FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT OCT 5 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 06- 10780 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ A ge nc yN o. A 79- 443- 146 N I X O N P R I N T E M P S , 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

_________________________ ( O c t ob e r 5, 2006) B efo re B L A C K , B A R K E T T an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

N i xon P r i nt e m ps , aH a i t i a n c i t i z e n, pe t i t i ons f orr e vi e w of

the de c i s i on of the B oard of Im m i grat i on A pp ea l s thatadop t ed and affi rm ed the order of an I m m i gr a t i on J udge , w hi c h f ound P r i nt e m ps r e m ovabl e a nd de ni e d hi s appl i c a t i ons f o ra s y lu m , w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l u n d e rth e I m m ig r a tio n a n dN a tio n a lityA c t, a n d r e lie f

u n d e rth e U n ite d N a tio n s C o n v e n tio n A g a in s t T o rtu r e a n dO th e rC ru e l, Inhu m an and D egra di ng T re atm entor P un i shm ent . B ec ause subst ant i al evi dence s u p p o rts th e ru lin g o f

th e I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e a n dth e B I A , w e d e n yth e p e titio n .

I . B AC KG RO UN D P r i nt e m ps a rr i ve d a tM i a m i I nt e rna t i ona l A i rporton M a r c h 24, 2002, a nd p re se n ted to an im m ig ra ti o n o ff icera p as sp o rt an dv isa b ea rin g P rin tem p s’s ph ot og raph bu tthe nam e of G ary L ud ov i ck. W hen the i m m i grat i on offi ce r a sked ab o u t th e n a m e o n th e p a s s p o rt, P r in te m p s r e a d ilya d m itte dth a t th e p a s s p o rt d id no tst at e hi s c orre ctnam e. P ri nt em ps w as then h el d for a s ec on daryi nt ervi ew at w hi c h he s t a t e d tha the ha d l e f tH a i t i be c aus e hi s l i f

e ha d be e n thr e a t e ne d a nd he w a s a f r a idh e w o u ldb e k ille d if h e r e tu rn e dto H a iti. T he D epartm entof H om el and S ec uri ty i ss ued P ri nt em ps a not i ce t o app ear on M ar ch 27 , 20 04 . P ri nt em ps w as char ged w i th att em pt i ng t o ent erthe U ni t ed S ta te s u s in g af

r au d u le n t v is aa n dp h o to - s w itc h e dp a s s p o rt, s e e 8 U .S .C . §3

11 82 (a )( 6)(C )( i ), and att em pt i ng t o ent erthe U ni t ed S t at es w i tho uta val i d v i sa , se e 8 U . S . C . § 1 18 2(a) (7)( A )( i )( I) . P r in te m p s f

ile d a n ap p lic a tio n f

o ra s y lu m a n dw ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l. P ri nt em ps st at ed thathe had b ee n p er se cut ed i n H ai t i because of hi s pol i t i ca l op i ni on and h e f

eare d h e w ou l d b e harm ed i f he r eturned t o H ai t i . In hi s per sonal st at em entatt ac hed t o h i s a sy l um appl i ca t i on , P ri nt em ps st at ed thathi s y ou ng er brother w as beat en t o d ea th b y H ec t or R egal a, a s ec uri ty a gentfor the N at i on al P alac e. In re sp o n se to th e in cid en t, P rin tem p s p re se n ted th e s to ry o f h is b ro th er ’s b e a tin g to th e n e w s m e d ia . P r in te m p s p a rtic ip a te din te le v is io n a n dr a d io in te rv ie w s , a n d ate le v is io n c r e w v is ite dh is d y in g b r o th e rin th e h o s p ita l. R e g a la w as arre st ed short l y a ft erthe beat i ng , bu tP ri nt em ps agai n w entt o the m edi a w hen R e ga l aha d notbe e n tr i e d orpr os e c ut e d a f t e rs e ve r a l w e e ks . I n hi s s t a t e m e ntt o the m e di a , P r i nt e m ps que s t i one d the e f f e c t i ve ne s s of

the gove rnm e nta nd a s ke d, “ H ow can an o ff

i ce r of the N at i on al P al ac e ki l l a c hi l d w i th i m pu ni ty? ” A f te rh is s e c o n d te le v is io n ap p e a r a n c e , P r in te m p s w a s s to p p e da t a r oa dbl oc k byof

f i c e r s of the N a t i ona l P a l a c e . T he of f i c e r s r e c ogni z e d P r i nt e m ps a nd a c c us e d P r i nt e m ps of c aus i ng the a rr e s tof

