FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT M ay 16, 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- 15173 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N os . A 97- 188- 161 & A 97- 188- 162 A L F O N S O L L A N O S , D I A N A V A N E S S A L L A N O S , P e titio n e r s , 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

_________________________ ( M ay 16, 2006) B efo re T JO F L A T , H U L L an d W IL S O N , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

A l fons o L l a nos a nd D i a naV a ne s s aL l a nos , thr ough c ouns e l , pe t i t i on for 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 ( “ B I A ” ) de c i s i on a f f i r m i ng the Im m i grati on Judg e’ s ( “ IJ ”) re m ov al order, w hi ch became the fi nal agency d e te r m in a tio n w h e n th e B I A a d o p te d th e r e a s o n in g o f th e I J ’s d e c is io n . P e titio n e r s , w h o a r e n a tiv e s a n d c itiz e n s o f C o lo m b ia , c o n te n d th a t th e I J e rr e d in de ny i ng the i rc l a i m s fora s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l . W e di s m i s s the p e titio n in p a r t a n d d e n y it in p a r t. “W e r e v ie w o n ly th e [ B I A ’s ] d e c is io n , 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 adop t s the IJ ’ s opi ni on . ” Na jja rv . A s h c ro

ft , 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 2 6 2 , 1 2 8 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . I n s o fa ra s th e B I A a d o p ts th e I J ’s r e a s o n in g , w e r e v ie w th e I J ’s d e c is io n a s if it w e r e th e B I A ’s . I

d. T o the ext entthe IJ ’ s dec i si on w as base d u po n a l egal d e te r m in a tio n , w e r e v ie w th e I J ’s d e c is io n d e n o v o . M o h a m m e dv . A s h c ro ft , 261 F . 3d 1244, 1247- 48 ( 11th C i r . 2001) . W e r e vi e w the I J ’ s fa c tua l de t e r m i na t i ons u n d e rth e s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e s ta n d a r d , a n d “m u s t a f f ir m th e [ I J ’s ] d e c is io n if it is supp ort ed by re as on abl e, subst ant i al , and p robat i ve evi dence on the re cord consi dere d as aw ho l e. ” Naj j ar , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 3

- 8 4 ( in te r n a l q u o te s o m itte d ) ; se e a l so 8 U . S . C . § 1252( b) ( 4) ( B ) ( “ [ A ] dm i ni s tr a t i ve f i ndi ngs of

fa c ta r e c onc l us i ve unl e s s a ny r e a s ona bl e a dj udi c a t orw oul d be c om pe l l e d t o c onc l ude d t o the c ontr a r y [ . ] ” ) . “ U nde rthi s hi ghl y de fe r e nt i a l s t a nda r d of r e vi e w , the I J ’ s de c i s i on c a n be r e ve r s e d onl y i f

the e vi de nc e ‘ c om pe l s ’ ar e a s ona bl e fa c tf i nde rt o f i ndDiana V anessa Llanos’s claims are predicated on those of Alf redo Llanos, who is the 1 prima ry app lic ant f

or a sylum andwi thh oldingof

remov al. 3 otherw i se . ” Se

pul v e da v . U . S. A t t ’ y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1226, 1230 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . A n a l i e n w ho a rr i ve s i n ori s pr e s e nti n the U ni t e d S t a t e s m a y a ppl y for a s y l um . 8 U . S . C . § 1158( a ) ( 1) . T he a ppl i c a ntm us tde m ons tr a t e by c l e a ra nd c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e tha tthe a ppl i c a t i on ha s be e n f i l e d w i thi n one y e a ra f

t e rthe d a te o f th e a lie n ’s a rr iv a l in th e U n ite d S ta te s – u n le s s th e a lie n c a n d e m o n s tr a te to the sa t i sfac t i on of the A tt orney G ener al (1) the exi st ence of changed ci rc um st ance s w hi ch m at er i al l y a ff

ec tthe appl i ca nt ’ s e l i gi bi l i ty for as yl um , or (2) e xtra ordi nary c ir c u m s ta n c e s r e la tin g to th e d e la y in f ilin g a n a p p lic a tio n w ith in o n e y e a r . I d. § 1 1 5 8 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ) , ( D ) ; C hac on- B ote ro v . U . S. A t t ’ y G e n. , 4 2 7 F .3 d 9 5 4 , 9 5 6 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2 0 0 5 ) ( p e rc u r i a m ) . C o u r t s d o n o th a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n , h o we v e r , t o r e v i e w a de t e r m i na t i on of

