FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT SEPT 29 , 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- 10578 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ A ge nc y N os . A 79- 090- 159 A 79- 090- 160 H E L B E R T U R R E A G O M E Z , P A O L A A N D R E A M O N T O Y A , H E L B E R T A N D R E S U R R E A M O N T O Y A , R A Q U E L A N D R E A U R R E A M O N T O Y A , M A R G A R I T A M O N T O Y A P A T I N O , P e titio n e r s , 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

a D 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 p t e m b e r 29, 2006) B efo re B IR C H , B L A C K an d B A R K E T T , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:On 25 November 2002, President B ush signe d into law the Homeland Security Act of 2002 1 (“H SA”), Pub. L . No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135. The HSA cre ated a new Department of H omeland Security (“D HS”), abolished the I

NS, a nd transferre d its func tions to the new depa rtment. However, beca use this case was ini tiated whil e the I NS was sti ll in ex istence, this opinion refers to the ag ency as the I NS rather than the DHS. 2 H el bertU rr eaG om ez , P aol a A nd re a M on t oya, H el bertA nd re s U rr ea M ont oy a , R a que l A ndr e a U rr e a M ont oy a , a nd M a r ga r i t a M ont oy a P a t i no ( “ P e t i t i one r s ” ) , na t i ve s a nd c i t i z e ns of C ol om bi a , thr ough c ouns e l , pe t i t i on f or r e v i e w o f

th e I mmi g r a t i o n J u d g e ’ s ( “ I J ’ s ” ) o r d e ro f r e mo v a l a n d d e n i a l o f

a s y l u m, w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al , 8 U . S . C . §§ 11 58 , 12 31 (b)( 3), and rel i ef un der the U ni t ed N a t i ons C onve nt i on A ga i ns tT or tur e a nd O the rC rue l , I nhum a n, orD e gr a di ng T re atm entor P un i shm ent(“ C A T ”) , 8 C . F . R . § 2 06 . 16 . T hatorder beca m e the fi nal a g e n c y d e te rm in a tio n w h e n th e B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls ( “B I A ” ) s u m m a r ily af fi rm ed the IJ ’ s opi ni on w i tho utan op i ni on . C on cl ud i ng thatsubst ant i al e vi de nc e s uppor t s the B I A a nd I J ’ s c onc l us i ons , w e D E N Y the pe t i t i on. I . B AC KG RO UN D H el bertU rr eaG om ez and P aol a M on t oya, w ho ar e m arri ed, thei r c hi l dren H e l be r ta nd R a que l , a nd P a ol a ’ s m othe r , M a r ga r i t a P a t i no, a r e na t i ve s a nd c i t i z e ns of C ol om bi a a nd soug htadm i ss i on t o the U ni t ed S t at es on 23 Ja nu ary 200 1. T hey w e r e is s u e d n o tic e s to ap p e a r( “N T A ” ) b y th e I N S , c h a r g in g th e m w ith 1 r e m ovabi l i ty unde r8 U . S . C . § 1182( a ) ( 6) ( C ) ( i ) , a s a l i e ns w ho by f r a ud orw i l l f

ulPaola, Helbert, and Raque l arederivative claimants on Urrea’ s application. 2 3 m is r e p r e s e n ta tio n , s o u g h t a d m is s io n to th e U n ite d S ta te s , a n d 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 8 2 (a)(7 )(A )(i )(I), as al i en s w h o , atth e t i m e o f th ei r ad m i ssi o n , d i d n o tp o ssess v al i d en try d o cu m en t s. O n 2 O c t obe r2001, U rr e a f i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

ora s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of re m ov al . U rr eacl ai m ed thathe had b ee n threa t ened by the A rm y of N at i on al

2 L ib e r a tio n ( “E L N ” ) o n a c c o u n t o f h is m e m b e r s h ip in a s o c ia l g r o u p a n d h is pol i t i c a l opi ni on. U rr e a the n e xpl a i ne d tha the ha d w orke d a s a dr i ve rf orthe C ol om bi a n A rm y f

r om 1992 unt i l 25 D e c e m be r2000. O n 20 N ove m be r2000, he w a s dr i vi ng s ol di e r s w he n hi s truc k e nc ount e r e d a n E L N r oa dbl oc k. A s e r ge a nton hi s truc k or de r e d the s ol di e r s t o a tt a c k. M a ny s ol di e r s w e r e w ounde d i n the f i r e f i ght , a nd U rr e a dr ove f

ourof the m t o a hos pi t a l . H e l a t e rl e a rne d tha tm a ny s o ld ie r s h a d b e e n c ap tu r e d b y th e E L N . O n 1 0 D ec em ber 200 0, w hi l e he w as fi l l i ng an arm y truck ata c i ty gas st at i on , arm ed m en abdu ct ed hi m and o rder ed hi m t o d ri ve ou t si de the ci ty. A ft er they had dri ven severa l m i l es , m ore m en bo ar ded the truck. L at er , the m en ordered h im to s to p a n d g e t o u t o f th e tru c k . H e h e a r d th e m ta lk ab o u t u s in g th e tru c k to m ov e peopl e t o ano ther c am p. H ow ever , w hi l e they w er e notl oo ki ng , he es caped i nt o the j ungl e . H e r a n t o a s hop, c a l l e d hi s ba tt a l i on, a nd t ol d the ba tt a l i on the4

lo c a tio n o f

th e g u e r illa s . T h e a rm y f o u g h t th e g u e r illa s a n d r e s c u e d s o m e c ap tiv e s . T h e E L N d e c la r e d U rr e a a m ilita ry ta r g e t b e c a u s e it k n e w th a t h e w a s r e s p o n s ib le f ori nf orm i ng the m i l i t a ry of

