FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT A ug. 1, 2008 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. 07- 15604 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N o. A 96- 017- 506 X H E V A T G A S H I , 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

_________________________ ( A u gu s t 1, 2008) B efo re B A R K E T T , P R Y O R an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

X h ev at G as h i, a n ativ e a n d citi ze n o f K o so v o , see k s r ev iew o f th e B IA ’s de ni a l of hi s m ot i on t o r e ope n hi s r e m ova l pr oc e e di ngs ba s e d on ne w e vi de nc e a nd c h a n g e d c o u n tryc o n d itio n s , p u r s u a n t to 8 C .F .R . § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( c ) , a n d r e f u s a l to e x e r c i s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n t o s u as p o n t e r e o p e n th e p r o c e e d i n g s , p u r s u a n tt o 8 C. F. R. § 1003. 2( a ) . G a s hi a l s o c ha l l e nge s the B I A ’ s de ni a l of a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of re m ov al un der the Im m i grat i on and N at i on al i ty A ct(“ IN A ”) , and d eni al of re l i ef 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, o rD e g r a d i n g Tr e a tme n to rPu n i s h me n t( “ CA T” ) , I N A § § 2 0 8 , 2 4 1 , 8 U . S. C. §§ 1158, 1231, 8 C . F . R . § 208. 16( c ) . F orthe r e a s ons di s c us s e d be l ow , w e de ny th e p e titio n in p a rt a n d d is m is s th e p e titio n in p art. I. F acts a. A p p l i cati on for A sy l u m , W i th h ol d i n g o f R em ov al , an d C A T re l i ef Ga s h i f i l e d a n ap p l i c a t i o n f

o ra s y l u m , wi th h o l d i n g o f r e m o v a l , a n d C AT r e l i e f , c l a i m i ng tha the ha d be e n orw oul d be pe r s e c ut e d ort ortur e d on a c c ountof hi s r el i gi on , nat i on al i ty, po l i t i ca l op i ni on , and m em bers hi p i n a part i cul arsoci al grou p. S peci fi ca l l y, G as hi i nd i ca t ed thathe w as an ethn i c A l bani an and p ra ct i ce d Is l am . H e had been act i ve i n the D em ocra t i c L ea gu e of K osov o (“ L D K ”) si nce 1990. B e c aus e of

thi s pol i t i c a l a c t i vi ty , he a nd hi s f a m i l yha d be e n pe r s e c ut e d by S e rb ia n p o lic e a n d m e m b e r s o f th e e x tr e m is t A lb a n ia n D e m o c r a tic P a rty ( “e x tr e m is t D e m o c r a tic P a rty ” ) , a s f o llo w s .3

O n M ay24 , 19 92 , the day of genera l el ec t i on s i n K osov o, G as hi w as a rr e s te d a n d d e ta in e d a t ap o lic e s ta tio n f o rtw o w e e k s b yS e rb ia n p o lic e . I n e a r ly D e c e m be r1997, dur i ng ade m ons tr a t i on on be ha l f of ope ni ng A l ba ni a n- l a ngua ge s c hool s , G a s hi w a s a rr e s t e d a nd de t a i ne d a tapol i c e s t a t i on f orf ourt o f i ve da y s by S erbi an po l i ce . In M ar ch 19 98 , G as hi ’ s hou se w as se ar ched, and h e w as arre st ed a nd de t a i ne d a tapol i c e s t a t i on f orone w e e k byS e rbi a n pol i c e . D ur i ng e a c h of th e s e d e te n tio n s , S e rb ia n p o lic e b e a t G a s h i, th r e a te n e d h is lif e , a n d w a rn e d h im to c e a s e h is p o litic a l a c tiv ity . T he n, on A pr i l 13, 1999, S e rbi a n f or c e s or de r e d G a s hi a nd hi s f a m i l ya nd others t o l ea ve thei r vi l l age. W hen G as hi ’ s f ather argued, S erbi an po l i ce m urdered h im . B e c au s e o f

th is , G a s h i’s f

a m ilyf le d to A lb a n ia . W h e n th e yr e tu rn e d to K osov o i n Jun e 199 9, they di sc ov er ed thatG as hi ’ s f ather’ s bod y had been l ef t ou t si de t o rotand thatG as hi ’ s f am i l y’ s hou se had b ee n “ al m ostdestroye d. ” L a t e r , on O c t obe r14, 2002, G a s hi w a s abduc t e d bys i x m e m be r s of the e xtr e m i s tD e m oc r a t i c P artya nd t a ke n t o ahous e , w he r e he w a s he l d a nd be a t e n f or t en ho urs and ordered t o cea se hi s pol i t i ca l ac t i vi ty. B ec ause of thi s, G as hi deci ded to f le e K o s o v o f

o rth e U n ite d S ta te s . A ft erhi s arr i val here , hi s f ather’ s c ou si n, a l ea der i n the L D K , w as m urdered i n J a n u a ry2 0 0 3 b yme mb e r s o f th e D e mo c r a t i c Pa rty . G a s h i f e a r e d th a tth e s a me w o u ld b e f

