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

________________________ N o. 05- 15780 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N o. A 79- 453- 719 R A M A D A N L I K O L L A R I , P e titio n e r , v ersu s U .S . A T T O R N E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on forR e vi e w of

aD e c i s i on of

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

_________________________ ( A p r i l 27, 2006) B efo re C A R N E S , W IL S O N an d K R A V IT C H , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:On November 25, 2002, President B ush signe d into law the Homeland Security Act of 1 2002, Pub. L . No. 107-296, Stat. 2125. The HSA created a new Depa rtment of Homeland Se c urity , a

bo lis he d theINS, andtrans ferre d INS’ s f un c tio ns to thene w depa

rtment. Un der theVWPP, theAttorney General is permitte d toallo w aliens from c ertain 2 c ou ntrie s toe nter theUnite d St ate s f or upto ninety

day s w ith out a

vis a . INA§ 2 17 (a), 8 U .S. C. § 1 18 7( a). Al iens wh o a

readmi tte d u nder this program agre eto f orfeit any c halleng eto removal, except on the basis of asylum. INA § 217(b) , 8 U.S.C. § 1187(b). By regulation, aliens from B elg ium are eligible f or admission into the United States under the program. 8 C.F.R. § 21 7. 2( a) ( 20 01 ). B e c aus eLiko lla riattempte d toenter theUnite d State s w itha B e lg ian p a ssp ort, he wa s classified a s a VWPPapplicant and was plac ed in “a sylum onlyproce eding s.” 2 R a m a da n L i kol l a r i , ana t i ve a nd c i t i z e n of A l ba ni a , s e e ks r e vi e w of the B oa r d of I m m i gr a t i on A ppe a l s ’ s a f f i r m a nc e of

the I m m i gr a t i on J udge ’ s or de rof r e m o v a l. S u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e s u p p o r ts th e I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e ’s d e te r m in a tio n to deny L i ko l l ar i ’ s app l i ca t i on for a sy l um on the grou nd thatL i ko l l ar i l ac ked c r e di bi l i ty . F ur the r m or e , be c a us e L i kol l a r i c a nnotm e e tthe l ow e rs t a nda r d for a s y l um , w e a l s o de ny hi s c l a i m s forw i thhol di ng of r e m ova l a nd r e l i e f

unde rthe C o n v e n tio n A g a in s t T o r tu r e . A c c o r d in g ly , w e d e n y L ik o lla r i’s p e titio n . I . Ba c k g r o und L i kol l a r i a tt e m pt e d t o e nt e rthe U ni t e d S t a t e s a tM i a m i , F l or i da , by us i ng a fr audu l entB el gi an pass po rt . T he Im m i grati on and N atural i za t i on S er vi ce (“ IN S ”) 1 i n i t i at ed i m m i g rat i o n p ro ceed i n g s, p l aci n g L i k o l l ari i n “ asyl u m o n l y p ro ceed i n g s” pu rs uantt o 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 2(b) (200 1) as a vi saw ai ver pi l otprog ra m (“ V W P P ”) a p p lic a n t. I m m ig r a tio n h e a r in g s fo rL ik o lla r i w e r e h e ld fo llo w in g h is a rr iv a l in

2 th e U n i t ed S t at es, d u ri n g w h i ch h e so u g h trel i ef u n d er th e C o n v en t i o n A g ai n st3

T orture ( “ C A T ”) and fi l ed an appl i ca t i on for a sy l um and w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al c la im in g h e w a s ar e f

u g e e b a s e d o n h is p o litic a l o p in io n . I n h is a p p lic a tio n , L ik o lla r i s ta te d th a t h e h a d le f t A lb a n iain F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 2 . T o sho w he w as ent i t l ed t o asy l um , he as se rt ed thati n O ct ob er19 99 he had p a r tic ip a te d in ad e m o n s tr a tio n o r g a n iz e d b y th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty o f A lb a n iain h is h o m e to w n o f

