 children, Julian David Alzate, Carlos Augusto Alz ate, Jr., and Natalia Alzate. For convenience, this opini on ref

ers to the petitioners collectively as “Alzate” or “ Petitioner.” 2 P E R C U R I A M: P et i t i on erC ar l os A ug ust o A l za t e se eks r evi ew of the deci si on of the B oard 1 of Im m i grat i on A pp ea l s ( “ B IA ”) af fi rm i ng the Im m i grat i on Judg e ( “ IJ ”) ’ s order de ny i ng hi s appl i c a t i on f ora s y l um , w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l , a nd r e l i e f

unde rthe U ni t e d N a t i ons C onve nt i on A ga i ns tT ortur e a nd O the rC rue l , I nhum a n or D egra di ng T re atm entor P un i shm ent(“ C A T ”) . A l za t e a l l eges thathe w as p e r s e c u te d in h is h o m e c o u n tryo f C o lo m b iao n a c c o u n t o f h is m e m b e r s h ip in C o lo m b ia ’s C o n s e rv a tiv e P a rty . B e c au s e w e f in d th a t A lz a te h a s s u c c e s s f u lly d e m o n s tr a te 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 ap o litic a l o p in io n , w e G R A N T h is pe t i t i on f orr e vi e w , V A C A T E the de c i s i on of the I J , a s a f

f i rm e d bythe B I A , a nd R E M A N D f

orade t e rm i na t i on of

w he the rthe gove rnm e nta dduc e d s uf f i c i e nt e v id e n c e to e s tab lis h , b yap r e p o n d e r a n c e o f th e e v id e n c e , ( 1 ) th a t A lz a te c o u ld a voi d f utur e pe r s e c ut i on byr e l oc a t i ng w i thi n C ol om bi a , a nd ( 2) tha t , unde ra l l the c ir c u m s ta n c e s , it w o u ld b e r e a s o n ab le f o rh im to d o s o . S e e 8 C .F .R . § 20 8. 13 (b)( 1)(i )( B ). I . B AC KG RO UN D A l z a t e i s aC ol om bi a n c i t i z e n a nd a c t i ve i n tha tc ountry ’ s C ons e rva t i ve P a rty . H e c a m e t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s i n 2001, a nd t i m e l yf i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

or3

a s y lu m , w ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l, a n d r e lie f

u n d e rth e C A T . A t am e r its h e a r in g in A pri l 20 05 , A l za t e t es t i fi ed as t o the basi s of hi s c l ai m s f or re l i ef . A lz a te s ta te d th a t w h ile h e w a s g r o w in g u p , h is “e n tir e f a m ily ” w a s a c tiv e in th e C o n s e rv a tiv e P a rty , a n d th a t h e h a d p e r s o n a llyb e e n a c tiv e in th e p a rtys in c e h is c hi l dhood. A f

t e rf i ni s hi ng hi gh s c hool i n 1976, he obt a i ne d hi s f i r s tj ob thr ough hi s i nvol ve m e ntw i th the C ons e rva t i ve P a rty , a nd i n 1984 he t ook aj ob i n the go vernm ent , w hi ch he “ supp ort [e d] ” by “ perf orm [i ng ] po l i t i ca l ac t i vi t i es . ” A R at 84- 85. H e l a t e rt ook a nothe rpubl i c - s e c t orj ob tha ti nvol ve d s upe rvi s i ng “ ga rba ge c ol l e c t i on, the c l e a ni ng of the s tr e e t s , [ a nd] the m a i nt e na nc e of ve ge t a t i on i n the c i tyof C a l i . ” I d. a t86. H e t e s t i f i e d tha tthi s w a s apol i t i c a l j ob c onne c t e d t o the C ons e rva t i ve P a rty . A l z a t e s t a t e d tha ti n a ddi t i on t o hi s dut i e s a s as upe rvi s orof m a i nt e na nc e w ork, he a l s o w orke d w i th y outh thr ough s port s , s oc i a l e ve nt s , a nd po l i t i ca l ac t i vi t i es , as a w ayt o i nv ol ve them i n thei r c om m un i t i es and p re ventthem f r om be c om i ng i nvol ve d i n “ s ubve r s i ve gr oups . ” I d. a t89. I n 2 0 0 0 , A lz a te b e g a n to r e c e iv e th r e a te n in g c a lls a t h is h o m e f r o m p e o p le w h o id e n tif

ie d th e m s e lv e s a s m e m b e r s o f th e g u e rr illag r o u p k n o w n a s th e F A R C . H e te s tif ie d th a t h is te le p h o n e n u m b e rw a s p u b lic lylis te d , a n d h e c o u ldn o t d e lis t it du e t o the re qu i re m ent s of hi s gov ernm entj ob . H e r ec ou nt ed thatthe ca l l er s