a ll h im if h e r e tu rn e d to K o s o v o .4

A lo n g w ith h is ap p lic a tio n , G a s h i f ile d , in te ra lia : ( 1 ) h is L D K m e m b e r s h ip card, w hi ch i ncl ud ed a pho t og raph ; (2) al ett erfr om hi s w i fe , st at i ng thatG as hi had been arr es t ed m any t i m es by S erbi an po l i ce because of hi s pol i t i ca l ac t i vi ty, that he rf a the r - i n- l a w w a s m ur de r e d byS e rbi a n f or c e s on A pr i l 13, 1999, tha tG a s hi w a s ab d u c te d b ye x tr e m is t D e m o c r a tic P a rtym e m b e r s , a n d th a t s h e a n d th e ir chi l dren cont i nu ed t o b e threa t ened aft erG as hi fl ed t o the U ni t ed S t at es ; and (3) a sw orn st at em entm ade by G as hi on or abou tthe day of hi s arr i val i n the U ni t ed S t a t e s , c ont a i ni ng G a s hi ’ s i ni t i a l e d s i gna tur e on e a c h pa ge a nd i ndi c a t i ng tha the fel th e h ad n o ch o i ce b u tt o en t er th e U n i t ed S t at es b ecau se “ [s] o m eo n e [w as] t errori zi ng [hi s] fa m i l y, and [he di dn ’ t ] kn ow w ho . ” A t h is a s y lu m h e a r in g , G a s h i te s tif ie d th a t h is s w o rn s ta te m e n t w a s g iv e n v ia te le p h o n e . A n im m ig r a tio n o f f ic e ra s k e d h im q u e s tio n s th o u g h a n in te rp r e te r . G a s hi di d nota l w a y s unde r s t a nd the i nt e rpr e t e r , s uc h tha thi s a ns w e r s t o the que s t i ons w e r e s om e t i m e s i na c c ur a t e . A l s o, the i nt e rpr e t e rdi d notr e a d the answ er s bac k t o G as hi before i nstruct i ng G as hi t o si gn the st at em ent , such that Ga s h i ’ s s i g n a tu r e d i d n o tm e a n th a th e ap p r o v e dth e i n a c c u r a t e a n s we r s . Hi s L DK m e m b e r s h ip - c a r d p h o to w a s m a d e in 1 9 9 0 . O n M a r c h 14, 1992, on ge ne r a l e l e c t i on da y , he a nd othe r s w e r e a rr e s t e d by S e rb ia n p o lic e a n d im p r is o n e d , a lth o u g h n e v e rc h a r g e d . A f te rh is im p r is o n m e n t, he needed m edi ca l tre atm ent . B ec ause no ho spi t al w ou l d adm i thi m , si nce he w as5

n o t S e rb ia n , ad o c to rc a m e to h is h o m e . H e d id n o t s u b m it m e d ic a l r e c o r d s o f th is tr e a tm e nt , how e ve r , be c aus e a l l of hi s i m port a ntpape r s w e r e de s tr oy e d dur i ng the w arand the tre at i ng do ct or m ov ed t o ano ther t ow n. D uri ng G as hi ’ s t es t i m on y a t the heari ng , atthe prom pt i ng of hi s a tt orney, G as hi t es t i fi ed thathe ac tual l y w as arre st ed on M ay24 , 19 92 . O n M ar ch 14 , 19 97 , ata dem on stra t i on , he w as arre st ed b y S e rb ia n p o lic e a n d h e ld , a lth o u g h n e v e rc h a r g e d . A g a in a t th e p r o m p tin g o f h is att orney, G as hi t es t i fi ed thatthi s a ctual l y occ urre d o n D ec em ber 24, 19 98 . H e then s t a t e d tha the w a s ve rye m ot i ona l a nd tha tthe i nc i de nta c tua l l yoc c urr e d on D ec em ber 24, 19 97 . O n M ar ch 14 , 19 98 , S erbi an po l i ce ca m e t o h i s hom e, s e a r c h e d th e h o m e f

o rL D K p ap e r s a n d w e ap o n s , a n d a rr e s te d G a s h i a n d h e ld h im fo r fo u r t o fi v e d ays. T hen, on A pri l 13 , 19 99 , du ri ng the w ar , G as hi ’ s f am i l y and others w er e gathere d i n h i s hom e, se eki ng shel t erfr om the gu nfi re ou t si de, w hen S erbi an force s br oke i n a nd tr i e d t o f

or c e e ve ry one ont o the s tr e e t . W he n G a s hi ’ s f a the rpr ot e s t e d, h e w a s s h o t. W h e n G a s h i’s m o th e rw e n t b a c kf o rh is f a th e r , s h e to o w a s s h o t. A f te rth is , G a s h i’s f

a m ilyf le d to A lb a n ia . A ft er h e retu rn ed , G ash i h ad n o m aj o r p ro b l em s w i th th e S erb s. S o m et i m es, w he n he r ode bus e s , S e rbi a n pol i c e w oul d s t op a nd s e a r c h the bus , ki c ki ng a nd p u sh i n g aro u n d i t s p assen g ers. A l so , so m et i m es w h en h e h el d L D K m eet i n g s, p o l i t i c a l o p p o n e n t s w o u l d s h o o tg u n s i n t o th e a i ro u t s i d e . H i s ma j o rp r o b l e ms6

no w , ho w ever , w er e w i th m em bers of the extre m i stD em ocra t i c P arty. O n O ct ob er 14, 2002, s i x e xtr e m i s tD e m oc r a t i c P a rtym e m be r s abduc t e d hi m a nd he l d hi m i n a h o u s e f o rte n h o u r s , b e a tin g h im a n d th r e a te n in g h im w ith k n iv e s a n d a tte m p tin g to f o r c e h im to w o rkf

o rth e irp a rty . S i nc e he l e f

tK os ovo, pe opl e ha d c a l l e d a nd thr e a t e ne d hi s w i f e , a nd ha ve s t oppe d hi s c hi l dr e n a nd a s ke d the m the w he r e about s of the i rf a the r . A l though the L D K ha d be e n i n pow e rs i nc e 2001, he c oul d notr e turn t o K os ovo be c aus e he now w ill b e p e r s e c u te d f

