2009 D e c i sion s O p inion s of the U nit e d S t at e s C our t of Appe al s for the Third C ir c uit 4-17-2009 

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w . vi ll anova . e du/thirdc irc uit_2009/1524NOT P RE CE DE NT I AL UN I TED STATES CO UR T OF A PP EALS F O R T H E T H IR D C IR C U IT N o. 07- 2264 AR M I NE S AR KI S I AN,

Pet i t i oner v. A TTO RN EY G EN ER A L O F TH E U N I TED STA TES, R es pondent O n Pet i t i on forR evi ew of an O r derof the B o a rd o f Im m ig ra tio n A p p e a ls B I A N o. A 78- 631- 532 ( U . S. I m m i gr at i on J udge: H onor abl e C aryH . C opel and) Subm i tt ed Pur s uantt o T hi r d C i r cui tL A R 34. 1( a)

J anuary30, 2009 B e f o re : S C IR IC A , C hi ef

Judge , A M B R O a n d S M IT H , C i r cui tJudges . ( Fi l ed: A pr i l 17, 2009) OPI NI ON O F THE COURT S C IR IC A , C hi ef

Judge . A r m i ne Sarki s i an, a nat i ve of A r m eni a, arr i ved i n the U ni t ed St at es on M ay21, 2 0 0 1 , w ith a p a ss p o rt in so m e o n e e lse ’s n a m e . S h e w a s d e tain e d a n d c h a rg e d w ith2

r emovabi l i tyfors eeki ng admi s s i on t o the U ni t ed St at es thr ough fr aud orw i l l ful m i s r epr es ent at i on, 8 U . S. C . § 1182( a) ( 6) ( C ) ( i ) , and fornothavi ng a val i d entrydocument a t th e tim e s h e s o u g h t a d m is s io n in to th e U n ite d S ta te s , 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 8 2 (a )( 7 )( A )( i) (I ). Sar ki s i an di d notcont es tthes e cha r ges , buts he s oughtas y l um and r eques t ed w i thhol di ng o f re m o v a l. S a rk isia n , w h o w a s b o rn in 1 9 8 0 , w a s o rp h a n e d a s a tee n a g e r w h e n h e r p a re n ts w ere k il led in a c ar a cc iden t. A fter the ird ea th, Sa rkisian lived w ith h er u n cle. I n February2001, s he w as abduct ed w hi l e on herw ayhom e fr om a fr i end’ s hous e. T hr ee strange m en h el d h er for fi ve h ou rs againsther w i l l . T heyt i ed h er up, t ore her cl othes, l eftherpart i al l yundr es s ed, and t ol d hers he w oul d be thei rs l ave a nd w oul d w or k for th e m a s a p r o s t i tu t e . T h e m e n k n e w p e r s o n a l d e t a i l s a b o u tS a r k i s i a n a n d h e rf a m i l y, in c lu d in g th a t s h e liv e d w ith h e r u n c le a n d th a t th e u n c le w a s p la n n in g to le a v e A rm e n ia . T he men di d notr ape he rbeca us e, acc or di ng t o Sar ki s i an, s he w as w or th m or e t o them as a v ir g in , a n d th e yle t h e r g o . A bouttw o m onths l at er , i n A pr i l 2001, the s ame m en abduc t ed Sarki s i an aga i n, a n d h e ld h e r f

o r a b o u t tw o a n d a h a lf

h o u rs. T h e m e n p u sh e d h e r a ro u n d , an d th e yto ld herthats he w oul d have t o cooper at e. B eca us e heruncl e w as pl anni ng t o l eave A r m eni a, she w ou l d b e al on e. S arki si an ag reed t o thei r dem and s, bu tcon vinced t he m en to r el ease h e r f o r th e tim e b e in g . S a rk isia n to ld h e r u n c le a b o u t b o th a b d u c tio n s, a sk in g h im to r eportthe i nci dent s t o the pol i ce. A l though the uncl e t ol d Sar ki s i an he r eport ed the3