“ [ t ] hr e a t e ne d” hi m , a nd i ns truc t e d hi m “ t o l e a ve the a r e a. . . t o s t a ya w a yf r om the y o u th . . . to g e t o u t o f

th e r e , b e c au s e [ h e ] w a s as o n o f ab itc h ,” a n d s ta te d th a t if4

h e d idn o t d o s o , “th e yw e r e g o in g to h a rm [ h im ] a n d [ h is ] f a m ily .” I d . a t 9 1 . W he n the c a l l s be ga n, the yoc c urr e d tw o t o thr e e t i m e s aw e e k, butove rt i m e , the f r e que nc yof

the c a l l s i nc r e a s e d. A l z a t e t e s t i f i e d tha tthe c a l l e rw e r e pr e s s ur i ng h i m “ t o st ay aw ay fro m th e area b ecau se [h e] w as w o rk i n g fo r d em o crat i c i d eal s” a nd be c aus e he “ w a s w orki ng f orone of the tr a di t i ona l pa rt i e s of C ol om bi a , the C o n s e rv a tiv e .” I d . a t 9 2 . I n a d d itio n to th e te le p h o n e c a lls , A lz a te ’s n e ig h b o r s to ld h im th a t “s tr a n g e a n d u n k n o w n in d iv id u a ls ” h a d b e e n a s k in g ab o u t A lz a te a n d h is f a mi l y , a n d s p e c i f

i c a l l yi n q u i r i n g a s t o w h e n A l z a t e a n d h i s f a mi l ytyp i c a l l yc a me a n d w e n t f

r o m th e h o u s e . I d . a t 9 2 - 9 3 . O n 1 6 F ebruary20 01 , A l za t e w as ri di ng hi s m ot orcy cl e w i th h i s w i fe , w hen they w er e app roac hed b y tw o p eopl e w eari ng fa ce m as ks and ri di ng a bl ac k m o to r c y c le . T h e in d iv id u a ls o n th e b la c km o to r c y c le f ir e d tw o g u n s h o ts a t A lz a te a nd hi s w i f

e , w ho the n dr oppe d the i rm ot or c y c l e a nd r a n i nt o a n a l l e ya s ki ng f or h e lp . T h e a s s a ila n ts d is ap p e a r e d in to tr a f f ic . A lz a te u s e d ap o rtab le r a d io to c a ll a c ol l e a gue , w ho the n c a l l e d the pol i c e . T he pol i c e c a m e t o i nve s t i ga t e , butdi d not fi nd the as sa i l ant s. A l za t e di d n otfi l e aform al po l i ce re po rt , because he bel i eved tha tdoi ng s o w oul d i nc r e a s e hi s c ha nc e s of be i ng ki l l e d, due t o i nf i l tr a t i on of

the p o lic e d e p a rtm e n t b yth e F A R C . A f te rth e s h o o tin g in c id e n t, th e th r e a te n in g c a lls to A lz a te ’s h o m e in c r e a s e d . T h e c a lle r s id e n tif

ie d th e m s e lv e s a s F A R C m e m b e r s , a n d a t le a s t o n e s u c h c a ll5

e xpl i c i t l yr e f

e rr e d t o the s hoot i ng i nc i de nt , t e l l i ng A l z a t e tha t“ ne xtt i m e [ he i s ] not go i ng t o survi ve another a tt ac k, ” and thati f he “ di dn ’ tl ea ve the ar eaor di stri ct f a s t, th e yw e r e g o in g to k ill [ h im ] a n d [ h is ] f a m ily .” I d . a t 9 6 . A s ar e s u lt o f