o rle a v in g K o s o v o . T he IJdeni ed G as hi ’ s app l i ca t i on , re as on i ng thatG as hi had n otprov i ded cr edi bl e t es t i m on y dem on stra t i ng as yl um , w i thh ol di ng -of- re m ov al , or C A T -r el i ef e lig ib ility . T h e I Js p e c if ic a llyn o te d th a t, in te ra lia : ( 1 ) w h ile G a s h i s ta te d th a t h is L D K - m e m be r s hi p- c a r d phot o w a s m a de i n 1990, the phot o r e f l e c t e d hi s c urr e nt appe a r a nc e ; ( 2) a l though G a s hi i ni t i a l l yt e s t i f i e d tha tthe f

i r s ti nc i de ntoc c urr e d on M ar ch 14 , 19 92 , he l at erchanged h i s t es t i m on y t o M ay24 , 19 92 , w hi ch w as i nc ons i s t e ntw i th hi s a s y l um appl i c a t i on; ( 3) G a s hi a l s o c oul d notge tthe da t e of the s e c ond i nc i de ntc orr e c t ; ( 4) G a s hi t e s t i f i e d tha the w a s de t a i ne d i n M a r c h 1998 f orf ourt o f i ve da y s , buts t a t e d i n hi s appl i c a t i on tha tthe de t e nt i on l a s t e d one w e e k; ( 5) G a s hi di d notm e nt i on i n hi s appl i c a t i on tha thi s m othe ra l s o w a s ki l l e d, a nd hi s w i f

e ’ s l e tt e rm e nt i one d nothi ng of thi s othe rm ur de r ; ( 6) G a s hi di d not p ro v i d e an y d eath cert i fi cat es fo r h i s p aren t s; (7 ) G ash i d i d n o td escri b e th e b u s-7

s to p p in g a n d g u n - s h o o tin g in c id e n ts in h is ap p lic a tio n ; ( 8 ) in h is s w o rn s ta te m e n t, G a s hi i ndi c a t e d tha the ha d af e a rof r e turni ng t o K os ovo be c aus e pe opl e w ho he coul d n oti dent i fyw er e per se cut i ng hi m , ra ther than thatS erbi ans and po l i t i ca l o p p o n e n ts w e r e p e r s e c u tin g h im b e c au s e o f h is p o litic a l a c tiv ity . G as hi appeal ed the IJ ’ s dec i si on t o the B IA . T he B IA adop t ed and affi rm ed the I J ’ S de c i s i on on N ove m be r15, 2005. T he B I A a gr e e d w i th the I Jtha tG a s hi had fai l ed t o sho w thatthe cont ent s of the sw orn st at em entw er e unrel i abl e, as G a s hi ha d i ni t i a l e d e a c h pa ge . A l s o, the di s c r e pa nc i e s be tw e e n hi s appl i c a t i on a nd d o c u m e n ta rye v id e n c e a n d te s tim o n ya ls o c a s t d o u b t o n h is c r e d ib ility . S pe c i f i c a l l y , G a s hi ’ s c onf

l i c t i ng r e c i t a t i ons of

the da t e s of

hi s a l l e ge d i nc i de nt s of pers ec ut i on and fai l ure t o i nd i ca t e i ni t i al l y thathi s m other a l so w as m urdered s ugge s t e d tha tthe s t oryw a s i nc r e di bl e . F urthe rm or e , G a s hi ’ s appe a r a nc e i n the ph ot os pres ent ed ca stdo ub ton hi s s t ory. T he B IA al so bel i eved thatthe evi dence d em o n stra ted th at co n d it io n s in K o so v o h ad ch an g ed fo r th e b etter s in ce G as h i’ s i nc i de nt s of

pe r s e c ut i on a nd tha tG a s hi c oul d have a s ke d the gove rnm e ntf orhe l p, s in c e h is p a rtyw a s in p o w e r . G a s h i f ile d ap e titio n f

o rr e v ie w o f

th e B I A ’s d e c is io n w ith th is C o u rt. W e s uas pont e di s m i s s e d the pe t i t i on a s unt i m e l y , pur s ua ntt o I N A § 242( b) ( 1) a nd 8 U . S . C . § 1 25 2(b)(1). b . F i rs t M oti on to R eop en8

G as hi fi l ed hi s f

i rs tm ot i on t o reopen h i s r em ov al proceedi ng s bas ed on new e vi de nc e a nd c ha nge d c ountryc ondi t i ons . T he ne w e vi de nc e c l a i m e d byG a s hi i nc l ude d: ( 1) as t a t e m e ntbyhi s w i f e , r e que s t i ng tha tG a s hi be gr a nt e d a s y l um because “ he i s i n d anger fr om [an] un kn ow n p er son w ho keep as ki ng m y c hi l dren w he n i s y ourf

a the rc om i ng hom e ; ” ( 2) as t a t e m e ntbytw o a c qua i nt a nc e s f r om G a s hi ’ s vi l l a ge tha tG a s hi w a s m i s tr e a t e d byS e rbi a n pol i c e s e ve r a l t i m e s a nd abduc t e d bym e m be r s of the e xtr e m i s tD e m oc r a t i c P a rty ; ( 3) as t a t e m e ntby G as hi ’ s nei gh bo r i n h i s vi l l age thatG as hi w as forc ed t o l ea ve K osov o for po l i t i ca l reaso n s; an d (4 ) a st at em en tb y h i s b ro th ers-i n -l aw th atG ash i w as “ treat ed b ad l y” bya n unknow n gr oup a nd w oul d be pe r s e c ut e d i f he r e turne d t o K os ovo. G a s hi ex p l ai n ed th atth ese st at em en t s p rev i o u sl y w ere u n av ai l ab l e b ecau se h e h ad l o st c o n ta c t w ith th e a f