i t s pos i t i on. E L N m e m be r s c a m e t o hi s hom e on 13 D ec em ber 200 0 and threa t ened P aol a a nd P at i no w hen they l ea rned he w as no tat h o m e . U rr e a ’ s a s y l um appl i c a t i on i nc l ude d: ( 1) a m ap of C ol om bi a s how i ng the g u eri l l a p resen ce; (2 ) a U n i t ed S t at es S t at e D ep artm en trep o rto n fo rei g n t erro ri st or ga ni z a t i ons r e por ttha tm e nt i one d the E L N a s a n a rm e d gr oup r e s pons i bl e f or as saul t s, ext ort i on , abdu ct i on s, and b om bi ng s; (3) a20 01 H um an R i gh t s W at ch art i cl e not i ng thatgu er i l l a group s i n C ol om bi a w er e r es po nsi bl e f or 14 deaths a day i n 2 00 0, up fr om 12 a dayi n 1 99 9; and (4) a F ebruary20 01 H um an R i gh t s W at ch art i cl e n o t i n g th atth e E L N p art i ci p at ed i n ab d u ct i o n s an d k i l l i n g s. O n 2 3 J a n u a ry 2 0 0 1 , th e I N S c o n d u c te d a “c r e d ib le f e a r ” in te rv ie w w ith U rr e a . I n tha ti nt e rvi e w , U rr e a s t a t e d: I n N ove m be raboutthe 20th, w e w e r e s e ntt o ki l om e t e r18 t o t a ke s om e s ol di e r s a nd w e w e r e s t oppe d by the gue r i l l a a nd the s hoot i ng st art ed. I had sol di er s i n m y truck w ho w er e s ho tand I t oo k them ba c k. N othi ng happe ne d t o m e . T he n the y w e r e thr e a t e ni ng us a tour h o m e a n d w e r e p u ttin g p a m p h le ts u n d e ro u rd o o r . T h e y th r e a te n e d to k ill m y w h o le f

a m ily .5

A dm i ni stra t i ve R ec ord (“ A R ”) at46 8, 47 5. H e f urther s t at ed thathe di d n othave a vi sat o ent erthe U ni t ed S t at es . T he re po rtfoun d thatU rr eahad est abl i shed c r e d ib le f

e a r . P at i no al so fi l ed an as yl um appl i ca t i on on 2 O ct ob er20 01 . S he st at ed that s h e h a d b e e n th r e a t e n e d b y th e ELN b e c a u s e o f U rr e a ’ s a c t i o n s a g a i n s tth e m. D uri ng P at i no ’ s c re di bl e f ea r i nt ervi ew , she s t at ed her f am i l y had pl anned, before l ea vi ng C ol om bi a, t o rem ai n i n the U ni t ed S t at es despi t e the fa ctthatthey p u r c h a s e d tic k e ts f

o rS p a in . T he r e c or d i nc l ude d the 2003 S t a t e D e pa r tm e ntC ountry R e por tf or C ol om bi a . A c c or di ng t o the c ountry r e por t , i nt e rna l a rm e d c onf l i c tbe tw e e n the go vernm entand the E L N had con t i nu ed throu gh 20 02 . T he E L N had threa t ened and att ac ked h um an ri gh t s a ct i vi st s, and i tand the C ol om bi an R evol ut i on ary A rm e d F or c e s ( “ F A R C ” ) w e r e r e s pons i bl e f orm os tof

the c i vi l i a n de a ths a ttr i but abl e t o i nt e rna l a rm e d c onf l i c t . T he E L N a nnounc e d i tw oul d w or k w i th the F A R C an d co n t i n u ed i t s p o l i cy o f th reat en i n g an d k i l l i n g u rb an o ffi ci al s, jo u rn a lis ts , lab o ru n io n m e m b e r s , r e lig io u s le a d e r s , a n d m e m b e r s o f th e p o lic e . T h e E L N k id n ap e d c iv ilia n s to h e lp f in a n c e s u b v e r s io n a n d to r tu r e d its v ic tim s . T he E L N had a st andi ng po l i cyof ki dn api ng i nd i vi du al s f or po l i t i ca l re as on s a s w e l l , a nd i tus e d hos t a ge s t o de m a nd pol i t i c a l c onc e s s i ons . I ta l s o c a us e d m a s s i ve6

d i sp l acem en t s an d en g ag ed i n ran d o m t erro ri stb o m b i n g s. T h e reco rd al so i nc l ude d the C ountry R e por t s f or2000 a nd 2002, w hi c h w e r e s i m i l a rt o the 2003 C ou ntryR eport , and the 19 97 C ol om bi a P rofi l e of A sy l um C l ai m s a nd C ou ntry C ondi t i ons , w hi c h s t a t e d tha tthe m a j or i ty of c l a i m s f r om C ol om bi aa r e ba s e d on p o litic a l o p in io n , a n d m o s t o f th e c la im s a lle g e m is tr e a tm e n t b y th e g u e r illa g r o u p s . T w o C ol om bi an po l i ce re po rt s w er e pl ac ed i n the re cord. T he fi rs tpo l i ce r e p o r tw a s d a t e d 1 5 D e c e mb e r2 0 0 0 . A c c o r d i n g t o th e r e p o r t , U rr e a r e tu rn e d h o me on 13 D ec em ber 200 0, at12 : 30 A . M . , and P aol a a nd P at i no re po rt ed t o h i m that the E L N thr e a t e ne d the m a nd a s ke d f orhi m . T he E L N t ol d the m t o l e a ve the c ountry w i thi n e i ghtda y s . U rr e a be l i e ve d tha tthe E L N thr e a t e ne d hi m be c a us e of hi s i nv ol vem enti n the fi re fi gh t . F urther, the re po rtno t ed thathe had b ee n t aken ho st age by the E L N a f