R e ga l aa nd c aus i ng pr obl e m s f or the N a t i ona l P a l a c e pol i c e . T he ys truc k P r i nt e m ps a c r os s the l e f te y e br ow a nd thr e a t e ne d hi s l i f

e . A f t e rhi s e nc ount e rw i th the N a t i ona l P a l a c e pol i c e , P r i nt e m ps4

de c i de d t o f

l e e H a i t i . A l though he w a s a w a i t i ng the a rr i va l of af i a nc é vi s aa tthe A m e r i c a n E m ba s s ybe c aus e of hi s e nga ge m e ntt o a n A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n, P r i nt e m ps pur c ha s e d af

r audul e ntvi s aa nd pa s s porti n the na m e of G a ryL udovi c k f

or$5000 a n d f le w to th e U n ite d S ta te s . A thi s i ni t i al hear i ng , the Im m i grat i on Judg e f ou nd thatP ri nt em ps w as r e m ovabl e f

ortw o r e a s ons : ( 1) unde rs e c t i on 1182( a ) ( 6) ( C ) ( i ) be c aus e P r i nt e m ps a tt e m pt e d t o e nt e rthe U ni t e d S t a t e s us i ng af r audul e ntvi s aa nd pa s s port ; a nd ( 2) unde rs e c t i on 1182( a ) ( 7) be c aus e P r i nt e m ps di d notha ve ava l i d vi s aw he n he 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 f t e rhi s a s y l um he a r i ng, a tw hi c h P r i nt e m ps t es t i fi ed consi st ent l y w i th h i s per sonal st at em ent , the Im m i grat i on Judg e deni ed P r i nt e m ps a s y l um , w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l , a nd r e l i e f

unde rC A T . T he I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e f

o u n d th a t th e r e w a s n o n e x u s b e tw e e n P r in te m p s ’s m e d ia st at em ent s and the ac t i on s t aken agai nsthi m by the offi ce rs of the N at i on al P al ac e a n d th a t th e a tta c ko n P r in te m p s d idn o t r is e to th e le v e l o f p e r s e c u tio n . O n ap p e a l, th e B I A a d o p te d a n d a f f irm e d th e d e c is io n o f

th e I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e . I I . STA N D A R D O F R EVI EW W e r e v ie w o n lyth e d e c is io n o f th e B I A , e x c e p t to th e e x te n t th a t it e x p r e s s ly a dopt s the opi ni on of

the I m m i gr a t i on J udge . S e e A l N a jj a rv. A s hc r of

t , 257 F . 3d 1262, 1284 ( 11th C i r . 2001) . I ns of a ra s the B I A a dopt s the r e a s oni ng of the5

I m m i gr a t i on J udge , w e a l s o r e vi e w tha tde c i s i on. S e e P r a do- G onz a l e z v. I N S , 75 F . 3d 63 1, 63 2 (11 th C i r. 19 96 ). W e r evi ew fa ctual det erm i nat i on s of the B IA unde rthe s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e t e s t . S e pul ve dav. U . S . A tt ’ yG e n. , 401 F . 3d 1226, 12 30 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). W e m ustaf fi rm the deci si on of the B IA i f i ti s “ supp ort ed b y 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.” Id . “ U n d erth is h ig h ly d ef er en ti al stan d ar do f r ev iew , th e [ B IA ]’ s d e c is io n c a n b e r e v e r s e d o n lyif th e e v id e n c e ‘c o m p e ls ’ ar e a s o n ab le f a c t f in d e rto f in d o th e rw is e .” I d . ( c ita tio n o m itte d ) . I I I . DI S CUS S I ON P ri nt em ps m akes tw o m ai n argum ent s on app ea l . F i rs t , P ri nt em ps ar gu es tha tthe I m m i gr a t i on J udge e rr e d i n f i ndi ng tha the w a s r e m ovabl e unde rs e c t i on 1 1 8 2 (a)(6 )(C )(i ) fo r att em p t i n g t o en t er th e U n i t ed S t at es u si n g a frau d u l en tv i sa and p as sport . S ec on d, P ri nt em ps ar gu es thatthe Im m i grat i on Judg e and B IA erre d i n de ny i ng a s y l um be c aus e P r i nt e m ps e s t abl i s he d tha the s uf f e r e d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on a n d h a d aw e ll- f

o u n d e d f e a ro f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . W e a d d r e s s e a c h a r g u m e n t in tu rn . P ri nt em ps ar gu es that , because he a dm i tt ed t o the fi rs ti m m i grat i on offi ci al h e m e t in M ia m i th a t th e p a s s p o rt a n dv is ah e p r o d u c e dw e r e n o t in h is r e a l n a m e , the Im m i grat i on Judg e e rr on eousl y f ou nd thatP ri nt em ps w as i nadm i ss i bl e und er6