K o r c e , A lb a n ia . H e in itia lly b e c a m e in v o lv e d in th e p a r ty in 1 9 9 5 a s am e m b e ro f

th e Y o u th F o r u m a n d b e c a m e af u ll m e m b e rin 1 9 9 7 . L i kol l a r i e s t i m a t e d tha ta ppr oxi m a t e l y 1000 pe opl e a tt e nde d the de m ons tr a t i on, dur i ng w hi c h he a nd othe r s he l d s i gns s uppor t i ng the D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty a nd oppos i ng the S oc i a l i s tP a r ty . S oc i a l i s tP a r ty s uppor t e r s s t ood be hi nd al i ne of pol i c e of f i c e r s a nd i ns ul t e d the D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty de m ons tr a t or s . A s the D em ocra t i c P ar ty dem on stra t ors app roac hed the ar eaw here i t s s chedul ed spea kers w e r e t o a ddr e s s the c r ow d, the pol i c e a tt a c ke d the de m ons tr a t or s , i nc l udi ng L i ko l l ar i , w i th p ol i ce bat on s. L i ko l l ar i eventual l y e sc aped from the m el ee . L i kol l a r i ’ s a ppl i c a t i on s t a t e d tha ta boutone w e e k a f t e rthe de m ons tr a t i on, tw o m e n w e a r in g a r m y fa tig u e s a n d m a s k s a rr iv e d a t h is h o u s e a t a p p r o x im a te ly 5: 00 or6: 00 a . m . T he m e n for c e d the i rw a y pa s tL i kol l a r i ’ s m othe ra nd found L ik o lla r i in h is b e d . T h e y d r a g g e d h im f r o m h is h o u s e , b e a t h im , a n d p la c e d h im i n a van. S even m en w er e i n the van, and the beati ng s c on t i nu ed. T he m en brou gh tL i ko l l ar i t o the po l i ce st ati on w here they pl ac ed hi m i n a ce l l al on e,4

r e f u s e d to a llo w h im to o b ta in ala w y e r , a n d b e a t h im tw o o rth r e e tim e s p e rd a y . L ik o lla r i h a d to r e ly o n am a n in a n a d ja c e n t c e ll fo rfo o d . L ik o lla r i s ta te d th a t h is c a pt or s di d noti nt e rr oga t e hi m butthe y a s ke d hi m w hy he w a s i nvol ve d i n the D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty a nd tr i e d t o “ s c a r e m e a nd ha r a s s m e s o tha tI w oul d notbe in v o lv e d w ith th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty .” A f te rtw o d a y s , h is c a p to r s d r o v e h im o u t s i d e th e c i ty a n d l e f

th i m i n th e m o u n t a i n s , f r o m wh i c h h e wa l k e d h o m e i n t wo o rth r e e h o u r s . H e s u f

fe r e d ab r o k e n f

in g e ra n d a n in

ju r e d n o s e d u r in g h is im p r is o n m e n t a n d b e c a u s e h e fe a r e d le a v in g h is h o u s e , h is m o th e rtr e a te d h is i nj ur i e s . H e r e m a i ne d am e m be rof the D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty fol l ow i ng hi s de t e nt i on and att ended m ee t i ng s a tthe party’ s hea dq uart er s but“ tri ed no tt o b e s o i nv ol ved i n d em on stra t i on s” or “ so m uch o n the fr on tl i ne. ” F r om J a nua r y 2000 t o J a nua r y 2001, he s e r ve d hi s obl i ga t or y t i m e i n the m ilita r y . H e s ta te d th a t d u r in g h is s e r v ic e , th e S o c ia lis ts c o n tin u a lly h a r a s s e d h is brother, w ho w as al so a m em ber of the D em ocra t i c P ar ty, and forced hi s brother f r o m ap o s itio n a s ap o lic e o f f ic e r . A t th e tim e o f