ew days af

t erthe fi re fi gh tand w as abl e t o esc ape a nd al ert the arm y a s t o the gu er i l l as ’ and thei r c apt i ves’ w here abou t s. T he se cond po l i ce re po rtw as dat ed 22 D ec em ber 200 0 and no t ed thatU rr eahad p re vi ou sl y m ade a r e p o r ta g a i n s tth e E L N. T h e r e c o r d c o n ta in e d o th e rd o c u m e n ts , in c lu d in g : ( 1 ) a n a m e n d m e n t to U rr ea ’ s app l i ca t i on no t i ng thathe had served i n the C ol om bi an arm y f rom M ar ch 19 91 t o M ar ch 19 92 , and then w orked for the arm y a s atruck dri ver; (2) al ett er7

fro m L i eu t en an tC o l o n el A rn u l fo T ru j i l l o O rt i z st at i n g th atU rrea w as a m o t o ri st w i th the T hi rd B ri gade; (3) al ett erfr om U ni vers i ty H ospi t al st at i ng thatU rr ea ar riv ed w ith tw o so ld iers w o u n d ed in co m b at o n 2 0 N o v em b er2 0 0 0 ; (4 ) U rr ea ’s m i l i t ary I D ; (5) are po rtfr om D on na E i se nb er g, a docum entexpert , w ho no t ed that U rr ea ’ s m i l i t ary I D w as prob abl y authent i c butthatthe l ett erfr om the m i l i t ary w as f abr i c a t e d a nd tha tthe l e tt e rf r om the hos pi t a l w a s pr obabl y nota uthe nt i c ; a nd ( 6) another r eportfr om E i se nb er g i n w hi ch she s t at ed thatthe authent i ci ty of the po l i ce r e p o r ts w a s s u s p e c t. A tP e t i t i one r s ’ r e m ova l he a r i ng, the y c onc e de d r e m ovabi l i ty f ors e e ki ng a dm i s s i on t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s w i thoutdoc um e nt a t i on butdi d nota dm i tt o the f r a u d a lle g a tio n . T h e I J d is m is s e d th e f r a u dc h a r g e s a g a in s t th e c h ild r e n . A tthe a s y l um he a r i ng, D onna E i s e nbe r g t e s t i f i e d a s a n e xpe r tc onc e rni ng th e a u th e n tic ity o f

d o c u m e n ts th a t U rr e a s u b m itte d . U rr e a s tip u la te d to E i s e nbe r g’ s qua l i f

i c a t i ons a s a n e xpe r t . E i s e nbe r g t e s t i f i e d tha tthe gove rnm e nt a s ke d he rt o a uthe nt i c a t e f i ve doc um e nt s . S he c oul d notde f i ni t i ve l y r e f

ut e the pol i c e r e por tbutf

ound tha ti tw a s pr obabl y nota uthe nt i c . P ol i c e r e por t s i n the fore nsi c docum entl i brary a re typi ca l l y dra ft ed on paper w i th a prepri nt ed l ett erhead. T he l ett erhead i s pri nt ed usi ng offs etl i tho graphi c pri nt i ng . H ow ever , the l ett erhead on U rr ea ’ s pol i ce re po rtw as ph ot ocop i ed and con t ai ned m arks that8

s ugge s t e d i tha d be e n r e pr oduc e d s e ve r a l t i m e s . S he ha d ne ve rs e e n a ge nui ne pol i c e r e por tc r e a t e d i n the s a m e m a nne ra s U rr e a ’ s r e por t . S he a l s o s t a t e d tha tthe se cond po l i ce re po rtw as al so prob abl y notauthent i c a s i t s l ett erhead had b ee n c r e a te d w ith a ty p e w r ite r , n o t o f f s e t lith o g r ap h ic p r in tin g . E i se nb er g t es t i fi ed thatU rr ea ’ s l ett erfr om the C ol om bi an m i l i t ary w as fabri ca t ed. Itdi d n otcont ai n a prepri nt ed l ett erhead bu thad b ee n p ri nt ed co m p l et el y fro m an i n k

j etp ri n t er. F u rth er, th e w etseal an d si g n atu re h ad al so b e e n p r in te d b y th e in k

je t p r in te r . O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, E i s e nbe r g t e s t i f i e d tha ts he ha d r e vi e w e d l e tt e r s f r om th e C o lo m b ia n m ilita ry b u t n o t th e T h ir dB r ig a d e . S h e s ta te d th a t it w a s p o s s ib le th e m i l i t ary co u l d h av e u p d at ed th e l ett erh ead s, b u ti tw as i l l o g i cal t o u se phot oc opi e d s i gna tur e s a nd s e a l s be c a us e thos e pa r t s of the l e tt e rw e r e us e d f

or a uthe nt i c a t i on. S he the n t e s t i f i e d tha ts he w a s s us pi c i ous of the l e tt e rf

r om the hos pi t a l be c a us e the l e tt e rhe a d ha d be e n pr e pr i nt e d w i th a phot oc opi e r , butthe body ha d be e n a dde d w i th a ty pe w r i t e r . S he a dm i tt e d tha ts he c oul d notr e f ut e or authent i ca t e s ea l s bec ause no ne w er e on fi l e. S he adm i tt ed thatU rr ea ’ s m i l i t ary I D w a s pr obabl y a uthe nt i c . O n e xa m i na t i on by the I J , E i s e nbe r g t e s t i f i e d tha ti f

the s i gna tur e a nd s e a l a r e pr e pr i nt e d, i ti s pos s i bl e t o l i f tthe m f r om one doc um e nta nd u s e th e m o n a n o th e r .9