i nci dent s , Sar ki s i an w as notaw ar e of a nyact i on the pol i ce t ook on herbehal f. She b e lie v e d th e p o lic e w o u ld n o t a c t u n le s s th e yw e re p a id o f f. Sar ki s i an al s o t ol d a fr i end abouteac h i nci dentaft eri thappene d. A ft erthe s econd i nci dent , the fr i end gave Sar ki s i an a pa s s por tand boughta t i cketforhert o fl yt o the U ni t ed St at es . Sar ki s i an w as arr es t ed upon entryand eve ntual l yr el eas ed i nt o the U ni t ed St at es , pendi ng a dec i s i on i n hercas e. W hi l e her e, s he has m arr i ed an A r m eni an man w ho i s a U . S. r es i dent . T heyhave ha d tw o chi l dr en, and Sarki s i an t es t i fi ed atherhear i ng thatherhus band pr obabl yw i l l go w i th hert o A r m eni a i f herappl i cat i on fai l s . Sar ki s i an al s o t es t i fi ed, how ever , thats he fe ar s r eturni ng t o A r m eni a. T he men w ho abduct ed her know w ho s he i s . T heyw i l l fi nd herand tr aff i c her , s he bel i eves , even i f s he r el ocat es w ith in A rm e n ia . I n addi t i on t o herow n t es t i m onyand otherevi dence pr es ent ed t o the I m m i gr at i on Ju d g e, S ark isi an ca ll ed M aria V eli k o n ja, a f o rm er F B I ag en t, to testi fyas a n ex p ert w i tnes s on hum an tr aff

i cki ng. V el i konj a has exper i ence tr ai ni ng for ei gn pol i ce f or ces on h u m a n tr a f

f ic k in g , a n d in 2 0 0 4 , s h e h a d tr a in e d A rm e n ia n p o lic e o n h u m a n tr a f f ic k in g . She found the A r m eni an pol i ce t o be the “l eas texper i ence d and l eas tknow l edgeabl e on [the] t opi c” of

anypol i ce gr oup s he had tr ai ned ( A R 163) , and s he s t at ed s he w oul d not a d v is e a y o u n g w o m a n in A rm e n ia to re p o rta tr a f f ic k in g in c id e n t to th e p o lic e . V el i konj a’ s t es t i m onys uppor t ed s ever al as pect s of Sarki s i an’ s s t ory , w hi ch s he found pl aus i bl e. V el i konj a expl ai ned, forexampl e, thaty oung chi l dr en, y oung w om en, andA l though the I J ’ s adver s e cr edi bi l i tydet erm i nat i on i s notr el evantt o thi s pet i t i on, the 1 IJ f o u n d S a rk isia n n o t cr e d ib le b a se d o n c h a n g e s in h e r sto rya n d a f a ilu re to su p p ly evi dence the I J bel i eved s he coul d have e as i l ypr ovi ded. 4 o rp h a n s a re p a rticu lar lyv u ln e ra b le to tra f f ick in g . M o re o v e r, v irg in s a re m o re v a lu a b le to tr aff i cker s , s he s ai d, w hi ch expl ai ns w hythe abduc t or s w oul d s exual l yas s aul tbutnot r ape Sarki s i an. V el i konj a di d nothave pe r s onal know l edge of m arr i ed w om en bei ng tr af fick ed in A rm en ia. S h e testi fied , h o w ev er, th at m arried w o m en in o ther c o u n tr ies are tr a f f ic k e d , a n d s h e k n e w o f