f ia n ts d u r in g th e w a r . T h e c h a n g e d c o u n tryc o n d itio n s c la im e d b yG a s h i c e n te r e d a r o u n d th e d e a th of the L D K ’ s pr e s i de nt . H e c l a i m e d tha tthe f orm e rpr e s i de nt ’ s e xpe c t e d s uc c e s s or w a s k n o w n to b e w e a ka n d in e f f e c tu a l, s u c h th a t G a s h i h a d a n in c r e a s e d r e a s o n ab le f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on be c aus e the ne w pr e s i de ntw oul d notbe abl e t o c ontr ol the oppos i t i on pa rty . T o thi s e nd, G a s hi s ubm i tt e d: ( 1) a n i nt e rne tbi ogr aphy of the form erpres i dent , expl ai ni ng thathe di ed on Janu ary 21, 20 06 ; (2) anew spaper a rt i c l e , e xpl a i ni ng tha tthe f orm e rpr e s i de nt ’ s de a th c r e a t e d a“ l e a de r s hi p va c uum atthe m ostse nsi t i ve t i m e s i nce the K osov o w arended i n 1 99 9; ” and (3) a9

n e w s p ap e ra rtic le , expl ai ni ng the i dent i ty of the form erpres i dent ’ s e xp ec t ed s u c c e s s o r . T h e B I A d e n ie d th e m o tio n to r e o p e n , r e a s o n in g th a t G a s h i h a d f a ile d to de m ons tr a t e tha tthe s t a t e m e nt s w e r e una va i l abl e a tthe t i m e of hi s a s y l um he a r i ng an d th atth e co n t en t s o f th e st at em en t s d i d n o td em o n strat e th atth e IJ’ s ad v erse c r e d ib ilityf

in d in g w a s c le a r lye rr o n e o u s , a s th e yw e r e v a g u e a n d d id n o t c o n ta in enou gh det ai l t o est abl i sh thatG as hi ’ s c l ai m s w er e true. T he B IA al so re as on ed th a t th e a rtic le s d id n o t d e m o n s tr a te s u f f ic ie n t c h a n g e s in th e c o n d itio n s in K o s o v o . G a s hi f i l e d ape t i t i on f

orr e vi e w of

the B I A ’ s de c i s i on w i th thi s C ourt . S e e G a s hi v. U . S . A tt ’ yG e n. , N o. 06- 12276 ( 11th C i r . J a n. 10, 2007) . W e di s m i s s e d the p e titio n . S e e id . a t m a n u s c r ip t o p . a t 2 . c. In st an t M oti on to R eop en G a s hi f i l e d thi s s e c ond m ot i on t o r e ope n hi s a s y l um pr oc e e di ngs ba s e d on n ew ev i d en ce an d ch an g ed co u n try co n d i t i o n s o n A u g u st2 7 , 2 0 0 7 . G ash i al so r e q u e s te d th e B I A to s u as p o n te r e o p e n h is r e m o v a l p r o c e e d in g s , p u r s u a n t to § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( a ) . T he new evi dence cl ai m ed by G as hi i ncl ud ed: (1) an aff i davi tof hi s w i fe , st at i ng thatG as hi w as forc ed t o l ea ve her and thei r f ou r c hi l dren because he w as threa t ened, m al tre at ed, and p uti n d anger of l osi ng hi s l i fe by supp ort er s of other p o litic a l p a rtie s w a n tin g h im to c e a s e h is a c tiv itie s w ith th e L D K ; ( 2 ) a n a f f id a v it10

of a f am i l y f ri end w i th w ho m he l i ved i n the U ni t ed S t at es , st at i ng thatG as hi w as arrest ed , b eat en , an d th reat en ed b y S erb i an p o l i ce b ecau se o f h i s p o l i t i cal act i v i ty, tha thi s f a the rw a s ki l l e d byS e rbi a n pol i c e , a nd tha tG a s hi w a s f or c e d t o f

l e e by

“ A l bani an G roup s” because he di d n otsupp ortthe w ar ; (3) an art i cl e dat ed Janu ary 7, 2003, aboutthe m ur de rof al e a de rof

the A l ba ni a n f

or c e s f orl i be r a t i on, w hom G ash i cl ai m ed w as h i s rel at i v e; (4 ) a l ett er fro m a n ei g h b o r i n th e U n i t ed S t at es, st at i ng thathe had seen G as hi l oo ki ng w orri ed for hi s f am i l y’ s s af

ety and that G as h i h ad to ldh im ab o u t b ein g b ea ten an d arre sted b y S erb ian p o li ce , h is fa rth er ’s m urder by S erbi an po l i ce du ri ng the w ar , and h i s per se cut i on by grou ps w ho w er e angry thatG as hi di d n otj oi n the A l bani ans i n fi gh t i ng the S erbi ans duri ng the w ar ; (5) al ett erfr om G as hi ’ s brother- i n-l aw , st at i ng thatG as hi w as forc ed t o fl ee K os ovo be c aus e “ s om e A l ba ni a n G r oups ” pe r s e c ut e d hi m f ornots upport i ng the K osov o L i bera t i on A rm y i n i t s f i gh tagai nstthe S erbs and st at i ng thatG as hi w as sad d en ed b y h i s fath er’ s m u rd er; (6 ) a l ett er fro m a n ei g h b o r i n th e U n i t ed S t at es, s ta tin g th a t G a s h i w a s th r e a te n e d a n d p e r s e c u te d b yo th e rA lb a n ia n s b e c au s e h e d id no thel p fi gh tthe S erbs and thatG as hi w as sa dd ened by the m urder of hi s f ather; and (7) a l ett ercong ra tul at i ng G as hi on bei ng “ rand om l y s el ec t ed and regi st er ed for f urther c on si dera t i on i n the D i vers i ty I m m i grantV i saprog ra m for f i sc al ye ar 2008. ” G a s hi e xpl a i ne d tha tthe s e l e tt e r s pr ovi de d “ a de qua t e e xpl a na t i on f orthe p e r c e iv e d in c o n s is te n c ie s in th e r e c o r d ” a n d c o rr o b o r a te d h is s to ry .11