U rr e a te s tif

ie d th a t h e w a s a m o to r is t f o rth e M ilita ry F o r c e s o f C o lo m b ia fr om 19 92 un t i l 20 00 . H e app l i ed for the m ot ori stpo si t i on af t erhe fi ni shed a y ea r of m i l i t a ry s e rvi c e . H e l i ve d a tthe ba s e , dr ove a truc k w i th m i l i t a ry m a rki ngs , a nd tra nspo rt ed sol di er s. A thi s r equest , hi s m other obt ai ned a l ett erfr om the m i l i t ary a tt e s t i ng t o hi s s e rvi c e , w hi c h s he s e ntt o hi m . H e t e s t i f i e d tha thi s m othe rdi d not h a v e a c o m p u te r . U rr eaadm i tt ed thathe di d n otbel on g t o a po l i t i ca l party, and h e had vi si t ed the U ni t ed S t at es three t i m es pri or t o h i s pre se ntvi si t . H e c am e t o the U ni t ed S t a t e s w i th hi s f

a m i l y be c a us e he w a s thr e a t e ne d by the E L N a f t e rhe i nf or m e d on the grou p. H e r epea t ed the det ai l s of hi s e ncou nt er s w i th the E L N on 20 N ov em ber a n d 1 0 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 b u t a d d e d n e w in f o rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g a g u e r illac a m p in the j un gl e duri ng hi s 10 D ec em ber 200 0 esc ape. W ith r e g a r d to th e in c id e n t o n 1 3 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 , U rr e a s ta te d th a t P a o la and P at i no t ol d h i m thatE L N m em bers ca m e t o thei r hom e a nd threa t ened them w hi l e he w a s a tw ork. T he m e n w a nt e d t o putU rr e a on tr i a l . T he m e n c a m e t o the ho m e a t8: 30 P . M . , and U rr eaca m e hom e a n h ou r l at er . U rr eat es t i fi ed thatthey re po rt ed the threa t s t o the po l i ce and h i s s up ervi sors atthe batt al i on , bu tnei ther s a id th a t th e y c o u ld d o a n y th in g . U rr e a te s tif ie d th a t th e y le f

t a n d w e n t to liv e w ith h is p a r e n ts , b u t h e c o n tin u e d w o rk in g u n til 2 5 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 .10

U rr e a a d mi tt e d th a th e w a i t e d tw o d a y s t o r e p o r tth e ELN th r e a t s a th i s h o me o n 1 3 De c e m b e r2 0 0 0 . He a l s o d i d n o ta tt e m p tt o r e l o c a t e o u t s i d e o f C a l i . He r e q u e s te d a tr a n s f

e rf r o m h is p o s itio n , b u t th e m ilita ry d id n o t a c c o m m o d a te h im . Ur r e a t e s t i f

i e d th a th e me n t i o n e d th e 1 0 De c e mb e r2 0 0 0 ab d u c t i o n a n d th e EL N pam ph l et s duri ng hi s 23 January 20 01 i nt ervi ew . H e i nsi st ed thatthe po l i ce erre d i n d r a f t i n g th e r e p o r tth a ti n d i c a t e d th a th e d i d n o tr e tu rn h o m e u n t i l 1 2 : 3 0 A . M. A d d in g n e w d e ta ils , U rr e a te s tif ie d th a t o n 1 0 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 , th ir ty gue r i l l a s t ook hi m on a 45 t o 50 m i nut e hi ke t o a n i s ol a t e d c a m p i n the j ungl e , but none f i r e d on hi m w he n he f

l e d. U rr e a s t a t e d tha tw he n he c a l l e d the ba tt a l i on a f t e rh i s ab d u c t i o n , h e t o l d th e m th a th e h a d b e e n t a k e n t o k i l o m e t e r1 8 . He te s tif ie d th a t h e w a s ab d u c te d a t 1 :0 0 P .M . H e d r o p p e d o f f th e tru c k in th e ju n g le at3: 00 P . M . and arr i ved atthe gu er i l l as ’ ca m p atar ou nd 4: 00 P . M . H e e sc aped h a lf a n h o u rla te ra n d w a s ab le to g e t to th e s to r e to c a ll h is b a tta lio n b y 6 :0 0 P .M . P at i no t es t i fi ed thatshe l i ved w i th h erdaug ht eri n the U ni t ed S t at es and h as a s on i n C ol om bi a . S he c a m e t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s w i th he rda ught e rbe c a us e the E L N threa t ened her because s he l i ved w i th P aol a a nd U rr ea . O n 1 3 D ec em ber 20 00 , m en kn ocked l ou dl y on h erdo or and sai d U rr eaw as a “ st oo l pi geon . ” A R at 203. P a t i no a nd P a ol a di d nota ns w e rthe doorbuti ns t e a d s t a y e d i n the l i vi ng11

room . P at i no kn ew thatthey w er e gueri l l as because they w er e a gg re ss i ve and w ore E L N a rm b a n d s . S h e te s tif ie d th a t U rr e a c a m e h o m e a t 9 :3 0 P .M . a f te rth e in c id e n t. O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, P a t i no s t a t e d tha ts om e of the E L N m e m be r s w ho th r e a te n e d h e rh a d c o m e in to th e h o u s e . S h e a ls o s ta te d th a t th e f a m ily r e m a in e d in the hom e f

ora m onth a nd t e n da y s , a nd the E L N s l i ppe d pa m phl e t s unde rthe door d u r in g th a t tim e . O n q u e s tio n in g b y th e I J , P a tin o s ta te d th a t th e f a m ily w a s o n its w a y to S p a in w h e n it d e c id e d to g e t o f f th e p la n e in th e U n ite d S ta te s . T h e I J d e n ie d P e titio n e r s ’ ap p lic a tio n s f o ra s y lu m , w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l, a n d C A T r e lie f