L ik o lla r i’s a p p lic a tio n , h is b r o th e r ’s a p p lic a tio n fo ra s y lu m in th e U n ite d S ta te s w a s b e in g h e a r d . L i kol l a r i ’ s a ppl i c a t i on a l s o e xpl a i ne d hi s fa the r ’ s 1989 i m pr i s onm e ntfor i ns ul t i ng the for m e rS oc i a l i s tdi c t a t or . A tthe s a m e t i m e , the pol i c e de t a i ne d a nd b e a t L ik o lla r i, h is b r o th e r , a n d h is m o th e r . T h e p o lic e a g a in a rr e s te d a n d b e a t h is fa th e rin 1 9 9 8 , a p p a r e n tly b e c a u s e h is fa th e rc o m p la in e d a b o u t irr e g u la r itie s in5

v o ti n g fo r th e c o n stitu ti o n . L ik o ll ar i also stated th at th e S o cialists sto le h is fa th er ’s la n d , w h ic h h is fa th e rr e c o v e r e d w h e n th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty r e tu r n e d to p o w e r . A tthe heari ng before the Im m i grati on Judg e ( “ IJ ”) , L i ko l l ar i t es t i fi ed as fo llo w s : h e w a s tw e n ty - f iv e y e a r s o ld a n d s in g le a n d h a d w o r k e d o n h is fa m ily fa r m u n til h e le f

t A lb a n iain F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 2 . H e w a s am e m b e ro f th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty s in c e h is p a r tic ip a tio n in th e Y o u th F o r u m , a n d h e b e c a m e af u ll p a r ty m e m be ri n 1997. H i s dut i e s i n the pa r ty i nc l ude d obs e r vi ng m e e t i ngs a nd e l e c t i ons a n d a tte n d in g d e m o n s tr a tio n s . T h e p a r ty h e ld m e e tin g s e v e r y th r e e o rfo u rm o n th s . L ik o lla r i p a r tic ip a te d in “m a n y ” d e m o n s tr a tio n s , in c lu d in g a n “im p o r ta n t o n e ” in O c t obe r1999. A ppr oxi m a t e l y 300 or400 pe opl e a tt e nde d the fourorf i ve hour de m ons tr a t i on tha ti nc l ude d D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty l e a de r s s pe a ki ng outa ga i ns tthe S oc i a l i s tgove r nm e nt . A gr oup of S oc i a l i s tc ount e r - de m ons tr a t or s thr e w thi ngs a nd y e l l e d a tthe de m ons tr a t or s , a nd al i ne of pol i c e of

f i c e r s pr ot e c t e d the S oci al i st s f

rom the D em ocra t i c P ar ty m em bers . E ventual l y, the po l i ce cl as hed w i th the D em ocra t i c P ar ty m em bers , and L i ko l l ar i w as beat en before f l ee i ng ho m e. L ik o lla r i te s tif

ie d th a t th e fo llo w in g d a y tw o m a s k e d m e n a b d u c te d h im f r om hi s hous e , pl a c e d hi m i n aj e e p orva n, a nd br oughthi m t o aj a i l . T hr e e or four other m as ked m en w er e a l so i n the vehi cl e, and the m as ked m en beat L ik o lla r i. H e w a s d e ta in e d fo rtw o d a y s a t th e p o lic e s ta tio n w h e r e h e w a s k e p t in as m a ll c e ll, b e a te n w ith r u b b e rs tic k s th r e e o rfo u rtim e s , a n d r e c e iv e d fo o d o n ly6

f r om afe l l ow pr i s one r . H i s c a pt or s a l s o que s t i one d hi m a boutthe de m ons tr a t i on, c a lle d h im a“d o g ” , a n d a s k e d h im h o w h e c o u ld b e am e m b e ro f th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty . Af

t e rt wo d a y s , h i s c a p t o r s t o o k h i m t o th e m o u n t a i n s a n d l e f th i m . He w al ked h om e, w hi ch t oo k abo utthree ho urs. O n cross exam i nat i on , he sa i d that th e cap t o rs l efth i m n ear h i s h o m e, an d h e t o o k th ree h o u rs t o retu rn h o m e b ecau se he w as tra um ati ze d. H e f urther t es t i fi ed thatdu ri ng hi s i m pri sonm enthe sust ai ned sm al l w ou nd s over hi s bod y a nd on hi s l egs thathi s m other tre at ed. W hen asked a boutthe s t a t e m e nti n hi s a ppl i c a t i on tha the ha d s us t a i ne d abr oke n f i nge ra nd i nj ur e d nos e , he s t a t e d tha the ha d for gott e n a boutthos e i nj ur i e s w he n a s ke d the in itia l q u e s tio n b e c a u s e th e in c id e n t h a p p e n e d s e v e r a l y e a r s e a r lie r . A s h e s ta te d in h is a p p lic a tio n , L ik o lla r i te s tif ie d th a t h e le f

