FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT Se pt e m be r 7, 2005 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

________________________ N o. 04- 15171 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ A ge nc y N o. A 79- 437- 248 M I R I A N S A L L A K U , P e titio n e r , 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

_________________________ ( S e pt e m be r7, 2005) B efo re B L A C K , H U L L an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:We acknowle dg e that under the Homeland Security

Act of 2002, theI

NS was abolished 1 and itsfu nc tio nsweretrans ferre d tothenewly-cre ate d D epa rtment o f H ome land

Se curity (“D HS”). SeeYangv. United States Att’y Gen., – F .3d –, 2005 WL1789659, at *6 (11th Cir. July 29 , 2 00 5) . H ow ever, in t hisc a se , w esti ll re fer to th eI NS. 2 M i r i a n S a l l a ku, thr ough c ouns e l , pe t i t i ons f orr e vi e w of

the B oa r d of Im m i grat i on A pp ea l s’ (“ B IA ”) order: (1) a ff i rm i ng the Im m i grat i on Judg e’ s ( “ IJ ”) order denyi ng hi s app l i ca t i on s f or as yl um , w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al , and C A T re l i ef ; and (2) concl ud i ng thatthe IJdi d n otvi ol at e S al l aku’ s due proces s r i gh t s. A ft er r e v ie w , w e d e n y S a lla ku ’s p e titio n . I . B AC KG RO UN D A . S al l ak u ’ s A r r i val O n M a r c h 5 , 2 0 0 2 , Sa l l a ku , an a t i v e a n d c i t i z e n o f A l b a n i a , a rr i v e d i n M i a mi Int ernat i on al A i rportand att em pt ed t o ent erthe U ni t ed S t at es on a f al se S l ov eni an pa s s port . S a l l a ku s t a t e d t o a n I N S of f i c e rtha the w a s ac i t i z e n of A l ba ni ae nt e r i ng th e U n i t e d St a t e s i n s e a r c h o f p o l i t i c a l a s y l u m. 1 Atth e t i m e o f

h i s a rr i v a l , S a l l a ku p r o v i d e d as wo rn s t a t e m e n tt o a n I NS offi ce r thathe: (1) w as arre st ed i n A l bani a i n 1 99 1 w hi l e part i ci pat i ng i n a po l i t i ca l d e m o n s tr a tio n a g a in s t th e “o ld d ic ta to r ” ; ( 2 ) w a s d e n ie d u n iv e r s ity a d m is s io n in 1 9 9 1 o n a c c o u n t o f

h is f a m ily ’s p o litic a l b e lie f

s ; ( 3 ) s u b s e q u e n tly liv e d in G e rm a ny unt i l 1997 a nd w a s a rr e s t e d a ga i n w he n he r e turne d t o A l ba ni ai n 1997; ( 4) appl i e d f

or( butw a s de ni e d) a n A m e r i c a n vi s ai n 2001; ( 5) w a s thr e a t e ne d by3

m e n i n bl ue m a s ks , a rm e d w i th m a c hi ne guns ne a rhi s hous e i n O c t obe r2002 du ri ng el ec t i on s; and (6) l ef tA l bani a bec ause he w as af ra i d o f the po l i t i ca l s i tua t i on due t o hi s ( a nd hi s f a the r ’ s ) i nvol ve m e nti n apol i t i c a l or ga ni z a t i on, the A lb a n ia n S o c ie ty f

o rth e P o litic a lly P e r s e c u te d P e o p le ( “A S P P P ” ) . O n M ar ch 12 , 20 02 , the IN S i nt ervi ew ed S al l aku and det erm i ned thathe had a c re di bl e f

ear of per se cut i on . A tthe i nt ervi ew , S al l aku i nd i ca t ed thathe w as a rr e s t e d a n d d e t a i n e d f

o rth r e e d a y s i n 1 9 9 1 b e c au s e h e w a s ame mb e ro f A SPPP and h ad dem on stra t ed agai nstthe go vernm ent . B ec ause of hi s c on t i nu ed in v o lv e m e n t in A S P P P , S a lla ku h a d b e e n ap p r o a c h e d b y a n A lb a n ia n o f f ic ia l in A u g u s t 2 0 0 2 a n d to ld th a t h e w o u ld b e ja ile d if h e c o n tin u e d to m a k e a n tig o v e rn m e n t s ta te m e n ts . T h e I N S th e n s e rv e d S a lla ku w ith an o tic e to ap p e a r , c h a r g in g h im w ith r e m ovabi l i ty a s a n a l i e n w ho f r audul e nt l y a tt e m pt e d t o pr oc ur e a dm i s s i on i nt o the U ni t e d S t a t e s , 8 U . S . C . § 1182( a ) ( 6) ( C ) ( i ) , a nd a s a n i m m i gr a ntnoti n pos s e s s i on of a val i d entrydo cum ent , 8 U . S . C . § 1 18 2(a) (7)( A )( i )( I) . D uri ng the S ept em ber 26 , 20 02 hear i ng before the IJ , S al l aku con ce ded h i s r em ov abi l i ty and re qu es t ed p o litic a l a s y lu m , in d ic a tin g th a t h e w o u ld f ile a n ap p lic a tio n f

o ra s y lu m . A tthe heari ng , the IN S subm i tt ed the D epartm entof S t at e C ou ntryR eport o n H u m a n R ig h ts P r a c tic e s in A lb a n iaf o r2 0 0 1 ( “2 0 0 1 C o u n try R e p o rt” ) . A c c o r d in g to th e 2 0 0 1 C o u n try R e p o rt: ( 1 ) A lb a n iais ar e p u b lic w ith am u ltip a rty4