. T h e I J s u s ta in e d th e f

r a u d c h a r g e a s to U rr e a , P a o la , a n d P a tin o . T h e I J c ite d to n u m e r o u s in c o n s is te n c ie s in th e r e c o r d , in c lu d in g : ( 1 ) th a t U rr e a d id notm e nt i on hi s abduc t i on on 10 D e c e m be r2000 dur i ng hi s 23 J a nua ry 2001 i nt ervi ew ; (2) thatU rr eadi d n otm ent i on re ce i vi ng pam ph l et s duri ng that i nt e rvi e w ; ( 3) tha tthe pol i c e r e por tf i l e d on 15 D e c e m be r2000 di d notm e nt i on pa m phl e t s ; ( 4) tha tthe a s y l um appl i c a t i on a nd pol i c e r e por tdo notm e nt i on U rr e a ’s 4 5 - to - 5 0 m in u te h ik e th r o u g h th e ju n g le w ith h is ab d u c to r s to th e g u e r illa c a m p ; ( 5 ) th a tth e p o l i c e r e p o r ti n d i c a t e dth a tU rr e a a rr i v e d h o m e a t1 2 : 3 0 A . M. a f t e rthe E L N thr e a t e ne d hi s f a m i l y , not9: 30 P . M . , a s he t e s t i f i e d; ( 6) tha tthe hos pi t a l r e por ti ndi c a t e d tha the tr a ns por t e d tw o s ol di e r s , notf our , a s he t e s t i f

i e d; an d (7 ) th atU rrea clai m ed th atth e fam i l y st ayed i n th ei r h o m e fo r o n l y th ree d ays12

a f te rth e 1 3 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 0 , in c id e n t, w h ile P a tin o s ta te d th e y s ta y e d f o ra m o n th and a hal f. T he I J c onc l ude d tha tU rr e a ’ s t e s t i m ony w a s notc r e di bl e . T he I J f ound in c o n s is te n c ie s b e tw e e n th e te s tim o n y , ap p lic a tio n , a n d c o rr o b o r a tin g d o c u m e n ts . A dd i t i on al l y, the IJfoun d U rr ea ’ s m i l i t ary I D val i d b utconcl ud ed thathi s l ett er s f r o m th e m ilita ry a n d h o s p ita l w e r e f r a u d u le n t. T h e I J o p in e d th a t U rr e a s h o u ld ha ve s ubm i tt e d othe rdoc um e nt s w i th m or e c orr obor a t i ve va l ue . T he I J a l s o f ound it im p la u s ib le th a t U rr e a c o u ld b e le d th r o u g h a n u n f a m ilia rju n g le w ith o u t ap a th f o r4 5 to 5 0 m in u te s , th e n e s c ap e a n d f in d a p h o n e a n h o u rla te r , a n d a le r t h is ba tt a l i on t o the gue r i l l a s ’ l oc a t i on. T he I J f ound tha tU rr e a di d note s t abl i s h a nexu s betw ee n the threa t s a nd a prot ec t ed grou nd as he w as no tpo l i t i ca l l y a ct i ve, bu tw as threa t ened because he w as a w i tness re po rt i ng cr i m i nal ac t i vi ty. F urther, th e I J f o u n d th a t th e c o n d u c t d id n o t c o n s titu te p e r s e c u tio n , th a t U rr e a a n d h is fam i l y fai l ed t o try t o rel o cat e w i th i n C o l o m b i a, an d th atU rrea d i d n o test ab l i sh th a t th e th r e a t w a s c o u n try - w id e . P et i t i on er s f

i l ed a not i ce of appeal w i th the B IA . In a s epar at el y f i l ed bri ef , U rr e a a r gue d tha tthe E L N i m put e d the m i l i t a ry ’ s opi ni on t o hi m . H e s t a t e d tha the ha d a w e l l - f

ounde d f e a rof pe r s e c ut i on be c a us e the E L N ha s the c apabi l i ty a nd i ncl i nat i on t o p un i sh hi m for hi s a ct i on s a gai nstthem . H e a l so as se rt ed thatthe IJPetitioners did not raise any arguments concerningthe denial of their claims for withholding 3 of remo v al un d er th e I

NA o r CA T re li e f

. A c c o rding ly, th e s e is s u e s h av e b e en a b an d o n ed. See Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y

Gen., 401 F .3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam).

13 erre d i n rel yi ng on the forens i c e xam i ner’ s opi ni on concerni ng hi s docum ent ary e vi de nc e . T he B I A a f

f i rm e d the I J ’ s de c i s i on w i thoutopi ni on.

I I . DI S CUS S I ON T here ar e three m ai n i ss ues on app ea l : (1) w hether s ub st ant i al evi dence 3 s uppor t s the I J ’ s c onc l us i on tha tP e t i t i one r s ’ c orr obor a t i ve doc um e nt s w e r e not r e liab le ; ( 2 ) w h e th e rs u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e s u p p o r ts th e I J ’s a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d eter m in atio n ; (3 ) w h eth ersu b stan ti al ev id en ce su p p o rts th e I J a n d B IA ’s concl usi on thatP et i t i on er s f ai l ed t o est abl i sh a nexus betw ee n thei r a l l eged p ersecu t i o n an d an en u m erat ed g ro u n d t o su p p o rta cl ai m fo r asyl u m an d , rel at ed l y, thatP et i t i on er s f

ai l ed t o est abl i sh a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof pers ec ut i on . A ft er c onf i rm i ng ours t a nda r d of

r e vi e w , w e a ddr e s s the s e i s s ue s i n turn. A . S t andard of R evi ew W he n the B I A i s s ue s a de c i s i on, w e r e vi e w onl y tha tde c i s i on, “ e xc e ptt o the e x te n t th a t [ th e B I A ] e x p r e s s ly a d o p ts th e I J ’s d e c is io n .” A l N a jja rv . A s h c r o f

t, 25 7 F . 3d 12 62 , 12 84 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). H er e, because the B IA expres sl y a do pt ed 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. T o the e xt e nttha tthe I J ’ s de c i s i on w a s ba s e d on a l e ga l de t e rm i na t i on, ourr e vi e w i s de novo. M oha m m e d v.14