the A tt or ne y G e ne r a l a s t o the t i m e l i ne s s of a n a s y l um a ppl i c a t i on or the exi st ence of changed o r e xtra ordi nary ci rc um st ance s. 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 8(a) (3); C h a co n -B o tero , 4 2 7 F .3 d a t 9 5 7 ; Fahi m v . U . S. A t t ’ y G e n. , 278 F . 3d 1216, 1217- 18 ( 11th C i r . 2002) ( pe rc ur i a m ) . T hus w e c a nnotr e vi e w the I J ’ s de t e r m i na t i on thatA l fr edo L l anos’ s ( “ L l anos”) as yl um appl i ca t i on w as un t i m el y a nd thatnei ther 1 o f th e e x c e p tio n s ap p ly . Se e i d. W e th e r e fo r e d is m is s th e p e titio n w ith r e s p e c t to th e a s y l u m c l a i m.Toe sta bli sha sylum

e ligibi lity , thealien mu st e sta bli sh , w ithsp e c if

icandcre dib le 2 evidenc e, (1) past perse cution on acc ount of a statutorily listed factor , or (2) a “w ell-founde d fea r” that the statutorily

listed factor

will cause such future persecution. 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(a), (b ); Najjar , 2 57 F .3 d at 12 87 . Ash ow ingof pa st p ers e c uti oncre ate s a pre sumptionof

a “ wellfounded f ear” of persecution subject to rebuttal by the g overnment. Sepulve da , 401 F.3d at 1231. 4 L l a n o s a l s o c h a l l e n g e s th e I J ’ s d e n i a l o f wi th h o l d i n g o f

r e m o v a l . He c o n te n d s th a t th e I J e rr e d b y r e je c tin g h is te s tim o n y w ith o u t m a k in g a n e x p lic it fi n d i n g th ath e w as n o tcred i b l e. H e al so m ai n t ai n s th ath e d em o n strat ed p ast pers ec ut i on or a w el l -fou nd ed fe arof future pers ec ut i on on the basi s of hi s pol i t i ca l o p i n i o n o r i m p u t ed p o l i t i cal o p i n i o n , b ecau se h i s l i fe an d h i s fam i l y m em b ers’ l i ves w er e threa t ened as a r es ul tof hi s a cti vi t i es w i th a com m un i ty a cti on bo ar d tha toppos e d the R e vol ut i ona r y A r m e d F or c e s of C ol om bi a ’ s ( “ F A R C ” ) r e c r ui t i ng a c tiv itie s . T he A tt orney G ener al m ay no tre m ov e a n al i en t o a coun try i f the A tt orney G ener al fi nd s that“ the al i en’ s l i fe or fr ee do m w ou l d b e threa t ened i n thatcoun try beca use of the al i en’ s r ac e, re l i gi on , nat i on al i ty, m em bers hi p i n a parti cul arsoci al gr oup, orpol i t i c a l opi ni on. ” 8 U . S . C . § 1231( b) ( 3) ( A ) . “ T he a l i e n be a r s the bur de n of

de m ons tr a t i ng tha ti ti s ‘ m or e l i ke l y tha n not ’ [ h] e w i l l be pe r s e c ut e d or t ortured up on bei ng re turned t o [hi s] coun try . ” Se pul v e da , 401 F . 3d a t1232 ( quot i ng Fa h im , 278 F . 3d a t1218) . T he bur de n of pr oof forw i thhol di ng of r e m o v a l is m o r e s tr in g e n t th a n th e b u r d e n fo ra s y lu m . I d. a t1232. 25