th e s h o o tin g in c id e n t a n d th e c o n s ta n t d e a th th r e a ts , A lz a te de c i de d t o l e a ve hi s gove rnm e ntj ob, a nd f orm e d apr i va t e ga rba ge c ol l e c t i on c om pa nytha tc ontr a c t e d w i th the m uni c i pa l i ty . H e be l i e ve d tha tbyl e a vi ng the publ i c s e c t or , he w a s no l onge rgoi ng t o be “ e xpos e d t o the c ons t a ntda nge r. . . on th e s tr e e ts .” I d . a t 9 7 . D e s p ite h is m o v e to th e p r iv a te s e c to r , h o w e v e r , “th e c a lls c ont i nue [ d] a nd the s i tua t i on w or s e n[ e d] . ” I d. F i na l l y , a s ar e s ul tof the s hoot i ng a nd the c ons t a ntthr e a t s f r om the F A R C , A l z a t e de c i de d t o m ove hi s f a m i l yt o the U n i t ed S t at es. A ft erthe heari ng , the IJdel i vere d h i s opi ni on . H e began by fi nd i ng that A lz a te ’s te s tim o n yw a s c r e d ib le a n d c o n s is te n t w ith h is a s y lu m ap p lic a tio n . D es pi t e thi s f

i nd i ng , ho w ever , the IJst at ed thatA l za t e had no tes t abl i shed el i gi bi l i ty f

or as yl um . T he IJre l i ed pri m ar i l y on tw o g roun ds: fi rs t , the IJ o b s e rv e d th a t th e e v e n ts in q u e s tio n “h ap p e n e d a lm o s t f iv e y e a r s a g o .” I d . a t 5 3 . S e c o n d , th e I Js ta te d th a t A lz a te h a d n o t p r o v e n th a t h e w a s u n ab le to a v o id p ersecu t i o n b y rel o cat i n g w i th i n C o l o m b i a. T h e IJ th en reaso n ed th at , b ecau se A lz a te d idn o t q u a lif

yf o ra s y lu m , h e c o u ldn o t m e e t th e h ig h e rth r e s h o ld ap p lic ab le to c la im s f

o rw ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l. F in a lly , th e I Js ta te d th a t A lz a te6

ha d notbe e n s ubj e c t e d t o t ortur e a nd the r e f or e c oul d notr e c e i ve r e l i e f unde rthe C A T . T he B I A s um m a r i l ya f f i rm e d the I J ’ s de c i s i on. I I . DI S CUS S I ON W he n, a s he r e , the B I A s um m a r i l ya f f i rm s the I J ’ s de c i s i on w i thouti s s ui ng a s ep ar ate o p in io n , “ th e I J’s d ec isio n b ec o m es th e f in al re m o v al o rd er ,” an d “[w ]e r e vi e w the I J ’ s de c i s i on a s i f i tw e r e the [ B I A ] ’ s . ” A l i m v. G onz a l e s , 446 F . 3d 1 2 3 9 , 1 2 5 4 (1 1 th C ir. 2 0 0 6 ) ( in tern al citati o n s a n d q u o tati o n s o m itted ). “[W ]e m us ta f f i rm the I J ’ s de c i s i on i f

i ti s s upport e d byr e a s onabl e , s ubs t a nt i a l , a nd p ro b ativ e e v id en ce o n th e r ec o rd co n sid er ed as a w h o le.” S ep u lv ed a v . U .S . A tt ’y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1226, 1230 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( c i t a t i on, quot a t i on, a nd a lte r a tio n o m itte d ) . T h is s ta n d a r d o f r e v ie w is h ig h lyd e f

e r e n tia l, a n d w e w ill r e ve r s e the I J ’ s de c i s i on onl yi f the e vi de nc e c om pe l s us t o do s o. I d. 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 yappl yf or asyl u m , w h i ch th e A tt o rn ey G en eral h as d i scret i o n t o g ran ti f th e al i en i s a “r e f u g e e ” a s th a t te rm is d e f in e d in th e I m m ig r a tio n a n d N a tio n a lityA c t ( “I N A ” ) . R ui z v. U . S . A tt ’ yG e n. , 440 F . 3d 1247, 1257 ( 11th C i r . 2006) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( c i t i ng I N A § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( b ) ( 1 ) , 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 5 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( b ) ( 1 ) ) . A “r e f u g e e ” is d e f

in e d , in p ert i n en tp art , as: a n yp e r s o n w h o is o u ts id e a n yc o u n tryo f s u c h p e r s o n ’s n a tio n a lity. . . w h o is u n ab le o ru n w illin g to r e tu rn to , a n d is u n ab le o ru n w illin g to a va i l hi m s e l f

orhe r s e l f

of the pr ot e c t i on of

, tha tc ountrybe c aus e ofThe g overnment may also rebut the presumption by showingthat “[t] herehas been a 2 fundamental chang e in circumstances such that the applica nt no longer has a

well-founde d fea

r of persecution in the applica nt’s country

of nationality .” 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(b) (1)( i)(A) . Here, however, the g overnment has not sought to provea funda mental cha

ng e in circumstances, a

nd on appeal the g overnment raises only the issue of Alzate’s a

bility to relocate. Acc ording ly, we do not addre ss whether

a “f undamental chang e in circumstances”has occurre d in Colombia.