pa r l i a m e nt , w i th the S oc i a l i s tpa rty hol di ng the m a j or i ty of pa r l i a m e nt a ry s e a t s ; ( 2) l oc a l pol i c e i n A l ba ni aha ve c om m i tt e d hum a n r i ght s abus e s , i nc l udi ng be a t i ng d e ta in e e s a n d p r is o n e r s , a n d a rb itr a r ily a rr e s tin g p e r s o n s a n d p r o lo n g in g th e ir det ent i on ; (3) the op po si t i on party, the D em ocra t i c P arty ( “ D P ”) , cr edi bl y had re po rt ed i nci dent s of pol i ce hara ss m entof i t s m em bers ; and (4) D P supp ort er s had c h a r g e d p o lic e w ith a tta c k in g th e m w h ile th e y r a llie d . B . T h e A s y l u m A p p l i c at i on O n O c t obe r17, 2003, S a l l a ku f i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

ora s y l um a nd w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al , w hi ch cont ai ned these st at em ent s. S al l aku’ s f am i l y had oppos e d the A l ba ni a n c om m uni s tr e gi m e s i nc e 1965. T he c om m uni s tl e a de r s thus i m pri soned tw o u ncl es for 25 yea rs for thei r pol i t i ca l bel i ef s, m urdered another u n c le , a n d to rtu r e d h is f a th e r . B ec ause of hi s opp osi t i on t o the A l bani an go vernm ent , S al l aku w as i m pr i s one d i n 1991 a nd 1997. S a l l a ku i s am e m be rof the oppos i t i on pa rty , the D P , and a m em ber of the A S P P P , an organi za t i on thathel ps form erpers ec ut ee s

“ r e bui l d the i rl i ve s . ” S a l l a ku w a s thr e a t e ne d a nd be a t e n by pe opl e c ontr ol l e d by the A l ba ni a n gove rnm e nt . F ore xa m pl e , S a l l a ku w a s a rr e s t e d on F e brua ry 8, 1991, f orhi s pa rt i c i pa t i on i n the D P a nd w a s i nt e rr oga t e d a nd de t a i ne d i n i s ol a t i on f or t e n da y s . D ur i ng thi s de t e nt i on, S a l l a ku w a s be a t e n tw i c e da i l y w i th rubbe rs t i c ks ( a t1 0 : 0 0 a . m . a n d 6 : 0 0 p . m . ) b y m e n we a r i n g m a s k s a n d wa s f e d “ e v e ry two5

days . ” S al l aku w as as ked t o t es t i fyagai nstfr i ends, bu tre fuse d, and w as t ol d that he w ou l d b e e xecut ed w i tho uttri al . A ft ert en days i n i sol at i on , S al l aku w as tr a n s f e rr e d to ac e ll w ith o th e rp r o te s to r s , w h o w e r e r e le a s e d o n M ar c h 1 5 , 1 9 9 1 . S a lla ku w e n t to G e rm a n y in 1 9 9 1 in s e a r c h o f h ig h e re d u c a tio n an d r e tu rn e d to A l ba ni ai n 1997. S a l l a ku w a s a rr e s t e d as e c ond t i m e on J ul y 5, 1997, f oror ga ni z i ng a nd part i ci pat i ng i n i l l egal gatheri ng s f ol l ow i ng el ec t i on s on Jun e 29, 19 97 . A ft er be i ng de t a i ne d f

or24 hour s , he w a s r e l e a s e d on bond. U pon be i ng r e l e a s e d, S a l l a ku w a s or de r e d t o ge ti nt o a n a rm y j e e p w i th thr e e m e n. T he m e n dr ove S a l l a ku t o al i m e s t one m i ne a tD a j t i m ount a i n, r e m ove d hi m f r om the j e e p, a nd pl a c e d one r e vol ve ri n hi s m outh a nd poi nt e d one on e a c h s i de of hi s he a d. T he d r iv e rto ld S a lla ku th a t h e c o u ld s h u t u p a n ds ta y h o m e w ith h is m o th e ro rjo in h is f r i e nd a tthe bott om of

the m i ne . S a l l a ku r e m a i ne d s i l e nta nd a f t e r15 m i nut e s , he w as re turned t o the j ee p and dri ven h om e. A ft erthi s i nci dent , S al l aku m i ni m i ze d h is a c tio n s a g a in s t th e s o c ia lis t g o v e rn m e n t f o raf e w y e a r s . O n F e brua ry 2, 2002, w hi l e w i th tw o f r i e nds , S a l l a ku w a s pul l e d a s i de by tw o m e n w ho s pr a y e d hi m w i th ga s ol i ne a nd t ol d hi m tha thi s da y s w e r e ove ra ndIn support of his application, Salluku also submitted many documents, including 2 g ov ernment documentsand a ff ida vit s f ro m f ri end s. 6 th a t th is w a s th e e n d o f

th e S a lla ku f

a m ily . A t th a t p o in t, S a lla ku d e c id e d th a t h is l i fe w as i n d anger and thathe had t o l ea ve A l bani a. 2 C . The A s yl um H e a r i ng A tthe a s y l um he a r i ng, S a l l a ku s ubm i tt e d ne w s pape ra rt i c l e s de s c r i bi ng the a rr e s ta n d i m p r i s o n m e n to f h i s u n c l e s a n d th e d e a th o f ath i r d u n c l e . T h e I NS s u b m itte d th e 2 0 0 1 P r o f ile o f A s y lu m C la im s a n d C o u n try C o n d itio n s o n A lb a n ia (“ A syl u m P ro fi l e”), w h i ch i n d i cat ed th at : (1 ) i n 1 9 9 7 , A l b an i a w as b ro u g h tcl o se to a n a r c h y w h e n v a r io u s “p y r a m id s c h e m e s ” c o llap s e d a n d c au s e d m a n y c itiz e n s to lo s e th e irlif