A shcr oft , 26 1 F . 3d 12 44 , 12 47 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). F ac tual det erm i nat i on s a re r e vi e w e d unde rthe s ubs t a nt i a l - e vi de nc e t e s t , a nd w e “ m us ta f f i rm the . . . de c i s i on i f i ti s ‘ 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. ’ ” A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 83 -84. T he subst ant i al evi dence t es ti s “ defe re nt i al ” a nd do es no tal l ow “ re -w ei gh [i ng ] the evi dence fr om sc ra t ch. ” M a z a r i e gos v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 241 F . 3d 1320, 1323 ( 11th C i r . 2001) ( quot a t i ons o m itte d ) . “T o r e v e r s e th e I J ’s f a c t f in d in g s , w e m u s t f

in d th a t th e r e c o r d n o t o n ly s uppor t s r e ve r s a l , butc om pe l s i t . ” M e ndoz a v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 327 F . 3d 1283, 12 87 (11th C i r. 20 03 ) ( consi deri ng w i thh ol di ng -of- re m ov al cl ai m ). T he fa ctthat e vi de nc e i n the r e c or d m a y a l s o s uppor ta c onc l us i on c ontr a ry t o the a dm i ni s tr a t i ve f i ndi ngs i s note nough t o j us t i f y a r e ve r s a l . A de f

e m i v. A s hc r of

t , 386 F . 3d 1022, 1027 ( 11th C i r . 2004) ( e n ba nc ) , c e r t . de ni e d, 544 U . S . 1035, 125 S . C t . 2245 ( 2 0 0 5 ) . B . R e liab ility o f

D o c u m e n ts P e titio n e r s a r g u e th a t th e te s tim o n y o f th e g o v e rn m e n t’s d o c u m e n t e x p e r t, D on na E i se nb er g, w as no tsuff i ci entfor the IJt o fi nd thatsom e docum ent s that the y s ubm i tt e d i n s uppor tof the i rc l a i m w e r e unr e l i abl e . I n P a s ha v. G onz a l e s , the S eventh C i rc ui thel d thatan IJshou l d n othave acc ept ed the t es t i m on y of a doc um e nte xpe r tw ho e xa m i ne d a n A l ba ni a n doc um e ntw he n the e xpe r tdi d not15

spea k A l bani an, di d n othave acc es s t o com parabl e docum ent s, and w as

“ c onf e s s e dl y i gnor a nt ” of

the A l ba ni a n gove rnm e nt ’ s r e s our c e s . 433 F . 3d 530, 5 3 2 , 5 3 5 ( 7 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . T h e S e v e n th C ir c u it h e ld th a t th e “s p ir it” o f th e ru le c o n c e rn in g th e a d m is s io n o f s c ie n tif ic e v id e n c e a n n o u n c e d in D a u b e r t v . M e rr e ll D o w P h a rm a c e u tic a ls , I n c ., 5 0 9 U .S . 5 7 9 , 1 1 3 S . C t. 2 7 8 6 ( 1 9 9 3 ) , ap p lie d to i m m i grat i on proceedi ng s. P as ha, 43 3 F . 3d at53 5. N o o ther c i rc ui thas c on si dere d D au b ert ’ s effect on i m m i g rat i o n cases. W e nee d n otdeci de w hether t o ado ptthe ra t i on al e i n P as ha because U rr ea s t i pul a t e d tha tE i s e nbe r g w a s qua l i f i e d t o t e s t i f

y a s a n e xpe r t . M or e ove r , though E is e n b e r g a d m itte d th a t s h e d id n o t h a v e d o c u m e n ts f r o m U rr e a ’s s p e c if

ic batt al i on , she w as fa m i l i arw i th d ocum ent s f rom the C ol om bi an m i l i t ary a nd had e x e m p la r s f

r o m th e m ilita ry to w h ic h to c o m p a r e U rr e a ’s d o c u m e n ts . F u rth er, E i sen b erg d i d n o tb ase h er co n cl u si o n o n asp ect s o f th e S p an i sh l a ngua ge , buti ns t e a d on the m a nne ri n w hi c h the doc um e nt s w e r e pr oduc e d. S he te s tif ie d th a t le tte rh e a d s w e r e ty p ic a lly p r e p r in te d u s in g a n o f f s e t lith o g r ap h ic pr oc e s s , butU rr e a ’ s doc um e nt s ha d phot oc opi e d orty pe w r i tt e n l e tt e rhe a ds . F or exam pl e, i n o ne ca se , the l ett erhead appeare d t o h ave been re prod uced se vera l t i m es . In addi t i on , she opi ned thatthe se al and si gn ature on the m i l i t ary l ett erhad be e n c opi e d a s w e l l , a nd tha ti tw a s i l l ogi c a l tha ts uc h s e c ur i ty f e a tur e s w oul d be16

p h o to co p ied . T h u s, su b stan ti al ev id en ce su p p o rts th e I J’s c o n clu sio n th at U rr ea ’s corr ob orat i ng do cum ent s w er e unrel i abl e, and U rr eahas putforth n o evi dence that c o m p e ls r e v e r s a l. C . A dve r s e C r e di bi l i ty D e t e rm i na t i on A n a l i e n’ s t e s t i m ony , i f c r e di bl e , m a y be s uf

f i c i e ntt o s us t a i n the bur de n of pr oof f ora s y l um orw i thhol di ng of r e m ova l w i thoutc orr obor a t i on. 8 C . F . R . §§ 20 8. 13 (a ), 20 8. 16 (b). “ C on vers el y, an advers e c re di bi l i ty det erm i nat i on al on e m ay b e s u ff icien t t o su p p o rt th e d en ial o f a n as ylu m ap p li ca ti o n .” F o rg u e v . U .S . A tt ’y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1282, 1287 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . “ [ T ] he I J m us tof f e rs pe c i f i c , c oge nt re as o n s f o r th e a d v er se cr ed ib il ity f in d in g s.” I d . “ T h e w ea k erth e a p p li ca n t’ s t e s t i m ony , how e ve r , the gr e a t e rthe ne e d f orc orr obor a t i ve e vi de nc e . ” Y a ng v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 41 8 F . 3d 11 98 , 12 01 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). W e m ayno tre vers e a n IJ ’ s det erm i nat i on thatcorr ob orat i ve evi dence w as avai l abl e unl es s w e f i nd w e a re co m p elled to d o so . 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 5 2 (b )( 4 ). W h en an IJ en u m er ates an ap p li ca n t’ s i nc ons i s t e nc i e s , a s s uppor t e d by the r e c or d, w e “ w i l l nots ubs t i tut e ourj udgm e nt fo r th at o f th e I J w ith re sp ec t t o it s c re d ib il ity f in d in g s.” D -M u h u m ed v . U .S . A tt ’y G e n ., 3 8 8 F .3 d 8 1 4 , 8 1 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) . F u r th e r , a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d eter m in atio n d o es n o t all ev iate th e I J’s d u ty to co n sid erall o f a n ap p li ca n t’ s e v id e n c e . F o r g u e , 4 0 1 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 .17