7 pers ec ut i on or a w el l -f

ou nd ed fe arof pers ec ut i on on ac coun tof ra ce , r e l i gi on, na t i ona l i ty , m e m be r s hi p i n apa rt i c ul a rs oc i a l gr oup, or p o litic a l o p in io n . . . . IN A § 1 01 (a )( 42 )( A ), 8 U . S . C . § 1 10 1(a) (42)(A ). A n asy l um appl i cant“ m ay qua l i f ya s ar e f uge e e i the rbe c aus e he ors he ha s s uf f e r e d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on or b e c au s e h e o rs h e h a s aw e ll- f o u n d e d f e a ro f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n .” 8 C .F .R . § 20 8. 13 (b). B y dem on stra t i ng pastpers ec ut i on base d o n a prot ec t ed grou nd , an appl i c a ntc r e a t e s ar e butt abl e pr e s um pt i on tha the ors he ha s aw e l l - f ounde d f e a rof future pers ec ut i on . Id. , § 2 08 . 13 (b)( 1). T he go vernm entm ayre bu tthat pr e s um pt i on bys how i ng, byapr e ponde r a nc e of the e vi de nc e , tha t“ [ t ] he appl i c a nt co u ldav o idfu tu re p er se cu ti o n b y r elo ca ti n g to an o th erp ar t o f th e ap p li ca n t’ s c o u n tryo f

n a tio n a lity. . . a n d , u n d e ra ll th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , it w o u ldb e r e a s o n ab le t o exp ec tthe appl i cantt o d o so. ” I d. , § 2 08 . 13 (b)( 1)(i )( B ), (b)( 1)(i i ). 2 W e ha ve he l d tha t“ pe r s e c ut i on i s a n e xtr e m e c onc e pt , r e qui r i ng m or e tha n a f e w i s ol a t e d i nc i de nt s of ve rba l ha r a s s m e ntori nt i m i da t i on. ” S e pul ve da , 401 F . 3d at12 31 (i nt ernal qu ot at i on om i tt ed). “ In det erm i ni ng w hether an al i en has s uffe re d p a s t p e r s e c u tio n , th e I Jm u s t c o n s id e rth e c u m u la tiv e e f f e c ts o f th e in c id e n ts ,”8

r a the rtha n vi e w i ng e a c h i nc i de nti n i s ol a t i on. D e l ga do v. U . S . A tt ’ yG e n. , __ F . 3d

__ , N o . 0 5 -1 6 4 1 9 , sli p o p . at 8 (1 1 th C ir. M ay 2 5 , 2 0 0 7 ) ( citi n g R u iz v . U .S . A tt ’y G en. , 47 9 F . 3d 76 2, 76 6 (11 th C i r. 20 07 )) . T he I Je rr e d i n notf

i ndi ng tha tA l z a t e w a s s ubj e c tt o pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on ac coun tof hi s pol i t i ca l op i ni on . T ho ug h p er se cut i on re qu i re s “ m ore than a few i sol at ed i nci dent s of verbal hara ss m entor i nt i m i dat i on , ” S epul veda, 40 1 F . 3d at 1 2 3 1 (i n t ern al q u o t at i o n o m i tt ed ), th e reco rd i n th i s case co m p el s a fi n d i n g o f p ast pers ec ut i on . R ather than “ a f ew i sol at ed i nci dent s” of hara ss m ent , A l za t e r ec ei ved rep eat ed d eath th reat s f

r o m s e lf - id e n tif ie d m e m b e r s o f

th e F A R C , a n d th e th r e a ts o c c u rr e d w ith in c r e a s in g f r e q u e n c yu n til A lz a te f