T he c ha nge d c ountryc ondi t i ons c l a i m e d byG a s hi c e nt e r e d a r ound the c ont i nue d s truggl e f

orthe i nde pe nde nc e of

K os ovo. T o thi s e nd, G a s hi s ubm i tt e d: ( 1) the U . S . D e pa rtm e ntof S t a t e S e rbi aa nd M ont e ne gr o C ountryR e porton H um an R i gh t s P ra ct i ce s f or 20 06 , st at i ng thatcorrup t i on and i m pu ni ty i n the po l i ce f o r c e s w e r e p r o b le m s , p o litic a llya n d e th n ic a llym o tiv e d k illin g s w e r e p r o b le m s in K os ovo, s oc i e tyvi e w e d S e rbs w i th “ a nt i pa thy , ” l oc a l s e c ur i tyf or c e s author i z e d by K osov o’ s provi si on al go vernm entcom m i tt ed atl ea ston e unl aw ful or arbi trary ki l l i ng i n 2006, a nd the 2005 pol i t i c a l l ym ot i va t e d ki l l i ngs of s e ve r a l K os ovo A l bani ans r em ai ned u nres ol ved. G as hi al so subm i tt ed new spaperart i cl es expl ai ni ng that : (2) e thn i c A l bani ans i n K osov o w er e i m pat i entfor i nd ependence and h ad “ w arned o f vi ol entun re sti f [ they s aw ] thei r dem and for i nd ependence deni ed, or si gn i fi cant l y del ay ed; ” ( 3) the S erbi an P ri m e M i ni st erhad exp re ss ed d i s p l e a s u r e w i th th e U n i t e d St a t e s ’ s s u p p o rto f K o s o v o i n d e p e n d e n c e ; ( 4 ) U . S. P r e s i de ntB us h m a de s t a t e m e nt s s upport i ng K os ovo i nde pe nde nc e a nd i ndi c a t i ng th a t “tim e [ w a s ] u p ;” ( 4 ) av o te o n a“K o s o v o r e s o lu tio n ” w a s e x p e c te d in th e f a ll of 2007 a nd K os ovo A l ba ni a n l e a de r s ha d pl a nne d a“ de c i s i ve di pl om a t i c of f e ns i ve a i m e d a ts e c ur i ng the a dopt i on of [ the ] r e s ol ut i on; ” ( 5) R us s i aw a s pl a nni ng on vet oi ng an i nt ernat i on alagre em enton K osov o and del ay s had caused “ i ncre as ed f ru s tr a tio n ” in K o s o v o ; ( 6 ) th e “p o te n tia l f o rin te r - A lb a n ia n v io le n c e in K o s o v o . . . w as b eco m i n g m o re an d m o re l i k el y as th e ri v al K o so v o A l b an i an p o l i t i ci an s”12

consol i dat ed thei r pow erand d i vi si on s am on g the K osov o A l bani ans c ou l d cause a

“ b l o w u p i n an y t i m e; ” (7 ) “ ach i ev i n g a j u stan d st ab l e so l u t i o n t o K o so v o [w as] l i k e a l o n g an d co m p l i cat ed w al t z o n a d an ce fl o o r fu l l o f h o l es, w i th cl u m sy d a n c e r s a n d th e o c c a s io n o il s lic k ;” ( 8 ) th e in te rn a tio n a l c o m m u n ity ’s d e la yin r e s ol vi ng the K os ovo i s s ue c oul d e nge nde ras e ns e of gr i e va nc e i n A l ba ni a ns w hi ch coul d p rove corrosi ve and sup po rt i ve of ra di ca l Is l am ; (9) the S erbi an pres i dentw ou l d n otac ce ptK osov o i nd ependence; (10) the i nt ernat i on al com m un i ty w as pu tt i ng pres sure on S erbi a t o acc epta r es ol ut i on on the i ss ue; (11) the pract i ce of ra di ca l Is l am w as fe ar ed t o b e grow i ng i n S erbi a; (12) an Isl am i c ch ari ty w as b ei n g ru n i n K o so v o ; (1 3 ) K o so v o h ad b een d escri b ed as a

“ c r i m i na l i z e d s t a t e ; ” ( 14) bl a s t s ha d de t ona t e d ne a rS e rbi a n m ona s t e r i e s i n K os ovo a nd tha tothe rvi ol e nc e a ga i ns tC hr i s t i a n S e rbs a nd the i rhol ys i t e s ha d oc c urr e d; ( 15) S e rbi a n C hr i s t i a ns l i vi ng i n K os ovo f e a r e d be i ng w i pe d outi f K os ovo a c hi e ve d i nde pe nde nc e ; ( 16) the K os ovo gove rnm e ntw a s unabl e t o pr e ve ntor c ontr ol vi ol e nc e ; ( 17) S e rbi a n m i nor i t i e s ha d be e n pe r s e c ut e d; ( 18) r e l i gi ous ani m osi ty w as w i despre ad am on g K osov o’ s c i t i ze ns; (19) tw o p eopl e w er e ki l l ed i n c l a s he s be tw e e n pol i c e a nd e thni c A l bani a n pr ot e s t e r s on F e brua ry10, 2007; ( 20) al e a de ri n the c r e a t i on of aK os ovo r e s ol ut i on be l i e ve d tha tpe a c e c oul d not prevai l du ri ng hi s l i fe t i m e; (21) a S erbi an bu s w as att ac ked; (22) som e peopl e w er e concerned thatan “ i m po se d sol ut i on ” c ou l d exacerbat e the “ al re ady hei gh t ened13