e s a v in g s ; ( 2 ) th e J u n e 1 9 9 7 e le c tio n b r o u g h t th e S o c ia lis t p a rty to pow e ra nd r e pr e s e nt e d “ the f i r s ts t e p on the r oa d t o norm a l c y ; ” a nd ( 3) s i nc e 1997, A l b an i a st ead i l y h as resu m ed n o rm al cy. T h e A syl u m P ro fi l e al so st at ed th atm o st c la im s b a s e d o n p o litic a l o p in io n a r e b e c au s e o f m is tr e a tm e n t o f

th e ap p lic a n ts d u ri n g th e co m m u n i streg i m e b etw een 1 9 4 5 an d 1 9 9 0 , an d th at“ [w ] i th th e so ci al i st p ar ty cu rr en tl y lea d in g a c o alit io n g o v er n m en t, itis h ig h ly u n li k ely in to d ay ’s ci rc um st ance s thatm any app l i cant s w i l l have cre di bl e c l ai m s t o p ol i t i ca l p ersecu t i o n . ” T h e A syl u m P ro fi l e fu rth er st at ed th atm o stasyl u m cl ai m s: ar e genera l l y a m pl i fi ed by the as se rt i on thata r ec on st i tut ed co m m u n i streg i m e h as co m e t o p o w er. C l ai m s rel yi n g o n th i s p rem i se a r e c o n tr a d ic te d b y v irtu a lly a ll s ta te a c tio n s , a n d th o s e w h o tru ly w e r e p e r s e c u te d b y th e c o m m u n is ts r e s e n t th e c o m p a r is o n . B o th7

m a jo rp a rtie s tr a c e th e irr o o ts to th e c o m m u n is t r e g im e a n d b o th re pu di at e i ttho roug hl y . . . T here i s vi rtual l y no evi dence that in d iv id u a ls a r e ta r g e te d f o rm is tr e a tm e n t o n p o litic a l g r o u n d s . . . A p p l i c a n t s o f

t e n c i t e c u rr e n tme mb e r s h i p i n th e n o n - p r o f i t[ A SPPP] f o rm e d a f te rth e 1 9 9 2 e le c tio n s , a lth o u g h d o c u m e n ts ap p a r e n tly p r o v id e d b y it c a n n o t b e v o u c h e d f o r . F i na l l y , the A s y l um P r of i l e a dvi s e d tha t : “ A dj udi c a t or s s houl d e xpl or e a l l the m o tiv a tio n s a n ap p lic a n t m ig h t h a v e f o rr e q u e s tin g a s y lu m , in c lu d in g f a m ily m em b ers al read y p resen ti n th e U n i t ed S t at es. . . . Itb ears rep eat i n g th e v ast m aj ori ty of a sy l um cl ai m s i nv ol ve ec on om i c, no tpo l i t i ca l consi dera t i on s. ” T he I N S a l s o s ubm i tt e d the 2002 D e pa rtm e ntof S t a t e C ountry R e porton A l ba ni a , w hi c h e s s e nt i a l l yw a s the s a m e a s the 2001 C ountry R e port . F i na l l y , the I N S f i l e d aF or e ns i c D oc um e ntL abor a t ory R e portf r om the U . S . D e pa rtm e ntof J us t i c e , s t a t i ng tha ttw o of the gove rnm e ntdoc um e nt s S a l l a ku s ubm i tt e d c oul d not b e au th e n tic a te d b e c au s e th e d o c u m e n ts : ( 1 ) la c k e d s e c u r ity f e a tu r e s a n d r e liab le i n d i ci a o f th e so u rce o f o ri g i n ; (2 ) d i d n o th av e o ffi ci al g o v ern m en tl ett erh ead s; a nd ( 3) w e r e pr oduc e d by i nk j e torl a s e rc opi e rt e c hnol ogy , w hi c h i s notthe e x p e c te d p r o d u c tio n p r o c e s s f o rim p o rta n t g o v e rn m e n t d o c u m e n ts . A t th e a s y lu m h e a r in g , S a lla ku te s tif ie d th a t h e : ( 1 ) p r e s e n tly r e s id e s in F l or i daw i th hi s s i s t e ra nd he rf a m i l y , a nd hi s pa r e nt s ; a nd ( 2) ha s no r e m a i ni ng c l os e r e l a t i ve s i n A l ba ni a . W he n a s ke d t o de s c r i be hi s a rr e s t s , he t e s t i f i e d:8

T he f i r s ta rr e s tt ook pl a c e on F e brua ry 1990. I pa rt i c i pa t e d i n one of th e s e a n ti- g o v e rn m e n t a c tiv itie s . A n d I w a s k e p t f o ralo n g tim e in det ent i on for one m on th. A nd du ri ng thi s one m on th p er i od of t i m e I w a s th r e a te n e d to d e a th , I w a s b e a te n u p b y ru b b e rs tic k s , a n d I c o u ld n o t te ll th e s e f

a c e s o f th e p e o p le th a t w e r e b e a tin g m e u p b e c au s e th e ir f a c e s w e r e c ove r e d. M a s ks w e r e on the i rf a c e s . . . T he be a t i ng w e nt a lo n g w ith c u r s e s , th r e a ts a g a in s t m e lik e y o u w a n te d th e c h a n g e s . . . Y o u rlu c kw ill f

o llo w y o u ru n c le ’s lu c k. . . H e t es t i fi ed further that : (1) they f ed hi m gree n sou p and a har d p i ec e of bre ad on ce ada y ; ( 2) s om e t i m e s , he w a s ke pti n abi g r oom tha tm e a s ur e d f ourm e t e r s by f

our m e te r s , a n d o th e rtim e s , h e w a s k e p t in a n is o la tio n r o o m th a t m e a s u r e d o n e - h a lf m e t e rby one - ha l f