in a llyf le d C o lo m b iaw ith h is fa m i l y. In addi t i on t o the verbal threa t s, A l za t e’ s nei gh bo rs i nform ed hi m that u n k n o w n in d iv id u a ls w e r e a s k in g ab o u t A lz a te ’s a n d h is f a m ily ’s h ab its w ith r e s pe c tt o c om i ng a nd goi ng f r om the i rhom e . T he thr e a t s c ul m i na t e d i n the att em pt ed m urder of A l za t e and hi s w i fe i n the stre et s of C al i by gu nm en l at er i de nt i f i e d a s F A R C m e m be r s . A f t e rthe s hoot i ng A l z a t e c ont i nue d t o r e c e i ve i ncre as i ng l y f

re qu entdeath threa t s f

rom ca l l er s w ho i dent i fi ed them se l ves a s F A R C m e m be r s , i nc l udi ng c a l l s r e f e rr i ng t o the a tt e m pt e d m ur de rof A l z a t e a nd h is w if e , a n d s ta tin g th a t h e w o u ldn o t s u rv iv e a n o th e ra tta c k . T h e th r e a ts co n t i n u ed u n t i l A l zat e b ro u g h th i s fam i l y t o th e U n i t ed S t at es. T h ese ev en t s, i nc l udi ng unr e l e nt i ng de a th thr e a t s f r om the F A R C , s us pi c i ous i ndi vi dua l s a s ki ng9

abou tA l za t e’ s f

am i l y’ s habi t s, and the att em pt ed shoo t i ng of A l za t e and hi s w i fe bythe F A R C , c um ul a t i ve l ya m ountt o pa s tpe r s e c ut i on. S e e R ui z , 479 F . 3d a t766; D e lg a d o , __F .3 d __ , N o . 0 5 - 1 6 4 1 9 , s lip o p . a t 9 . T he IJ ’ s f i nd i ng t o the contrary is n o t s u p p o rte d b ys u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . M o r e o v e r , A lz a te ’s p e r s e c u tio n w a s o n a c c o u n t o f h is p o litic a l a c tiv itie s , a s t a tut or i l ypr ot e c t e d gr ound . A l z a t e w a s al i f e l ong m e m be rof

, a nd a c t i ve i n, the C on se rvat i ve P arty. H e w orked w i th you th i n C al i , att em pt i ng t o p re ventthem f r o m b e c o m in g in v o lv e d in “s u b v e r s iv e g r o u p s .” A R a t 8 9 . T h e F A R C e x p r e s s ly re fe rr ed to th is w o rk in it s th re ats. T h e F A R C ’s o v er t ref er en ce to A lzate’s pol i t i c a l a c t i vi t i e s c om pe l us t o f i nd tha tthe F A R C ’ s pe r s e c ut i on of A l z a t e w a s on a c c ountof

thos e a c t i vi t i e s , s e e D e l ga do, __ F . 3d __, N o. 05- 16419, s l i p op. a t3- 4, 8- 9 ( r e c or d c om pe l l e d f i ndi ng tha tpe r s e c ut i on w a s on a c c ountof pol i t i c a l opi ni on w here re fe re nces t o p et i t i on er ’ s pol i t i ca l ac t i vi t i es prec eded att ac ks), and atoral ar gu m entthe go vernm entcand i dl y a ckno w l edged thatthe event s a ti ss ue occurre d on a c c ountof

A l z a t e ’ s pol i t i c a l opi ni on. A c c or di ngl y , w e a r e c om pe l l e d t o f i nd tha tA l z a t e e s t abl i s he d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof hi s pol i t i c a l opi ni on, a nd the IJerre d i n fi nd i ng otherw i se . T he I J ’ s de t e rm i na t i on tha tA l z a t e c oul d notqua l i f yf ora s y l um be c aus e the e v e n ts in q u e s tio n o c c u rr e d “a lm o s t f iv e y e a r s a g o ” is a ls o e rr o n e o u s . I t is un di sput ed thatthe F A R C ’ s per se cut i on of A l za t e and hi s f am i l y c on t i nu ed10

u n ab a te d u n til th e yle f

t C o lo m b iaf

o rth e U n ite d S ta te s . I t is a ls o u n d is p u te d th a t, u p o n r e a c h in g th e U n ite d S ta te s , A lz a te f ile d atim e lyap p lic a tio n f o rr e lie f . D ur i ng the f

i ve y e a r s a ti s s ue , A l z a t e w a s a c t i ve l ypur s ui ng hi s t i m e l yf i l e d a s y l um appl i c a t i on i n the i ns t a ntpr oc e e di ng. N one the l e s s , the I Jpr e m i s e d hi s de ni a l of a s y lu m , in p a rt, o n th e f a c t th a t s e v e r a l y e a r s h a d p a s s e d b e tw e e n th e tim e A lz a te in itia te dth e p r o c e s s o f