t ensi on s w i thi n K osov o” and cou l d l ea d t o further vi ol ence ; (23) the A l bani an/ S erb i m pass e w as a “ veryse ri ou s pol i t i ca l cr i si s; ” ( 24 ) tho se w ho com m i tt ed w arcr i m es in K o s o v o h a d y e t to b e b r o u g h t to ju s tic e ; ( 2 5 ) in M a r c h 2 0 0 4 , 5 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p le in K osov o ri ot ed i n the stre et s and K osov o’ s m i no ri t i es bo re the brun tof the vi ol ence , w hi c h l e f

tc l os e t o 24 pe opl e de a d; a nd ( 26) the pr ogr e s s i n K os ovo w a s s l ow ; a nd ( 2 7 ) A lb a n ia n “te rr o rg r o u p s ” ta r g e te d b o th U n ite d N a tio n s tr o o p s a n d S e rb s . G a s hi f urthe rs ubm i tt e d ( 28) “ T he K os ovo R e port , ” out l i ni ng the hi s t oryof the K o s o v o c o n f

lic t. T he B I A de ni e d the m ot i on t o r e ope n, r e a s oni ng tha ti tw a s both t i m e a nd num be rba rr e d a nd tha tnone of the l e tt e r s ora rt i c l e s pr ovi de d the type of i nf orm a t i on ne c e s s a ryt o ove r c om e thi s num e r i c a l ort e m por a l r e s tr i c t i on. T he B IA al so reaso n ed th atth e n ew ev i d en ce d i d n o td em o n strat e th atth e IJ’ s ad v erse c r e di bi l i tyf

i ndi ng w a s c l e a r l ye rr one ous . T he B I A a l s o de c l i ne d t o e xe r c i s e i t s s ua spon t e di sc re t i on t o reopen the ca se . II. L a w & A n a l y si s a. D en i alof A sy l u m , W i th h ol d i n g o f R em ov al , an d C A T re l i ef P ur s ua ntt o 8 U . S . C . § 1252( a ) ( 1) a nd ( b) ( 1) , ape t i t i one rha s 30 da y s f r om the dat e of the fi nal order of re m ov al t o fi l e hi s pet i t i on for r evi ew of thatorder w i th thi s C ourt . W e ha ve he l d tha tthe 30- da yde a dl i ne i s “ m a nda t orya nd14

ju r is d ic tio n a l” a n d “is n o t s u s p e n d e d o rto lle d b y ” th e f ilin g o f am o tio n to r e o p e n . D akane v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 37 1 F . 3d 77 1, 77 3 n . 3 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). T he i nst antm ot i on w as no tt i m el y a s t o the un derl yi ng deni al of re l i ef . S ee 8 U . S . C . § 1252( a ) ( 1) , ( b) ( 1) . G a s hi ’ s f i na l or de rof

r e m ova l w a s f

i l e d on N o v em b er 1 5 , 2 0 0 5 . G ash i d i d n o tfi l e th e i n st an tm o t i o n t o reo p en u n t i l A u g u st 27 , 20 07 . B ec ause the i nst antm ot i on w as fi l ed m ore than 3 0 d ay s a ft erthe order o f r e mo v a l , w e l a c kj u r i s d i c t i o n t o c o n s i d e rth e BI A ’ s d e n i a l o f a s y l u m, w ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l, o rC A T r e lie f , o rth e a tte n d a n t a d v e r s e c r e d ib ilityf in d in g . S ee 8 U . S . C . § 1 2 5 2 (a)(1 ) an d (b )(1 ); D ak an e, 3 7 1 F . 3 d at7 7 3 n . 3 . A cco rd i n g l y, w e d is m is s th e p e titio n a s to th is m a tte r . b . M oti on to R eop en W e r e v ie w th e d e n ia l o f am o tio n to r e o p e n f

o ra n ab u s e o f

d is c r e tio n . A n in v . R e n o , 1 8 8 F .3 d 1 2 7 3 , 1 2 7 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 9 ) . T h is ju d ic ia l r e v ie w is lim ite d to de t e rm i ni ng “ w he the rthe r e ha s be e n a n e xe r c i s e of a dm i ni s tr a t i ve di s c r e t i on a nd w he the rthe m a tt e rof

e xe r c i s e ha s be e n a rbi tr a ryorc apr i c i ous . ” G a r c i a - M i rv. S m ith , 7 6 6 F .2 d 1 4 7 8 , 1 4 9 0 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 8 5 ) ( q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) . A n al i en m aym ov e the B IA t o reopen a pri or re m ov al order bas ed on new e v id e n c e . S e e 8 C .F .R . § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( a ) a n d ( c ) ( 1 ) ; s e e a ls o 8 U .S .C . § 12 29 a( c) (7)( C )( i i ); IN A § 2 40 (c )( 7)(C )( i i ). T he al i en m ayfi l e onl y one such m o tio n to r e o p e n an d th a t m o tio n m u s t b e f ile d n o la te rth a n 9 0 d a y s a f te rth e d a te15

on w hi c h the f

i na l a dm i ni s tr a t i ve de c i s i on w a s r e nde r e d i n the pr oc e e di ng s ought t o b e r eopened. 8 C . F . R . § 1 00 3. 2(c) (2); 8 U . S . C . § 1 22 9a(c )( 6)(A ) and (C )( i ); I N A § 2 4 0 ( c ) ( 6 ) ( A ) a n d ( C ) ( i) . W e h a v e h e ld th a t th is 9 0 - d a yr e q u ir e m e n t is