m e t e r ; ( 3) he s pe nta l m os ttw o w e e ks i n the i s ol a t i on r oom ; ( 4) he “ l oo ked l i ke a z ebra ” and “ w as t ot al l y s w ol l en, bl ac k and w hi t e s tri pes, ” w hen h e w a s r e le a s e d ; a n d ( 5 ) it to o kh im f iv e to s ix m o n th s to r e c o v e r . A c c o r d in g to S a lla ku , h e w a s a rr e s te d b e c au s e o f h is a c tiv itie s a s am e m b e ro f th e D P . R e g a r d in g h is a rr e s t in 1 9 9 7 , S a lla ku te s tif ie d th a t: ( 1 ) h e w a s ta k in g p a rt in a prot es tagai nstthe re sul tof an el ec t i on w here i n the soci al i stparty r egai ned pow e r ; ( 2) he w a s t a ke n di r e c t l y t o pr i s on a nd he l d f orl e s s t i m e tha n the pr e vi ous tim e ; ( 3 ) h e w a s m is tr e a te d w ith ru b b e rs tic k s ; a n d ( 4 ) h e w a s ta k e n to th e D a jti m o u n ta in a r e a , w h e r e “ag u n w a s p u t to [ h is ] h e a d ,” a n d h e w a s g iv e n w a rn in g s . S al l aku add i t i on al l y t es t i fi ed that , i n 2 00 2, (1) he w as w orki ng ata r es t aura ntthat w a s aga the r i ng pl a c e f

orm e m be r s of

the D P ; ( 2) the A l ba ni a n S e c r e tI nt e l l i ge nt S e rvi c e , the “ S hi s h, ” he a r d aboutthe i rm e e t i ngs ; ( 3) one da y , he w a s c om i ng outof9

the r e s t aur a ntw i th s om e f r i e nds , i nc l udi ng A rm a nd B i ngaa nd X he m a c l e , a nd he s p o tte d a“M a rk s 5 0 5 m o d e l r e d P e r c h o t” f o llo w in g th e m ; ( 4 ) th e c a rb lo c k e d th e ir path, and tw o p eopl e gotou tand g rabb ed hi s throat , shou t i ng athi m ; (5) then they spraye d g as on hi m ; and (6) he tho ug htthathi s l i fe w as ov er , bu the heard them re ce i ve a c om m and from thei r w al ki e- t al ki e r adi o, and they l ef tthe sc ene. A tthat m om ent , S al l aku m ade the deci si on t o l ea ve A l bani a. O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, S a l l a ku c l a r i f i e d tha t , r e ga r di ng the 1997 i nc i de nt : ( 1) th e d ri v er h el d a g u n t o h i s h ead ; (2 ) th e o th er tw o g u ard s, w h o al so h ad g u n s, s t ood a tthe s i de a nd pr e s s ur e d hi m w i th thr e a t s ; a nd ( 3) the y w e r e notw e a r i ng m a s ks , m e a ni ng tha tthe y w e r e pr e pa r e d t o e xe c ut e hi m . W he n a s ke d w he the rone of the i nd i vi du al s w as ho l di ng a gun i n h i s m ou th, he expl ai ned: “ I i nd i ca t ed that tha tw a s i n f

r ontof m outh. T ha tw a s r i ghthe r e i n m y m outh i n m y he a d. I m e a n, i f I have t o speci fyevery partof m y hea d, I’ l l do . A nd tw o p eopl e w er e a si de. ” S a lla ku w a s “to ta lly tr au m a tiz e d ” b y th e e v e n t. W he n a s ke d t o c l a r i f

y how of t e n he w a s f

e d w hi l e i n pr i s on i n 1991, S a l l a ku r e s ponde d tha tthe gove rnm e ntdi d notpa y a tt e nt i on t o af e e di ng s c he dul e a nd s o m e tim e s f

e d th e m o n c e ad a y a n d s o m e tim e s f e d th e m o n c e e v e ry tw o d a y s . B e c au s e o f

th e tr au m a , S a lla ku s o m e tim e s w a s n o t in th e b e s t p o s itio n to r e c r e a te ex act l y w h ath ad h ap p en ed t o h i m . S al l ak u w as b eat en sev eral t i m es a d ay, w he ne ve rthe gua r ds f

e l tl i ke i t . S a l l a ku w e ntt o G e rm a ny on D e c e m be r25, 1991,10

to s tu d y a g r ic u ltu r e a n d s ta y e d th e r e u n til M a y 1 9 9 7 . S a lla ku d id n o t f in is h h is d e g r e e b e c au s e h e h a d to r e tu rn to A lb a n iao u t o f c o n c e rn f

o rh is f a m ily ’s s a f

e ty . W hen asked w hy hi s par ent s, w ho l i ved i n A l bani a i n 1 99 7 and 20 02 , had notc om e t o t e s t i f

y a nd ha d notf

i l e d a f f i da vi t s t o c orr obor a t e hi s t e s t i m ony about th e in c id e n ts , S a lla ku r e s p o n d e d h e d id n o t k n o w th a t it w a s n e c e s s a ry , a n d if it w er e nec es sary , they w er e w i l l i ng t o t es t i fy . W hen asked w hether hi s propo se d w i tne s s , N i c k Z e ka di e , ha d a ny f i r s t - ha nd know l e dge r e ga r di ng the i nc i de nt s of 1997 or2002, S a l l a ku s t a t e d tha tZ e ka di e ha d be e n i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s f or15 y e a r s , e xpl a i ni ng tha tZ e ka di e ’ s know l e dge c a m e f r om the c onve r s a t i ons tha the ha d ha d w i th S a l l a ku aboutS a l l a ku’ s e xpe r i e nc e s . T he I J i nqui r e d a s t o the p u rp o s e o f