s e c t i on 1182( a ) ( 6) f

ora tt e m pt i ng t o e nt e rthe U ni t e d S t a t e s us i ng f r audul e nt doc um e nt s . W e ne e d nota ddr e s s thi s a r gum e nt . B e c aus e the I m m i gr a t i on J udge al so foun d thatP ri nt em ps w as i nadm i ss i bl e und erse ct i on 11 82 (a )( 7) as an al i en noti n pos s e s s i on of

ava l i d une xpi r e d vi s aa tthe t i m e of hi s appl i c a t i on f

or a dm i s s i on, a nye rr orc om m i tt e d bythe I m m i gr a t i on J udge i n f i ndi ng P r i nt e m ps in a d m is s ib le u n d e rs e c tio n 1 1 8 2 ( a ) ( 6 ) is h a rm le s s . P ri nt em ps al so ar gu es thatthe Im m i grat i on Judg e e rr ed w hen h e f ou nd that P ri nt em ps had n otbeen pers ec ut ed, atl ea sti n p art , base d o n h i s a ctual or i m pu t ed p o litic a l o p in io n . P r in te m p s a r g u e s th a t w h e n h e q u e s tio n e dth e g o v e rn m e n t in h is s e c o n d m e d iaap p e a r a n c e h e e x p r e s s e dap o litic a l o p in io n . P r in te m p s ’s a r g u m e n ts f a il. E v e n if

w e w e r e to a s s u m e th a t P r in te m p s ’s s ta te m e n t to th e m e d ia c ons t i tut e d the e xpr e s s i on of apol i t i c a l opi ni on, s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s upport s the de c i s i on of

the I m m i gr a t i on J udge tha tP r i nt e m ps di d nots uf f e rpa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof

tha tpol i t i c a l opi ni on. “ [ P ] e r s e c ut i on i s a n e xtr e m e c onc e pt , r e qui r i ng m ore than few i sol at ed i nci dent s of verbal hara ss m entor i nt i m i dat i on . ” S epul veda, 4 0 1 F .3 d a t 1 2 3 1 ( q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) . “[ M ]e r e h a r a s s m e n t d o e s n o t a m o u n t to pers ec ut i on . ” I d. P ri nt em ps al l eged thaton on e occ as i on he w as st op ped ata r oad bl oc k, hi ti n the f

a c e , a nd thr e a t e ne d byof f i c e r s of the N a t i ona l P a l a c e , w ho7

a c c us e d P r i nt e m ps of

c aus i ng tr oubl e f

orthe m . T hi s i nc i de ntdoe s notr i s e t o the l evel of pers ec ut i on . N ei ther does the al l eged acc usat i on by the N at i on al P al ac e of f i c e r s c om pe l the c onc l us i on tha tthe ha r a s s m e ntof P r i nt e m ps w a s on a c c ountof h is p o litic a l o p in io n . S ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e a l s o s upport s the de c i s i on of the I m m i gr a t i on J udge tha tP r i nt e m ps di d note s t abl i s h tha the ha d aw e l l - f ounde d f e a rof pe r s e c ut i on i f

he r e turne d t o H a i t i . T he I m m i gr a t i on J udge f ound tha tthe r e w a s no e vi de nc e tha tthe autho ri t i es i n H ai t i w er e l oo ki ng for P ri nt em ps, there w as no evi dence that P ri nt em ps coul d n otavai l hi m se l f of the prot ec t i on of the i nt er i m go vernm entthat t ook pow e ri n M a r c h 2004, a nd the r e w a s no e vi de nc e tha tP r i nt e m ps c oul d not r e lo c a te to a n o th e rp a rt o f H a iti. A lth o u g h P r in te m p s a r g u e s th a t it is w id e ly r e c ogni z e d i n H a i t i tha tthe pol i c e a r e brut a l a nd c orrupt , P r i nt e m ps di d notpr e s e nt

“ s pe c i f i c , de t a i l e d f

a c t s s how i ng agood r e a s on t o f e a rtha t[ he ] w i l l be s i ngl e d out f o rp e r s e c u tio n ” o n a c c o u n t o f h is p o litic a l o p in io n . I d . ( q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) . P ri n t em p s’ s cl ai m s fo r w i th h o l d i n g o f rem o v al an drel i ef u n d er C A T al so f a i l . Be c au s e Pr i n t e mp s d i d n o t“ me e tth e ‘ w e l l - f o u n d e df e a r ’ s t a n d a r df

o ra s y l u m, i ti s afort i ori thathe cann otm ee tthe w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al st andard. ” D - M uhum e d v. U . S . A tt ’ yG e n. , 388 F . 3d 814, 819 ( 11th C i r . 2004) ( c i t a t i ons8

o m itte d ) . L ik e w is e , P r in te m p s d idn o t e s tab lis h th a t it w a s “m o r e lik e lyth a n n o t” th a t h e w o u ldb e to rtu r e d if h e w e r e r e tu rn e dto H a iti. P E T I T I ON DE NI E D.