s e e k in g a s y lu m a n d th e tim e am e r its h e a r in g w a s h e ld . T he IJi dent i fi ed no autho ri ty f or the prop osi t i on thatre l i ef m aybe deni ed on a c c ountof

the t i m e tha tpa s s e d w hi l e a n a l i e n a c t i ve l ypur s ue d r e l i e f , a nd de ny i ng r e l i e f

on tha tba s i s w a s i m pr ope r . A n a l i e n i s noti ne l i gi bl e f ora s y l um m e r e l ybe c aus e of

the t i m e tha tpa s s e d be tw e e n the f i l i ng of a n a s y l um appl i c a t i on a n d th e d a te o f

am e r its h e a r in g , a n d w e h a v e r o u tin e lyf o u n d p e titio n e r s e lig ib le f orr e l i e f on the ba s i s of

e ve nt s tha toc c urr e d m a nyy e a r s e a r l i e r . S e e , e . g. , i d. , N o. 05- 16419, s l i p op. a t3- 4 ( f i ndi ng pe t i t i one re l i gi bl e f orw i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l on th e b a s i s o f

e v e n t s th a to c c u rr e d n i n e y e a r s p r i o rt o o u rd e c i s i o n ) ; N i f t a l i e v v . U . S. A tt ’ yG e n. , __ F . 3d __, N o. 06- 12708, s l i p op. a t1- 2 ( 11th C i r . M a y25, 2007) (f i nd i ng pastpers ec ut i on for purpo se s of a sy l um el i gi bi l i ty on b as i s of e vent s that oc c urr e d m or e tha n ade c a de pr i ort o ourde c i s i on) ; R ui z , 479 F . 3d a t763- 64 (f i nd i ng pet i t i on erel i gi bl e f or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al on basi s of e vent s that occurre d si x years pri or t o o ur deci si on ). T h e I Ja ls o im p r o p e r lyp la c e d th e b u r d e n o n A lz a te to s h o w th a t h e c o u ld11

nota voi d pe r s e c ut i on byr e l oc a t i ng w i thi n C ol om bi a , c i t i ng al a c k of e vi de nc e on the i ss ue as a bas i s f

or denyi ng A l za t e’ s app l i cat i on . B ec ause A l za t e e st abl i shed pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof apr ot e c t e d gr ound, how e ve r , the bur de n i s on the g o v e rn m e n t to s h o w b o th th e f e a s ib ilitya n d r e a s o n ab le n e s s o f in te rn a l r e lo c a tio n . S ee 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 13 (b)( 1)( i i ) . T hus , al a c k of e vi de nc e on the i s s ue doe s not r e nde rA l z a t e i ne l i gi bl e f orr e l i e f . O nl yi f the gove rnm e nta dduc e d s uf f i c i e nt a f f i rm a t i ve e vi de nc e a tthe a s y l um he a r i ng t o s how , byapr e ponde r a nc e of the e v id e n c e , b o th th a t A lz a te c o u ld a v o idf u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n b yr e lo c a tin g w ith in C ol om bi a, and that , “ un der a l l ci rc um st ance s, i tw ou l d b e r ea sonabl e t o exp ec t [hi m ] t o d o so, ” i s A l za t e’ s pre sum pt i on of a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof future pers ec ut i on re bu tt ed. S ee i d. , § 2 08 . 13 (b)( 1)(i )( B ). I I I . CONCL US I ON T he r e c or d he r e c om pe l s af i ndi ng tha tA l z a t e s uf

f e r e d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c o u n t o f

h is p o litic a l o p in io n . B e c au s e th e I Je rr o n e o u s lyf o u n d th a t A lz a te d id no tsuff erpastpers ec ut i on on ac coun tof a prot ec t ed grou nd , the IJdi d n otre ac h the qu es t i on of w hether the go vernm entprov ed by a prepond er ance of the evi dence tha tA l z a t e c oul d a voi d f utur e pe r s e c ut i on byr e l oc a t i ng, a nd tha ts uc h r e l oc a t i on w ou l d b e r ea sonabl e und eral l of the ci rc um st ance s. W e there fore GR AN T A lz a te ’s p e titio n , VA C A TE the de c i s i on of the I J , a nd RE MAND for a de t e rm i na t i on a s t o w he the rthe gove rnm e ntc a rr i e d thi s bur de n.