t A lb a n iain F eb ru ary 2 0 0 2 w h en h i s fath er o b t ai n ed th e m ean s t o sen d h i m . U si n g a fal se B el gi an pass po rt , and aft erbri ef st op s i n It al y a nd S w i t ze rl and, he re ac hed E c ua dor , w he r e he s pe ntthr e e m onths , be for e goi ng t o C ol om bi a , w he r e he s pe nt one m onth, a nd e ve ntua l l y a rr i ve d i n M i a m i , F l or i dai n J une 2002. F i na l l y , he te s tif ie d th a t h e fe a r e d h e w o u ld b e k ille d if h e r e tu r n e d to A lb a n iab e c a u s e o f h is m e m b e r s h ip in th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty . L ik o lla r i a ls o s u p p o r te d h is c la im s w ith th e 2 0 0 1 , 2 0 0 3 , a n d 2 0 0 4 S ta te D e pa r t m e ntR e por t s on A l ba ni a , the 2003 E ur ope a n C om m uni t i e s R e por t , a nd a 20 00 A m nesty I nt er nat i on al R eport . T he re po rt s e xp l ai ned thatthe po l i t i ca l7

cl i m at e i n A l bani a w as un st abl e, thatparti ci pati on i n el ec t i on s r es ul t ed i n v i ol ence , and thatpo l i ce engaged i n exces si ve tre atm ent . T he re po rt s c l ar i fi ed, ho w ever , that on l y l i m i t ed i nst ance s of vi ol ence occurr ed af t er19 98 and thatby 20 01 , m em bers o f th e D e m o c r a tic P a r ty h a d p a r lia m e n ta r y s e a ts . I n h is d e c is io n , th e I J n o te d th a t L ik o lla r i p a u s e d b e tw e e n th ir ty a n d s ix ty se cond s s ever al t i m es before answ er i ng qu es t i on s a nd thathi s a nsw er s w er e som eti m es un re spon si ve t o the qu es t i on s a sked. T he IJ al so no t ed L i ko l l ar i w as va gue a boutde t a i l s of

the de m ons tr a t i ons a nd hi s i nvol ve m e nti n the pa r ty a nd p r o v id e d in c o n s is te n t in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e in ju r ie s h e in c u rr e d d u r in g h is det ent i on . T he IJ ac kn ow l edged, ho w ever , thatthe S t at e D epar t m entC ou ntry R e p o r ts lis te d u s e o f

fo r c e a g a in s t p r o te s to r s , b e a tin g s b y p o lic e , a n d a n u n s ta b le pol i t i c a l c l i m a t e . A f

t e rc ons i de r i ng the t e s t i m ony a nd othe re vi de nc e a nd r e c i t i ng th e a p p lic a b le la w , th e I J d e n ie d r e lie f , f in d in g th a t L ik o lla r i w a s n o t c r e d ib le , h is t es t i m on y had been vagu e a nd un re spon si ve, and h e fai l ed t o p re se ntother w i t ness es or corr ob orati ng evi dence. T he IJ no t ed L i ko l l ar i ’ s l i m i t ed po l i t i ca l p a r tic ip a tio n a n d d e te r m in e d th a t h e fa ile d to e s ta b lis h p a s t p e r s e c u tio n o raw e llfo u n d e d fe a ro f

f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n , e s p e c ia lly c o n s id e r in g th a t h e r e m a in e d in A l ba ni aform or e tha n t w o y e a r s a f t e rthe be a t i ngs a nd tha thi s pa r e nt s , w ho he adm i tt ed al so fa ce d b ea t i ng s a nd parti ci pat ed i n the D em ocra t i c P ar ty, sti l l l i ved there . F i nal l y, the IJ concl ud ed thatL i ko l l ar i coul d n otm ee tthe C A T st andardCongress re cently passed the REAL