Z e k a d ie a s aw itn e s s , a n d S a lla ku r e s p o n d e d th a t h e w o u ld te s tif y a s to the c ondi t i ons i n A l ba ni a . T he I J r e s ponde d tha tthe I N S ha d s ubm i tt e d s uf f i c i e nt e v id e n c e a s to th e c o u n try c o n d itio n s . T h e I J s ta te d : I thi nk [ S a l l a ku’ s pa r e nt s ] w oul d ha ve be e n w i tne s s e s tha tc oul d ha ve atl ea stt es t i fi ed w hen they s aw thei r s on short l y a ft erthe event s that he c l a i m s tha tw e r e pe rt i ne nttha tl e d t o hi s de c i s i on t o l e a ve . I ’ m not goi ng t o a s k tha tw i tne s s out s i de [ t o] c om e i n be c aus e I be l i e ve the bestevi dence i s the P rofi l e and C ou ntryR eportand n otsom eone[] w h o h a s liv e d in th e U n ite d S ta te s f o rad e c a d e a n d ah a lf

a n d m e r e ly m a d e s o m e r e v is its b a c kto h is n a tiv e c o u n try to te ll m e w h a t h is im p r e s s io n s o f

A lb a n iaa r e to d a y . I th in k , if a n y th in g , th a t w o u ld r e a lly c lo u dth e e v id e n c e th a t w e h a v e o n th e r e c o r d . D . T h e I J’ s D e c i s i on11

I n a n o r a l d e c is io n , th e I J f o u n d th a t S a lla ku h a d f

a ile d to e s tab lis h h is e l i gi bi l i ty f

orr e l i e f , not i ng tha t : ( 1) S a l l a ku ha d r e s i de d i n G e rm a ny f or approx i m at el y s i x years , betw ee n 1 99 1 and 19 97 , bu tdi d n otse ek as yl um there ; ( 2) hi s t e s t i m ony aboutbe i ng t a ke n t o the m ount a i ns a nd thr e a t e ne d w i th agun w a s nota s de t a i l e d a s i n hi s a s y l um appl i c a t i on, c a l l i ng i nt o que s t i on w he the rthe e ve ntw a s “ qui t e a s c hi l l i ng” a s he ha d w r i tt e n; ( 3) hi s t e s t i m ony aboutthe 2002 i nc i de ntw a s nota s s pe c i f i c a s i n X he m a c l e ’ s a f

f i da vi t ; a nd ( 4) hi s pa r e nt s , w ho w er e pre se nti n F l ori da atthe t i m e of the heari ng , di d n ott es t i fy . T he IJ a c k n o w l e d g e d th a tSa l l a ku h a d p r o v i d e d e v i d e n c e th a th i s u n c l e s h a d p r o b l e ms du ri ng the com m un i stre gi m e i n A l bani a, bu tno t ed that , si nce the forens i c r eport qu es t i on ed the authent i ci ty of tw o d ocum ent s s ub m i tt ed by S al l aku, he had concerns a s t o the re l i abi l i ty of a l l of the do cum ent s thatS al l aku sub m i tt ed. T he IJ f urthe ra c know l e dge d tha tA l ba ni aha d noty e tf ul l y r e c ove r e d f

r om the di s s ol ut i on of i t s c om m uni s tgove rnm e nti n 1991, butnot e d tha t , a c c or di ng t o the 2001 C ou ntryR eportand the A sy l um P rofi l e: (1) the l as tel ec t i on s i n A l bani a w er e d e e m e d f a ir , a n d , a lth o u g h th e s o c ia lis t p a rty h e ld as m a ll m a jo r ity in P a r lia m e n t, the D P di d ha ve apr e s e nc e the r e ; a nd ( 2) i tw a s hi ghl y unl i ke l y tha tthe r e c oul d be ac r e d ib le c la im o f

p e r s e c u tio n b a s e d o n o n e ’s a s s o c ia tio n w ith th e A S P P P o rw ith th e D P , as m an y asyl u m ap p l i can t s si m p l y fear a rep ri se o f th e fo rm er co m m u n i st r e g im e , b a s e d o n th e irf a m ily m e m b e r s ’ p a s t p e r s e c u tio n .12

T h e I J f u rth e rf o u n d th a t: T h e r e s p o n d e n t m a y h a v e a c tu a lly b e e n am e m b e ro f th e [ D P ] h im s e lf a s the doc um e nt s s ugge s t. . . B utthe [ c ] ourtha s f ound tha tthe r e s p o n d e n t h a s f

a ile d to p r o v id e s u f

f ic ie n t d e ta il r e g a r d in g th e . . . e ve nt s . . . i n . . . 1997, a nd the l a s ti nc i de nti n F e brua ry of 2002. T he r e s ponde nt ’ s t e s t i m ony s i m pl y l a c ke d the type of c hi l l i ng, s e a r i ng te s tim o n y th a t o n e w o u ld n o rm a lly p r o v id e o n th e s e la s t e v e n ts . . . T he re spon dent ’ s a ff

i davi t s and supp ort i ng do cum ent s are m uch m ore d e ta ile d th a n h is [ te s tim o n y ]. A n d c o rr o b o r a tin g e v id e n c e , s u c h a s h is pa r e nt s , s e e m t o be a va i l abl e . . . w hi c h m i ghtha ve bol s t e r e d or supp ort ed hi s t es t i m on y or l ac k there of. Y etthe re spon denthas f ai l ed t o pr ovi de the m t o the [ c ] ourtt o f urthe ra na l y z e the doc um e nt s , the q u e s tio n ab le au th e n tic ity o f s o m e o f th e m o s t p r o b a tiv e d o c u m e n ts s u b m itte d r e g a r d in g h is p r is o n d e te n tio n a n d r e le a s e , a n d th e a rr e s ts b y th e [ s ]e c r e t p o lic e . . . T he I J c onc l ude d tha tS a l l a ku ha d f a i l e d t o pr ovi de s uf