W e c o n c lu d e th a t 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 J ’s a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f in d in g . A s a n in itia l m a tte r , th e I J f o u n d U rr e a ’s te s tim o n y in c o n s is te n t a s to w hether he had been abdu ct ed. T he fi nd i ng i s s up po rt ed by subst ant i al evi dence b e c a u s e U rr e a ’s te s tim o n y c o n c e rn in g th e ab d u c tio n c h a n g e d in s ig n if ic a n t d e ta il e a c h t i m e he t ol d the s t ory . T he I J a l s o f ound U rr e a ’ s t e s t i m ony i nc ons i s t e nt r e ga r di ng w he the rhe r e c e i ve d pa m phl e t s a f t e rthe E L N ’ s 13 D e c e m be r2000 threa t . U rr east at ed thathe re ce i ved p am ph l et s f rom the E L N af

t erthe threa t d u r in g h is c r e d ib le f

e a rin te rv ie w , b u t h e d id n o t m e n tio n th e p a m p h le ts in h is ap p lic a tio n , o rd u r in g h is d ir e c t te s tim o n y a t th e a s y lu m h e a r in g . P a tin o a ls o d id n o t m e n tio n th e p a m p h le ts u n til s h e w a s c r o s s - e x a m in e d . T he I J a l s o f

ound the e vi de nc e c onc e rni ng the s hoot i ng t o be i nc ons i s t e nt because U rr ea ’ s s t at em ent s a nd t es t i m on y c on tra di ct ed do cum ent ary e vi dence that he subm i tt ed concerni ng ho w m any s ol di er s he drove t o the ho spi t al af t erthe st art of the f i r e f i ght . T he i nc ons i s t e nc i e s c onc e rn U rr e a ’ s c ont a c ta nd m i s tr e a tm e ntby the E L N on a c c ountof

hi s pol i t i c a l opi ni on, s o the y a r e s pe c i f i c a nd c oge ntr e a s ons fo r th e ad v erse cred i b i l i ty fi n d i n g . H o w ev er, as th e IJ d i d n o tco n si d er th e ad v erse c r e d ib ility d e c is io n to b e d is p o s itiv e , th e a n a ly s is c o n tin u e s . D . E l i gi bi l i ty f

orA s y l um18

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 appl y f or as yl um . 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 8(a) (1). T he A tt orney G ener al or the S ec re t ary of D H S has di sc re t i on t o g ra ntas yl um i f the al i en m ee t s the IN A ’ s def i ni t i on of a “ re fugee. ” Id . § 1 1 5 8 (b )(1 ). A “ refu g ee” i s d efi n ed i n th e IN A as a n y p e r s o n w h o is o u ts id e a n y c o u n try o f s u c h p e r s o n ’s n a tio n a lity . . . a nd w ho i s unabl e orunw i l l i ng t o r e turn t o, a nd i s unabl e orunw i l l i ng t o a va i l hi m s e l f

orhe r s e l f

of the pr ot e c t i on of

, tha tc ountry be c a us e of pers ec ut i on or a w el l -f

ou nd ed fe arof pers ec ut i on on ac coun tof ra ce , r e l i gi on, na t i ona l i ty , m e m be r s hi p i n a pa r t i c ul a rs oc i a l gr oup, or pol i t i c a l opi ni on. Id. § 1 10 1(a) (42)(A ). T he as yl um appl i ca ntca rr i es the bu rden of prov i ng st atut ory “r e f u g e e ” s ta tu s . A l N a

jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 4 . T o e s tab lis h a s y lu m e lig ib ility , th e a lie n m u s t, w ith s p e c if ic a n d c r e d ib le e vi de nc e , e s t abl i s h ( 1) pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof a s t a tut or i l y l i s t e d f

a c t or , or (2) a“ w el l -f

ou nd ed fe ar ” thatthe st atut ori l y l i st ed fa ct or w i l l cause s uch future pers ec ut i on . 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 13 (a ), ( b ) ; s e e A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 da t 1 2 8 7 .

“ D em on stra t i ng such a c on nect i on re qu i re s the al i en t o p re se ntspec i fi c, det ai l ed f a c t s s how i ng a good r e a s on t o f e a rtha the ors he w i l l be s i ngl e d outf or pe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof [ a s t a tut ory f

a c t or ] . ” A l N a

jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1287 ( quot a t i ons om i tt e d) . I ti s note nough f ora n a s y l um appl i c a ntt o s how tha the or hi s a l l eged perse cut ors have apo l i t i ca l op i ni on ; he m ustshow thathe w as19

pe r s e c ut e d “ on a c c ountof ” tha topi ni on. S e e I N S v. E l i a s - Z a c a r i a s , 502 U . S . 478, 4 8 2 , 1 1 2 S . C t. 8 1 2 , 8 1 6 ( 1 9 9 2 ) . W hi l e the IN A do es no tdefi ne pers ec ut i on , w e have hel d thati ti s “ an e xtr e m e c onc e pt , r e qui r i ng m or e tha n a f e w i s ol a t e d i nc i de nt s of ve rba l ha r a s s m e nt ori nt i m i da t i on, a nd tha tm e r e ha r a s s m e ntdoe s nota m ountt o pe r s e c ut i on. ” Z he ng v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 451 F . 3d 1287, 1290 ( 11th C i r . 2006) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( quot a t i ons om i tt e d) . W e ha ve he l d tha t : ( 1) r e c e i vi ng a “ c ondol e nc e not e , ” e xpr e s s i ng s y m pa thy f