ID Act, which altere d this court’s review of 3 immigration appeals. In Huang , this court noted that pursuant to the REAL ID Act, all petitions for review a

re g overne d by

the permanent rule s, and that, under the Act a s codified at INA § 208(b)( 1), 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1) , the Secretary of Homeland Security , in addition to the Attorney General, ha s discretion to grant a sylum. Huangv. U.S. Attorney Gen., 429 F .3d 1002, 1008 n.3 (11th Cir. 2005). 8 be c a us e he di d nots how tha the ha d be e n s i ngl e d outfort or tur e . A c c or di ngl y , the IJ deni ed re l i ef . T he B oa r d of

I m m i gr a t i on A ppe a l s ( “ B I A ” ) a f f i r m e d the I J ’ s de c i s i on w ith o u t a n o p in io n . II . S tan d ard of R evi ew W he n, a s he r e , the B I A a dopt s the I J ’ s de c i s i on, w e r e vi e w the I J ’ s de c i s i on a s a dopt e d by the B I A . C ha c on- B ot e r o v. U . S . A tt or ne y G e n. , 427 F . 3d 954, 956 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). T o the ext entthatthe IJ ’ s dec i si on w as base d o n a l egal det er m i nat i on , w e r evi ew the deci si on de no vo . D -M uh um ed v. U . S . A tt orney G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 7 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). W e r evi ew the IJ ’ s fac tual d et erm i n at i o n s u n d er th e su b st an t i al ev i d en ce t est , an d w e “ m u staffi rm th e [IJ’ s] de c i s i on i f

i ti s s uppor t e d by r e a s ona bl e , s ubs t a nt i a l , a nd pr oba t i ve e vi de nc e on the r e c or d c ons i de r e d a s aw hol e . ” A l N a j j a rv. A s hc r of

t , 257 F . 3d 1262, 1283- 84 3 ( 11th C i r . 2001) ( quot a t i on a nd i nt e r na l m a r ks om i tt e d) . A f i ndi ng of fa c tw i l l “ be re vers ed by thi s c ou rton l y w hen the re cord com pel s are vers al ; the m er e fac tthat the r e c or d m a y s uppor tac ontr a r y c onc l us i on i s note nough t o j us t i f y ar e ve r s a l of9

the adm i ni stra t i ve fi nd i ng s. ” A defe m i v. A shcr oft , 38 6 F . 3d 10 22 , 10 27 (11th C i r. 2004) ( e n ba nc ) . W e a l s o r e vi e w the I J ’ s c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on unde rthe s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e t e s t , a nd w e s houl d not“ s ubs t i tut e ourj udgm e ntfortha tof the [ 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 u h u m e d , 3 8 8 F .3 d a t 8 1 8 . I I I . D i s c us s i o n T he A tt or ne y G e ne r a l ha s di s c r e t i on t o gr a nta s y l um i f a n a l i e n m e e t s the I NA ’ s d e f

i n i t i o n o f “ r e f u g e e . ” I NA § 2 0 8 ( b ) ( 1 ) , 8 U. S . C . § 1 1 5 8 ( b ) ( 1 ) . T h e I NA d e f in e s “r e f u g e e ” : [A ] ny pers on w ho i s out si de any c ou ntry of such p e r s o n ’s n a tio n a lity . . . a n d w h o is u n a b le o ru n w illin g to r e tur n t o, a nd i s una bl e orunw i l l i ng t o a va i l hi m s e l f or he r s e l f of the pr ot e c t i on of , tha tc ountr y be c a us e of pe r s e c ut i on oraw e l l

- founde d fe arof pe r s e c ut i on on a c c o u n t o f

. . . p o litic a l o p in io n . . . . 8 U . S . C . § 1101( a ) ( 42) ( A ) & ( B ) . T he a s y l um a ppl i c a ntbe a r s the bur de n of prov i ng re fugee s t atus. A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 84 . T o m ee tthi s burden, the al i en m us t , w i th s pe c i f

i c a nd c r e di bl e e vi de nc e , e s t a bl i s h ( 1) pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ount of a s t atut ori l y l i st ed fa ct or, or (2) a“ w el l -fou nd ed fe ar ” thatthe st atut ori l y l i st ed fa c to rw ill c a u s e f

u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 ; 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 3 ( a ) , ( b ) . T h is c o u r t h a s e x p la in e d th a t “‘p e r s e c u tio n ’ is a n e x tr e m e c o n c e p t,“However, thewea ker theapplicant’ s testimony , the greater the ne ed for corroborative 4 evidenc e.” In re Y -B , 21 I & NDec . 1136, 1139 (B IA 1998).