f i c i e nt , c r e di bl e , a nd det ai l ed evi dence t o m ee thi s burden o f proof, and, “ [a ] s s uch, the [c ] ou rtfi nd s that the r e s ponde ntha s a l s o f a i l e d t o e s t abl i s h al e ve l of pa s tpe r s e c ut i on tha tc oul d be de e m e d t o be r e l i abl y c r e di bl e , ort o m e e tthe hi ghe rbur de n f orw i thhol di ng of r e m o v a l. . . .” E . A p p ea lto th e B IA S a l l a ku appe a l e d t o the B I A , w hi c h a dopt e d a nd a f f i rm e d the I J ’ s de c i s i on, and d i sm i ss ed S al l aku’ s app ea l . T he B IA al so foun d thatthe IJhad n otvi ol at ed S a l l a ku’ s due pr oc e s s r i ght s by pr e ve nt i ng Z e ka di e f r om t e s t i f

y i ng be c aus e : ( 1) S a l l a ku a dm i tt e d tha tZ e ka di e di d notha ve f i r s t - ha nd know l e dge r e ga r di ng the i nci dent s upo n w hi ch S al l aku’ s a sy l um appl i ca t i on w as base d; and (2) Z ekadi e hadThis C ourt sh ould review theB IA’ s de c isi on , “ e xcept to th ee xtent th at it e xpre ssly 3 adopts the IJ ’s opinion.” Al Najjar v. Ashcrof

t, 257 F.3d 1262, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001) ( internal citations omitt ed). “ Insofar as the [BIA] adopts the IJ ’s re asoning , [this Court should] review the IJ ’s dec ision as well.” Id. (internal citations omitted). Here, be causethe B IA expressly adopted theIJ’s de c isi on

a s totheadv ers ec re dib ility determinatio n a

nd themerits o f t

hec laims , this Court review s the IJ ’s dec ision under the substantial evidenc e test. See id. 13 be e n l i vi ng i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s f orthe pa s t15 y e a r s , y e tw a s goi ng t o t e s t i f y about the pres entcond i t i on s i n A l bani a. T he B IA addi t i on al l y not ed that , w hen asked w hy he di d notbr i ng hi s pa r e nt s t o t e s t i f y , w ho di d ha ve f

i r s t - ha nd know l e dge of th e ev en t s, S al l ak u st at ed th ath e d i d n o tk n o w i tw as n ecessary. I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . A d ve r s e C r e d i b i l i t y D e t e r m i n at i on O n app ea l , S al l aku chal l enges the IJ ’ s c on clusi on , af fi rm ed by the B IA , that he f a i l e d t o de m ons tr a t e pa s tpe r s e c ut i on. 3 T he IJ ’ s f

ac tual det erm i nat i on s are re vi ew ed un der the subst ant i al evi dence t e s t , a nd thi s C ourts houl d “ a f f i rm the [ I J ’ s ] de c i s i on i f i ti s s upport e d by reaso n ab l e, su b st an t i al , an d p ro b at i v e ev i d en ce o n th e reco rd co n si d ered as a w h o le .” F o r g u e v . U n ite d S ta te s A tt’y G e n ., 4 0 1 F .3 d 1 2 8 2 , 1 2 8 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) .

“ C re di bi l i ty det erm i nat i on s l i kew i se ar e r evi ew ed un der the subst ant i al evi dence t es t . ” 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. 2 0 0 4 ) .As a pre liminary matter, c ontrary

to Sallaku’s argument on appeal, the IJdid make a 4 findingthat Sallaku

had n ot suf

fere d p a st p ers e cuti on , a s th eIJ expli c itly found th at, b e c a

us e Sallaku had f aile d toprov idesu ff

ic ient, c re dib le , a

nd detaile d evidenc e , h e“ alsofaile d to establish a leve l of past per secution that could bedeeme d to be re liably cre dible, or to meet the higher burden for withholdingof removal. . . .” In addition, beca use the B IA expressly

adopted the IJ ’s finding s, it was not require d to make its own findingreg ardingpast perse cution. 14 A n a lie n is e n title d to a s y lu m if h e c a n e s tab lis h , w ith s p e c if ic a n d c r e d ib le evi dence: (1) pas tpers ec ut i on on ac coun tof re l i gi on or other s t atut ori l y l i st ed f a c t or ; or( 2) a“ w e l l - f

ounde d f e a r ” tha thi s r e l i gi on orothe rs t a tut or i l y l i s t e d f a c t or w ill c au s e f

u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . 8 C .F .R . § § 2 0 8 .1 3 ( a ) , ( b ) ; A l N a jja rv . A s h c r o f

t, 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 2 6 2 , 1 2 8 7 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . I f a n a lie n is u n ab le to m e e t th e “w e ll f ounde d f e a r ” s t a nda r d f

ora s y l um , “ he i s ge ne r a l l y pr e c l ude d f r om qua l i f

y i ng f or ei ther a sy l um or w i thh ol di ng of [r em ov al . ] ” I d. at12 92 -93. S i m i l ar l y, the bu rden on the a l i e n s e e ki ng C A T r e l i e f i s hi ghe rtha n the bur de n i m pos e d on the a s y l um s e e ke r . I d. a t1303. 4