“ m andat ory and j uri sdi ct i on al , and, there fore , i ti s notsubj ec tt o equ i t abl e t ol l i ng . ” A b d i v . U .S . A tt’yG e n ., 4 3 0 F .3 d 1 1 4 8 , 1 1 5 0 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . A n e x c e p tio n to th e 1 - m o tio n lim ita tio n a n d 9 0 - d a yd e a d lin e e x is ts , h o w e v e r , if th e m o tio n to re op en i s f

or the pu rpose of r eapp l yi ng for r el i ef “ base d o n chang ed ci rc um st ance s ar i si ng i n the coun tryof nat i on al i ty or i n the coun tryt o w hi ch depo rt at i on has bee n ordered, i f s uch evi dence i s m at er i al and w as no tavai l abl e and coul d n othave been d is c o v e r e d o rp r e s e n te d a t th e p r e v io u s h e a r in g .” 8 C .F .R . § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( ii) ; 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 2 9 a ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) ; I N A § 2 4 0 ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) . R egar di ng the “ m at er i al ” e l em entof the except i on , w e have expl ai ned that a n a l i e n w ho a tt e m pt s t o s how tha te vi de nc e i s m a t e r i a l t o hi s r e m ova l pr oc e e di ngs

“ be a r s a‘ he a vybur de n, ’ a nd m us t‘ pr e s e nt [ ] e vi de nc e of s uc h ana tur e tha tthe [ B I A ] is s a tis f

ie d th a t if

p r o c e e d in g s b e f

o r e th e [ I J ] w e r e r e o p e n e d , w ith a ll a tt e nda ntde l a y s , the ne w e vi de nc e of f e r e d w oul d l i ke l yc ha nge the r e s ul ti n the ca se . ’ ” A l i v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 44 3 F . 3d 80 4, 81 3 (11 th C i r. 20 06 ) ( ho l di ng that the B I A di d note rri n putt i ng the bur de n of pr oof t o de m ons tr a t e gr ounds f or g r a n tin g am o tio n to r e o p e n o n th e a lie n ) .Whil e wenote that the ar ticles and Country

Report may

demonstrate chang ed countr y 1 c ondition s, a s th ey

po int out th at Kos ov o A lba

nia nswerebe c omingincre a sing ly imp atient with theslo w pro gre ss tow ard

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that th esit

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wa s f a st a pp ro ac hingits head, w e find it unnec essar y to determine whether

the materials satisfied this portion of the sta ndard be c a us ewefind

that th emateri als w ereimm ateri al, a s discus se d b e low . Se e8 C. F .R.

16 Th e i n s t a n tmo t i o n i s b o th t i me - a n d n u mb e r - b a rr e d . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 1003. 2( c ) ( 2) ; 8 U . S . C . § 1229a ( c ) ( 6) ( A ) a nd ( C ) ( i ) ; I N A § 240( c ) ( 6) ( A ) a nd ( C ) ( i) . I t is u n d is p u te d th a t th e in s ta n t m o tio n to r e o p e n is a t le a s t te m p o r a lly ba rr e d. T he poi nti n di s put e i s w he the rthe e vi de nc e s ubm i tt e d w i th the m ot i on d e mo n s tr a t e s c h a n g e d c o u n tryc o n d i t i o n s i n K o s o v o a n d i s ma t e r i a l . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( ii) ; 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 2 9 a ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) ; I N A § 2 4 0 ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) . T h e a f f id a v its a n d o th e rd o c u m e n ts s u b m itte d b yG a s h i d o n o t d e m o n s tr a te c h a n g e d c o n d i t i o n s i n K o s o v o . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 1 0 0 3 . 2 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( i i ) ; 8 U . S. C. § 1 22 9a(c )( 7)(C )( i i ); IN A § 2 40 (c )( 7)(C )( i i ). T he af fi davi t s and l ett er s s ub m i tt ed al l sp eakt o th e p ast , su ch th atth ey h av e n o b eari n g o n th e ch an g ed -co u n tryc ondi t i ons i s s ue . A l s o, the a rt i c l e on the de a th of a n a l l e ge d r e l a t i ve of

G a s hi ’ s a nd th e l ett er co n g ratu l at i n g h i m o n h i s sel ect i o n fo r th e D i v ersi ty Im m i g ran tV i sa pr ogr a m do notpoi ntt o a nyc ha nge s i n K os ovo. A s s uc h, the s e doc um e nt s do not p r o v i d e a n yg r o u n d f

o rth e r e l i e f

s o u g h t . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 1 0 0 3 . 2 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( i i ) ; 8 U . S. C. § 1 2 2 9 a ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) ; I N A § 2 4 0 ( c ) ( 7 ) ( C ) ( ii) . T he art i cl es and C ou ntryR eportsubm i tt ed by G as hi ar e notm at er i al . S ee 8 C . F . R . § 1 00 3. 2(c) (3)( i i ); 8 U . S . C . § 1 22 9a(c )( 7)(C )( i i ); IN A § 2 40 (c )( 7)(C )( i i ). 1§ 1 00 3. 2( c )( 3) (i i) ; 8 U .S. C. § 12 29 a (c )( 7) (C )( ii) ; I NA§ 2 40 (c )( 7) (C )( ii) 17 G i ve n the f

a c t s of thi s c a s e , i n or de rt o s a t i s f ythe m a t e r i a l i tyr e qui r e m e nt , the art i cl es an d C o u n try R ep o rtm u stp ro v i d e i n fo rm at i o n th atl i k el y w o u l d l ead th e IJ, f ir s t, to f in d G a s h i c r e d ib le a n d , th e n , to f in d th a t G a s h i d e m o n s tr a te d aw e llfoun ded fearof future pers ec ut i on or thatthe od ds of hi m suff er i ng future pe r s e c ut i on ort ortur e w e r e m or e l i ke l ytha n not . S e e A l i , 443 F . 3d a t813. R e ga r di ng G a s hi ’ s c r e di bi l i ty , none of the s e doc um e nt s s pe a k t o the be l i e vabi l i tyof