10 r e qui r i ng m or e tha n afe w i s ol a t e d i nc i de nt s of ve rba l har a s s m e ntori nt i m i da t i on, a n d . . . me r e h a r a s s me n td o e s n o ta mo u n tt o p e r s e c u t i o n . ” Se p u l v e d av . U . S. A tt orney G en. , 40 1 F . 3d 12 26 , 12 31 (11th C i r. 20 05 ) ( i nt er nal qu ot ati on s om i tt ed). I f th e a lie n e s ta b lis h e s p a s t p e r s e c u tio n , h e is p r e s u m e d to h a v e aw e llfounde d fe a rof

f utur e pe r s e c ut i on unl e s s the gove r nm e ntc a n r e butthe pres um pt i on . D -M uh um ed, 38 8 F . 3d at81 8 (ci t i ng 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 12 (b)( 1)(i ), ( ii) ) . I f h e c a n n o t s h o w p a s t p e r s e c u tio n , th e a lie n m u s t d e m o n s tr a te aw e llfo u n d e d fe a ro f

f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n th a t is b o th s u bje c tiv e ly g e n u in e a n d o bje c tiv e ly re as on abl e. A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 89 . T he subj ec t i ve com po nentca n b e proved “b y th e a p p lic a n t’s c r e d ib le te s tim o n y th a t h e o rs h e g e n u in e ly fe a r s p e r s e c u tio n ,” an d th e o bj ect i v e co m p o n en t“ can b e fu l fi l l ed ei th er b y est ab l i sh i n g p ast pe r s e c ut i on ortha the ors he ha s agood r e a s on t o fe a rf utur e pe r s e c ut i on. ” Y a ng v. U . S . A tt orney G en. , 41 8 F . 3d 11 98 , 12 02 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). I f a n a l i e n’ s t e s t i m ony i s c r e di bl e , i tm a y be s uf f i c i e nt , w i thout c orr obor a t i on, t o s a t i s f

y hi s bur de n of

pr oof i n e s t a bl i s hi ng hi s e l i gi bi l i ty for a s y lu m . F o r g u e v . U .S . A tto r n e y G e n ., 4 0 1 F .3 d 1 2 8 2 , 1 2 8 7 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) ; 8

4 C . F . R . § 208. 13( a ) , § 208. 16( b) . I n c ontr a s t , a n I J ’ s de ni a l of a n a s y l um a ppl i c a t i on c a n be s uppor t e d s ol e l y by a n a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on,11

e s pe c i a l l y i f

the a l i e n doe s notpr oduc e c orr obor a t i ng e vi de nc e . F or gue , 401 F . 3d at12 87 . If, ho w ever , the appl i ca ntprod uces other e vi dence of pers ec ut i on , the IJ m u s t c o n s id e rth a t e v id e n c e a n d s h o u ld n o t r e ly o n a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility de t e r m i na t i on i n thos e c a s e s . I d.