orthe pe t i t i one r ’ s de a th, e ve n i f l i nke d t o a pr ot e c t e d gr ound, c o n s titu te d h a r a s s m e n t, a n d n o t p e r s e c u tio n ; a n d ( 2 ) r e c e iv in g a n o n y m o u s th r e a ts o v e rth e t e l e p h o n e , w i th o u tmo r e , a l s o d i d n o tq u a l i f y a s p e r s e c u t i o n . Si l v a v . U . S. A tt’y G e n ., 4 4 8 F .3 d 1 2 2 9 , 1 2 3 7 - 3 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 6 ) . H o w e v e r , w e d e c lin e d to deci de w hether a n i nci dentdu ri ng w hi ch the pet i t i on er ’ s c arw as shotatconst i tut ed p ersecu t i o n b ecau se th e reco rd d i d n o tco m p el th e co n cl u si o n th atth ere w as a n e x u s b e tw e e n th e s h o o tin g a n d th e p r o te c te d g r o u n d . I d . a t 1 2 3 8 - 3 9 . W e concl ud ed that“ on l y i n a ra re ca se do es the re cord com pel the concl usi on thatan ap p lic a n t f

o ra s y lu m s u f

f e r e d p a s t p e r s e c u tio n .” I d . a t 1 2 3 9 . I f the a l i e n e s t abl i s he s pa s tpe r s e c ut i on, i ti s pr e s um e d tha thi s l i f e or f r e e dom w oul d be thr e a t e ne d upon a r e turn t o tha tc ountry unl e s s the gove rnm e nt s how s by a pr e ponde r a nc e tha tthe c ountry ’ s c ondi t i ons ha ve c ha nge d s uc h tha tthe20

appl i ca nt ’ s l i fe or fr ee do m w ou l d n o l on ger be threa t ened up on hi s r em ov al or that the al i en coul d rel ocat e w i thi n the coun tryand i tw ou l d b e r ea sonabl e t o exp ec t h i m t o d o so . 8 C . F . R . § 2 0 8 . 1 3 (b )(1 ). A n al i en w h o h as n o tsh o w n p ast pers ec ut i on m ayst i l l be ent i t l ed t o asy l um or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al i f he c an dem on stra t e afuture threa ti n h i s c ou ntryt o h i s l i fe or fr ee do m on a prot ec t ed g ro u n d . Id . § 2 0 8 . 1 3 (b )(2 ). T o est ab l i sh a w el l -fo u n d ed fear, “ an ap p l i can tm u st de m ons tr a t e tha thi s orhe rf e a rof pe r s e c ut i on i s s ubj e c t i ve l y ge nui ne a nd obj ec t i vel y r ea sonabl e. ” A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 89 . A n i m pu t ed po l i t i ca l op i ni on m aysupp orta w el l -f ou nd ed fe arcl ai m . Id. H ow ever , i f the IJfi nd s that the a l i e n c oul d a voi d a f utur e thr e a tby r e l oc a t i ng t o a nothe rpa r tof hi s c ountry a nd i tw ou l d b e r ea sonabl e t o requi re the al i en t o d o so, he ca nn otdem on stra t e a w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a ro f p e r s e c u tio n . S e e 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 3 ( b ) ( 1 ) - ( 2 ) . S ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the I J ’ s de c i s i on tha tU rr e a a nd P a t i no di d not s uf f e rpa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof a pr ot e c t e d gr ound. A s s uc h, the de r i va t i ve c l a i m s of U rr e a ’ s f

a m i l y a l s o f

a i l . S ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the I J ’ s f i ndi ngs thatU rr ea ’ s t es t i m on y w as no tcr edi bl e a nd thatthe l ett erfr om the C ol om bi an a rm y , th e le tte rf

r o m th e h o s p ita l, a n d th e p o lic e r e p o r t c o n c e rn in g th e E L N th r e a ts a t h is h o m e w e r e n o t r e liab le . T h u s , U rr e a h a s n o t in tr o d u c e d a n y c r e d ib le evi dence s ho w i ng thathe w as i nv ol ved i n a shoo t i ng w i th the E L N , w as l at er21

abduc t e d by the E L N , orw a s the n thr e a t e ne d bythe E L N . A c c or di ngl y , U rr e a a nd P at i no have no tshow n thatevi dence exi st s thatw ou l d com pel a f i nd i ng thatthey ha d be e n pe r s e c ut e d on a c c ountof a pr ot e c t e d gr ound. A s the y ha ve not es t abl i shed pastpers ec ut i on , they a re no tent i t l ed t o a pres um pt i on of a w 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 . A s s ta te d ab o v e , th e e v id e n c e is i ns uf f i c i e ntt o c om pe l a f

i ndi ng tha tU rr e a w a s abduc t e d a nd thr e a t e ne d on a c c ount of hi s pol i t i c a l opi ni on. T hus , tha te vi de nc e doe s notc om pe l a c onc l us i on tha the ha s a w e l l - f

ounde d f e a rof pe r s e c ut i on i n C ol om bi a . A c c or di ngl y , P e t i t i one r s ha ve no tes t abl i shed a r ea sonabl e probabi l i ty of f uture pers ec ut i on on ac coun tof a p r o te c te d g r o u n d a n d th u s a w 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 . I I I . CONCL US I ON W e 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 c onc l us i ons r e g a r d in g th e c o rr o b o r a tiv e d o c u m e n ts a n d th e a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d e te rm in a tio n . M o re o v er , w e c o n clu d e th at su b stan ti al ev id en ce su p p o rts th e I J a n d B IA ’s c o n c lu s io n th a t P e titio n e r s f a ile d to e s tab lis h th e ire lig ib ility f o ra s y lu m . P E T I T I ON DE NI E D.