“ T he tr i e rof

f a c tm us tde t e rm i ne c r e di bi l i ty , a nd thi s [ C ] ourtm a y not s u b s titu te its ju d g m e n t f o rth a t o f th e I J w ith r e s p e c t to c r e d ib ility f in d in g s .” D -M uh um ed, 38 8 F . 3d at81 8. “ [A ] n adv er se cr edi bi l i ty det erm i nat i on al on e m ay be suff i ci entt o sup po rtthe deni al of an as yl um appl i ca t i on ” w hen there i s no o ther e v id e n c e o f

p e r s e c u tio n . F o r g u e , 4 0 1 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . “O n c e a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f in d in g is m a d e , th e b u r d e n is o n th e ap p lic a n t a lie n to s h o w th a t th e I J 's c r e d ib ility de c i s i on w a s nots upport e d by s pe c i f i c , c oge ntr e a s ons orw a s notba s e d on15

s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . ” I d. ( c i t a t i ons om i tt e d) . “ A c r e di bi l i ty de t e rm i na t i on, l i ke any f ac tfi nd i ng , m ayno tbe ov erturned u nl es s the re cord com pel s i t . ” I d. (i nt ernal qu ot at i on s and ci t at i on s om i tt ed). S a lla ku r e lie d o n th r e e m a in in c id e n ts to e s tab lis h p a s t p e r s e c u tio n : ( 1 ) in F e b ru a ry o f

1 9 9 0 o r1 9 9 1 , h e w a s a rr e s te d , d e ta in e d , a n d b e a te n o n ad a ily b a s is f or30 da y s ; ( 2) i n 1997, he w a s de t a i ne d f or24 hour s a nd t a ke n t o the m ount a i ns w here he w as threa t ened by peop l e w ho hel d g un s t o h i s hea d; and (3) i n F ebruary o f 2 0 0 2 , m e n s to p p e d h im a n d s p r a y e d g a s o lin e o n h im a s th e y th r e a te n e d h im . S ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s upport s the I J ’ s c onc l us i on tha tS a l l a ku’ s t e s t i m ony aboutthe s e thr e e i nc i de nt s w a s notc r e di bl e a nd di d nots a t i s f y hi s bur de n of est ab l i sh i n g p astp ersecu t i o n . A carefu l co m p ari so n b etw een S al l ak u ’ s t est i m o n y, hi s a sy l um appl i ca t i on , hi s c re di bl e f ear i nt ervi ew , and h i s s w orn st at em entt aken by the I N S r e ve a l s s om e i nc ons i s t e nc i e s , i nc l udi ng: ( 1) S a l l a ku i ni t i a l l y s t a t e d, dur i ng the a s y l um he a r i ng a nd i n hi s s w orn s t a t e m e nt , tha the w a s a rr e s t e d i n 1990, bu tl at erac kn ow l edged thati tw as i n 1 99 1; (2) hi s app l i ca t i on st at ed thathe w as fe d everytw o d ay s duri ng hi s 199 0 d et ent i on , ye t , he t es t i fi ed thathe w as fe d sporadi ca l l y; (3) a tthe cr edi bl e f ear i nt ervi ew , S al l uk u t ol d the as yl um offi ce r that he w a s i m pr i s one d f

oronl y thr e e da y s i n 1991, w he r e a s , i n hi s a s y l um appl i c a t i on a n d a t th e h e a r in g , h e m a in ta in e d th a t h e w a s im p r is o n e d f o ram o n th ; a n d ( 4 ) h is appl i c a t i on s t a t e d tha tdur i ng the 1997 i nc i de nt , thr e e guns w e r e poi nt e d a thi m a nd16

the dr i ve rthr e a t e ne d tha the c oul d e nd up a tthe bott om of the m i ne , y e t , a tthe a s y l um he a r i ng, he t e s t i f i e d tha tonl y one gun w a s poi nt e d a thi m , a nd he di d not m e n tio n th e m in e . A ls o , S a lla ku tr a v e le d to A lb a n iaf r o m G e rm a n y a n d f

a ile d to ap p ly f o ra s y lu m in G e rm a n y ( w h e r e h e s ta y e d f r o m 1 9 9 1 - 9 7 ) f

o llo w in g h is a l l e ge d pe r s e c ut i on i n 1991. F urthe r , i n hi s a s y l um appl i c a t i on, S a l l a ku’ s s t ory i s va gue c onc e rni ng the 2002 ga s ol i ne i nc i de nt , a s he s t a t e d onl y tha the e s s e nt i a l l y w a s c ove r e d i n ga s ol i ne by tw o m e n. H ow e ve r , a tthe he a r i ng, he t e s t i f i e d a s t o the c ol ora nd m a ke of the c a rdr i ve n by hi s a l l e ge d a tt a c ke r s , a nd ge ne r a l l y pr ovi de d m or e de t a i l aboutthe i nci dent . In addi t i on , as the IJno t ed, X hem ac l e’ s a ff i davi tw as m ore det ai l ed than S a lla ku ’s te s tim o n y , a n d c o n tr a d ic te d S a lla ku ’s te s tim o n y a s to th e c o lo ro f th e c a r . I n hi s s w orn s t a t e m e ntt o the I N S , S a l l a ku s t a t e d tha t , i n O c t obe r2001, he w a s thr e a t e ne d ne a rhi s hous e by m a s ke d m e n dr e s s e d i n bl ue , a rm e d w i th m a c hi ne guns , ac l a i m tha the di d notm e nt i on a ga i n. T he r e f or e , the r e c or d doe s c ont a i n a n u m b er o f i n co n si st en ci es. A l so t el l i ng w i th regard t o S al l aku’ s c re di bi l i ty i s the A sy l um P rofi l e, w hi ch s t a t e d tha tc l a i m s by A l ba ni a n na t i ona l s ba s e d on pol i t i c a l gr ounds a r e l i ke l y t o be in c r e d ib le , a n d th a t s u c h c la im s a r e u s u a lly a m p lif ie d b y th e a s s e rtio n th a t a re const i tut ed C om m un i stre gi m e has com e t o p ow er . T hi s i s the exactcl ai m that S a l l a ku m a de i n hi s a s y l um appl i c a t i on. I nde e d, the A s y l um P r of i l e c aut i ons17