G a s hi ’ s s t ory . T he I Jf ound tha tG a s hi w a s notc r e di bl e be c aus e of q u e s tio n s o f

w h e n h e b e c a m e am e m b e ro f th e L D K , g iv e n h is ap p e a r a n c e in h is L D K - m e m be r s hi p- c a r d phot ogr aph; G a s hi ’ s i nc ons i s t e nc yc onc e rni ng the da t e s of hi s a l l eged i nci dent s of per se cut i on ; and the perce i ved chang e i n G as hi ’ s s t ory o v e rth e m u r d e r s o f

h is p a r e n ts a n d h is f

a ilu r e to p r e s e n t d e a th c e rtif ic a te s f o rh is pa r e nt s . N one of

the doc um e nt s a r e r e l e va ntt o the s e poi nt s orpr ovi de a nyr e a s on f orthe I Jt o ove r l ook the s e pe r c e i ve d f l a w s i n G a s hi ’ s c r e di bi l i ty . T hus , the e vi de nc e s ubm i tt e d i s notm a t e r i a l t o the I J ’ s c r e di bi l i tyf i ndi ng. S e e A l i , 443 F . 3d a t813. B e c aus e G a s hi f a i l e d t o m e e thi s hi gh bur de n on thi s poi nt , the que s t i on of w hether the do cum ent s s ho w pastpers ec ut i on or a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof future pe r s e c ut i on i s m oot . S e e i d. A s s uc h, the s e doc um e nt s do notpr ovi de a nygr ound f o rth e r e l i e f

s o u g h t . Se e 8 C. F. R. § 1 0 0 3 . 2 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( i i ) ; 8 U . S. C.18

§ 1 22 9a(c )( 7)(C )( i i ); IN A § 2 40 (c )( 7)(C )( i i ). A cc ordi ng l y, w e deny the pet i t i on as to th is m a tte r . c. R eq u es t t o S u a S p on te R eop en U n d e r8 C .F .R . § 1 0 0 3 .2 ( a ) , th e B I A m a yr e o p e n p r o c e e d in g s in ac a s e in w h ic h it h a s r e n d e r e d ad e c is io n a t a n ytim e u p o n its o w n m o tio n . W e h a v e h e ld tha t8 C . F . R . § 1003. 2 “ r e pos e s ve rybr oa d di s c r e t i on i n the B I A ‘ t o r e ope n or r e c ons i de r ’ a nym ot i on i tha s r e nde r e d a ta nyt i m e or , on the othe rha nd, ‘ [ t o] de ny am o tio n to r e o p e n .’” A n in , 1 8 8 F .3 d a t 1 2 7 9 ( c o n s tru in g 8 C .F .R . § 3 .2 , w h ic h is s u b s ta n tiv e lyid e n tic a l to 8 C .F .R . § 1 0 0 3 .2 ) . W e e x p la in e d f u rth e rth a t: T he di s c r e t i on a c c or de d i n thi s pr ovi s i on i s s o w i de tha te ve n i f the party m ov i ng has m ade outa pri m a f ac i e c as e f

or re l i ef , the B IA can de nyam ot i on t o r e ope n ade port a t i on or de r . N o l a ngua ge i n the prov i si on re qu i re s the B IA t o reopen a depo rt at i on proceedi ng un der a n ys e t o f

p a rtic u la rc ir c u m s ta n c e s . I n s te a d , th e p r o v is io n m e r e ly prov i des the B IA the di sc re t i on t o reopen i m m i grat i on proceedi ng s a s i ts e e s f i t . F e de r a l c i r c ui tc ourt s c ons i s t e nt l yha ve i nt e rpr e t e d the pr ovi s i on i n thi s w a y . T he yha ve r e a d 8 C . F . R . § 3. 2( a ) t o gi ve the B I A the di s c r e t i on t o r e ope n i m m i gr a t i on pr oc e e di ngs i n s i tua t i ons w he r e f e de r a l c ourt s l a c k the l e ga l author i tyt o m a nda t e r e ope ni ng. I d. ( quot a t i ons a nd c i t a t i ons om i tt e d) . W e ul t i m a t e l yhe l d tha t“ [ i ] n s hort , the pr ovi s i on gi ve s the B I A non- r e vi e w abl e di s c r e t i on, ” s uc h tha t“ [ i t ] c oul d f i nd no ab u s e o f d is c r e tio n [ in A n in ]. I d . W e d o n o t h a v e ju r is d ic tio n to r e v ie w th e B I A ’s d e c is io n n o t to s u as p o n te re op en G as hi ’ s proce edi ng s. S ee i d. T he B IA expres sl y dec l i ned t o reopen19

G a s hi ’ s r e m ova l or de rs uas pont e . R e ga r dl e s s of w he the rthe B I A ’ s c onc l us i ons w er e c orre ct , i t s di sc re t i on t o ref use t o reopen the ca se sua s po nt e w as so broad as to b e n o n - r e v ie w ab le . S e e id . A c c o r d in g ly , w e d is m is s th e p e titio n a s to th is m a tte r . PETI TI O N D EN I ED I N PA R T, D I SM I SSED I N PA R T.