“ I ndi c a t i ons of

r e l i a bl e t e s t i m ony i nc l ude c ons i s t e nc y on di r e c te xa m i na t i on, consi st ency w i th the w ri tt en appl i ca t i on , and the abse nce of emb el l i shm ent s. ” I n re B - , 2 1 I & N D e c . 6 6 , 7 0 ( B I A 1 9 9 5 ) . A n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f in d in g m u s t g o to th e h earto f th e cl ai m , an d n o tb e b ased o n m i n o r d i screp an ci es, i n co n si st en ci es, a nd om i s s i ons . L ui v. U . S . A tt or ne y G e n. , 156 F . A pp’ x 270, 273 ( 11th C i r . 2005) (unp ub l i shed) ( ci t i ng G ao v. A shcr oft , 29 9 F . 3d 26 6, 27 2 (3d C i r. 20 02 )) ; A ki nm ade v. IN S , 19 6 F . 3d 95 1, 95 4 (9th C i r. 19 99 )) . A si ng l e i ncon si st ency m ay b e s u f f ic ie n t to s u p p o r t a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f in d in g if th e in c o n s is te n c y r e la te s to the a l i e n’ s ba s i s forhi s fe a ra nd goe s t o the he a r tof hi s a s y l um c l a i m . I d. ( c i t i ng C h e b c h o u b v . I N S , 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 0 3 8 , 1 0 4 3 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . H e r e , th e I J c o n c lu d e d th a t L ik o lla r i’s te s tim o n y la c k e d c r e d ib ility . S ub st ant i al evi dence s up po rt s thi s c on cl usi on . T he go vernm entpo i nt s t o sever al pos s i bl e i nc ons i s t e nc i e s – e . g. , the num be rof m e n i nvol ve d i n hi s ki dna ppi ng a nd the ve hi c l e hi s ki dna ppe r s us e d – butL i kol l a r i ’ s s t a t e m e nt s m a y notbe i ncon si st entand, atl ea st , do no tgo t o the heartof hi s c l ai m . H ow ever , L i ko l l ar i pr ovi de d va gue i nfor m a t i on a bouthi s i nvol ve m e nti n the D e m oc r a t i c P a r ty , ga veFor example, his attorney

asked, “ Can you describe all of the activities that you joined 5 in as a member of the D emocratic Party ? ” Likollari responde d, “Fred Jola was also a member of the Democratic Party .” When initi ally

a ske d o n cro ss exami natio n a bo ut theinj urie s h esu staine d duringhis 6 impri so nment, Liko lla

rifaile d tomenti onthebroken f ing er andinj ure d n os ethat heno te d inhis application for

asylum. Likollari’s assertion that he failed to mention the injuries be causethe incident occurre d several year s earlier is specious bec ause henoted those injuries on the application for

asylum filed a few months beforethe hea ringand he recalled the exact dates of the demonstration and his imprisonment. Likollari had a translator bec ause heapparently is not fluent in English. The transcript 7 of the he aringbefore the I Jsug g ests that Likollari’s pauses oc curred af ter the translator translated theattorney ’s questions. We have no reason to believe, nor ha s Likollari alleg ed, that his pauses and unresponsive answ ers a re attributable to a problem with the translator. 12 un re spon si ve answ er s t o q uesti on s , gave i ncon si st entt es t i m on y abo utthe i nj uri es 5 he s us t a i ne d dur i ng hi s i m pr i s onm e nt , ga ve dr a s t i c a l l y di f fe r e nte s t i m a t e s of

the 6 nu m ber of peopl e i nv ol ved i n the O ct ob er19 99 dem on stra t i on , and o ft en paused fo r th i rty t o si x ty seco n d s b efo re an sw eri n g h i s att o rn ey’ s q u est i o n s. T h ese 7 concerns go t o the heartof L i ko l l ar i ’ s c l ai m . F orgu e, 40 1 F . 3d at12 87 -88. E ven th o u g h th e C o u n tr y R e p o r ts s h o w th a t th e c o n d u c t th a t L ik o llar i a lle g e s o c c u r s in A l ba ni a , he ha s fa i l e d t o pr e s e nte vi de nc e s uppor t i ng h is c la im o f p e r s e c u tio n . E s pe c i a l l y c ons i de r i ng thi s fa i l ur e by L i kol l a r i , the I J ’ s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng i s s u f f i c i e n ta l o n e t o d e n y Li k o l l a r i ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n fo ra s y l u m. B e c a u s e L ik o lla r i fa ile d to m e e t th e lo w e rb u r d e n to e s ta b lis h h is e lig ib ility fora s y l um , he c a nnotm e e tthe hi ghe rbur de n t o e s t a bl i s h hi s e l i gi bi l i ty for w ith h o ld in g o f

r e m o v a l o rr e lie f

u n d e rC A T . A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 9 2

- 9 3 . Ac c o r d i n g l y , th e p e t i t i o n i s DE NI E D.