adj ud i ca t ors t o l oo k cl osel y a tcl ai m s s uch as S al l aku’ s, and exp l ore other m ot i va t i ons tha tthe c l a i m a ntm a y ha ve , i nc l udi ng f a m i l y m e m be r s a l r e a dy pr e s e nt in th e U n ite d S ta te s . N o tab ly , a ll o f S a lla ku ’s im m e d ia te f

a m ily m e m b e r s r e s id e in th e U n ite d S ta te s , an d h e h a s n o c lo s e r e la tiv e s in A lb a n ia . A d d itio n a lly , w h ile S a lla ku te s tif ie dth a t h e r e s id e d w ith h is p a r e n ts in F l or i da , a nd r e s i de d w i th the m w he n he l i ve d i n A l ba ni a , the y di d nott e s t i f y or prov i de corroborat i ng af fi davi t s. A l tho ug h S al l aku t es t i fi ed thathe w as no taw ar e thathi s f am i l y m em bers coul d b e w i tness es , hi s a tt orney s t at ed thathe had asked S al l aku for any w i tness es w ho m aykn ow abou thi s c l ai m . M oreover, as the IJ no t ed, tw o o f S al l aku’ s s up po rt i ng do cum ent s c ou l d n otbe authent i ca t ed, further c a s tin g d o u b t u p o n th e c r e d ib ility o f h is c la im . G i ven the abov e- m ent i on ed i ncon si st enci es and the addi t i on al evi dence ca st i ng do ub ton the cr edi bi l i ty of S al l aku’ s c l ai m , the re cord do es no tcom pel re vers al of the IJ ’ s a dv er se cr edi bi l i ty det erm i nat i on . S ee F orgu e, 40 1 F . 3d at 12 87 . A cc ordi ng l y, subst ant i al evi dence s up po rt s the IJ ’ s det erm i nat i on that S a lla ku f a ile d to e s tab lis h h is e lig ib ility f o ra s y lu m , a n d , b e c au s e h e h a s f a ile d to do s o, he l i ke w i s e ha s f a i l e d t o e s t abl i s h e l i gi bi l i ty f orw i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l a nd C A T r e lie f

. S e e A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 9 2 - 9 3 . B . S a llu ku ’ s D u e P r o c e s s C la imThis Court reviews denovo an alien’ s constitutional challeng es. See Lonyem v. United 5 States Att’y

Gen., 352 F .3d 1338, 1341 (11th Cir. 2003). 18 S a llu ku a ls o a r g u e s th a t th e B I A e rr e d b y f in d in g th a t h is d u e p r o c e s s r ig h ts w e r e n o t v io la te d w h e n th e I J r e f u s e d to a llo w h im to p r e s e n t Z e k a d ie ’s te s tim o n y . S a l l a ku c ont e nds tha tunde rF or gue , the I J i s r e qui r e d t o c ons i de ra l l of the e v id e n c e o f

f e r e d b y a n a s y lu m ap p lic a n t. 5 I n or de rt o pr e va i l on adue pr oc e s s c ha l l e nge , a n a l i e n m us te s t abl i s h tha the w as depri ved o f l i berty w i tho utdu e proces s of l aw and thatthe IJ ’ s e rr ors c ause d hi m s ubs t a nt i a l pr e

j udi c e . L ony e m v. U ni t e d S t a t e s A tt ’ y G e n. , 352 F . 3d 1338, 1 3 4 1 -4 2 (1 1 th C ir. 2 0 0 3 ). In a r em o v al p ro ce ed in g , an alien sh all h av e “a r e a s o n ab le o p p o rtu n ity to in tr o d u c e e v id e n c e o n [ h is ] o w n b e h a lf .” 8 U .S .C . § 1534( c ) ( 2) . F urthe r , the a l i e n, a ta ny t i m e dur i ng the he a r i ng, m a y r e que s ttha tthe IJi ss ue a s ub po ena f

or the pres ence of a w i tness “ up on a s at i sf ac t ory s ho w i ng that the pres ence of the w i tness i s nec es saryfor the det erm i nat i on of any m at er i al m att er . ” 8 U . S . C . § 1 53 4(d)(1). S al l aku h as no tes t abl i shed thatthe prop osed w i tness ’ t es t i m on y w as

“ nece ss ary f

or the det erm i nat i on of any m at er i al m att er . ” S ee i d. A s the B IA n o t ed , S al l ak u w i sh ed t o h av e Z ek ad i e t est i fy as t o A l b an i a’ s co u n try co n d i t i o n s, y e t , he a dm i tt e d tha tZ e ka di e ha d notl i ve d i n A l ba ni af or15 y e a r s a nd w oul d be t es t i fy i ng base d o nl y on h i s occ as i on al vi si t s t o the coun try . In addi t i on , as the IJ19

n o te d , th e r e w a s a m p le e v id e n c e ab o u t A lb an ia ’s c o u n try c o n d itio n s , a n d th e r e is no i nd i ca t i on thatS al l aku w as prevent ed fr om subm i tt i ng hi s ow n rel i abl e e vi dence as t o A l bani a’ s c ou ntrycond i t i on s. M oreover, as the B IA no t ed, S al l aku adm i tt ed th atZ ek ad i e h ad n o fi rst -h an d k n o w l ed g e o f h i s p ro b l em s i n A l b an i a. T h u s, S a l l a ku ha s note s t abl i s he d adue pr oc e s s vi ol a t i on. P E T I T I O N D E N I E D .