“T h e s ta tu te s g o v e r n in g a s y lu m a n d w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l p r o te c t n o t o n ly a ga i ns tpe r s e c ut i on by gove r nm e ntfor c e s , buta l s o a ga i ns tpe r s e c ut i on by nongo vernm ent al grou ps thatthe go vernm entca nn otcontrol , such as the F A R C . ” R u iz v . U . S. A t t ’ y G e n. , 440 F . 3d 1247, 1257 ( 11th C i r . 2006) ( pe rc ur i a m ) . P e r s e c ut i on, how e ve r , i s a n “ e xtr e m e c onc e pt , 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 verbal hara ss m entor i nt i m i dat i on . . . . ” Se pul v e da , 40 1 F . 3d at12 31 (i nt er nal quot e s om i tt e d) . “ T hr e a t s a l one ge ne r a l l y do notc ons t i tut e a c tua l pe r s e c ut i on; onl y r a r e l y , w he n the y a r e s o i m m e di a t e a nd m e na c i ng a s t o c a us e s i gni f i c a nt suff er i ng or harm i n them se l ves, do threa t s perse qu al i fy as pers ec ut i on . ” V al ut ev v . A s h c ro ft , 35 4 F . 3d 12 07 , 12 10 (10th C i r. 20 03 ). L i kew i se , “ evi dence thatei ther is c o n s is te n t w ith a c ts o f p r iv a te v io le n c e o rth e p e titio n e r ’s fa ilu r e to c o o p e r a te w i th g ueri l l as , or thatm er el y s ho w s thata per son h as been the vi cti m of cr i m i nal a c tiv ity , d o e s n o t c o n s titu te e v id e n c e o f p e r s e c u tio n b a s e d o n as ta tu to r ily prot ec t ed grou nd . ” R u iz , 440 F . 3d a t1258. A s L lan o s in d icates , th e I J d id n o t ex p re ss ly state w h eth erh e fo u n d L lan o s’s t e s t i m ony t o be c r e di bl e . T hus , w e w i l l a s s um e tha ta ny c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i ons b y th e I J w e r e n o t d is p o s itiv e o f L la n o s ’s c la im s . Se e Y ang v . U . S. A t t ’ y G e n. , 418 F . 3d 1198, 1201 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( not i ng tha tI J s m us tm a ke “ c l e a n de t e r m i na t i ons of c r e di bi l i ty ” ) . W e ne ve r the l e s s c onc l ude tha ts ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the I J ’s d e c is io n . L la n o s ’s r e c e ip t o f as e r ie s o f

th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a lls r e g a r d in g h isAcc ordingto Llanos, the shooter w as never identified. There w as no showingof a 3 c onne c tio n b etw e en thesh oo ter andtheFARC, andneither Llano s, nor his w if e , n or his daughters were ever phy sically harme d. Llanos also produc ed a letter from the president of his communityaction board, but that 4 letter m adenoreferenc eto Llano s h avin gexperi enc e d any prob lems or re c eive d any thre ats i n Colombi a. 6 e f for t s t o dr a w y ouths a w a y f r om l oc a l c om m une s , a nd a n i nc i de ntw he r e as hot w as fi red i n t o a t ax i carryi n g h i s d au g h t ers, are i n su ffi ci en tt o est ab l i sh p ast p e r s e c u tio n . Se e Se

pul v e da , 4 0 1 F .3 d a t 1 2 3 1 ; V al ut ev , 354 F . 3d a t1210. 3 A ddi t i ona l l y , the fa c ttha tL l a nos l e a r ne d, i ndi r e c t l y , tha tthe w i fe of af r i e nd w ho w orked for the com m un i ty a cti on bo ar d w as m urdered i s, w i tho utany f urther d et ai l s, i n su ffi ci en tt o est ab l i sh a w el l -fo u n d ed fear o f fu tu re p ersecu t i o n . L l an o s, 4 w h o liv e d a n d w o r k e d w ith h is fa m ily in C a li, a ls o c la im e d th a t r e lo c a tio n w ith in C ol om bi aw oul d be us e l e s s , be c a us e the F A R C s e t s up r oa dbl oc ks t o c ol l e c ta nd co m p u t eri ze i n fo rm at i o n ab o u tp erso n s o f i n t erestt o i t . A cco rd i n g t o th e IJ, how e ve r , L l a nos ’ s pa r e nt s a ppa r e nt l y ha ve c ont i nue d t o l i ve i n C a l i w i thout in c id e n t. C

f. R u iz , 4 4 0 F. 3 d a t1 2 5 9 ( p e t i t i o n e r ’ s c l a i me d fe a rth a tth e FA RC w ou l d k i l l hi m w as contra di ct ed by hi s t es ti m on y thathi s s on and p ar ent s r em ai ned unha r m e d i n the r e gi on w he r e pe t i t i one ra l l e ge dl y w a s thr e a t e ne d) . T hus , w e de ny p e titio n e r s ’ c la im fo rw ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l u n d e r§ 1 2 3 1 ( b ) ( 3 ) ( A ) .7

F i nal l y, L l anos cont ends thathe i s e nt i t l ed t o w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al un der the C onve nt i on A ga i ns tT or tur e ( “ C A T ” ) . W e c a nnotc ons i de rthi s a r gum e nt , for L la n o s w ith d r e w h is C A T c la im a t th e a s y lu m h e a r in g . See F erna nd ez -B erna lv. A t t ’y G en. of

the Uni ted Stat es , 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 3 0 4 , 1 3 1 7 n .1 3 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . W e th e r e fo r e d i s mi s s th e p e t i ti o n w i th r e s p e c tt o th e CA T c l a i m. PETI TI O N D I SM I SSED I N PA R T A N D D EN I ED I N PA R T.