n o re a s o n w h yth e s itu a tio n in A rm e n ia w o u ld b e d if f e re n t. V el i konj a bel i eved Sarki s i an and pos s i bl yherchi l dr en w oul d be vul ner abl e t o tr aff i cki ng i f s entback t o A rm eni a. T he I m m i gr at i on J udge ( “I J ”) deni ed Sarki s i an’ s appl i cat i ons foras y l um and w i thhol di ng of r emoval . H e di d notbel i eve Sarki s i an, and he r ej ect ed herappl i cat i on 1 bas ed on the adve r s e cr edi bi l i tydet erm i nat i on. A ddi t i onal l y , as an al t ernat i ve bas i s for deny i ng the appl i cat i on, the I J r eac hed tw o otherconcl us i ons . Fi r s t , he dec i ded Sar ki s i an’ s pas tper s ecut i on w as noton acc ountof m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ars oci al gr oup. A ccor di ngl y , Sar ki s i an coul d notes t abl i s h pas tper s ecut i on on acc ountof anyof the pr ot ect ed gr ounds l i s t ed i n 8 U . S. C . § 1101( a) ( 42) ( A ) . Second, even i f Sarki s i an had e sta b lish e d p a st p e rse c u tio n o n a c c o u n t o f a p ro tec ted g ro u n d , a f u n d a m e n tal c h a n g e in circu m stan ce s— h er m arriage

— reb u tt ed the p resu m p ti o n o f a w ell -fo u n d ed fe ar o f f u ture p e rs e c u tio n b a s e d o n p a s t p e rs e c u tio n . See 8 C .F .R . § 1 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )( 1 )( i) (A ).5

T he B oar d of I m m i gr at i on A ppeal s ( “B I A ” or“B oar d”) adopt ed and a ffi r m ed the IJ’s op inion ex ce p t fo r th e a d v erse cre d ibil ityd eterm ination . Itac ce p ted S ark isi an ’s st o ry a s tru e , a n d it s u p p le m e n te d th e IJ ’s o th e r r e a s o n s f o r d e n y in g S a rk is ia n ’s a p p lic a tio n . E ven i f Sarki s i an had e s t abl i s hed thats he w as per s ecut ed on ac countof m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ars oci al gr oup, Sar ki s i an’ s m arr i age c ons t i tut ed a f undament al change i n her ci r cumst ance s under8 C . F. R . § 1208. 13( b) ( 1) ( i ) ( A ) . T hi s change , the B oar d r eas oned, w oul d el i m i nat e anyw el l - founded f earof per s ecut i on ar i s i ng fr om pas tper s ecut i on. T he B I A al s o concl uded the r ecor d di d notcont ai n s uffi ci entevi dence t o s how Sar ki s i an w oul d have a w el l - founded f earas a mem berof the di ffe r entpart i cul ars oci al gr oup cons i s t i ng of “y oung, A r m eni an w om en w ho w er e pr evi ous l yt ar get ed fortr aff i cki ng. ” (A R 3 .) I U n d e r 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 5 2 , w e h a v e ju ri s d ic tio n to re v ie w f in a l o rd e rs o f

re m o v a l. T h e f in a l o rd e r i s n o rm a lly th e o rd e r o f th e B IA . V

ociv. G onz al es , 409 F. 3d 607, 612 ( 3d C ir . 2 0 0 5 ); Mia h v . A sh c ro ft , 3 4 6 F . 3 d 4 3 4 , 4 3 9 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 3 ); A b du la i v. A sh c ro ft , 239 F. 3d 542, 548 ( 3d C i r . 2001) . H ow ever , w e depa r tfr om thi s gener al rul e and c ons i der both the B I A ’ s deci s i on and the I J ’ s deci s i on t o the ext entthe B I A expr es s l yadopt s or d e f e rs to th e IJ ’s d e c is io n . K i bi nda v. A t t ’ y G en. , 4 7 7 F . 3 d 1 1 3 , 1 1 8

– 1 9 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 7 ); C ham v. A t t ’

y G en. , 4 4 5 F . 3 d 6 8 3 , 6 9 0 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 6 ); G a o v . A sh c ro ft , 299 F. 3d 266, 271 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 2 ) ( ci t i ng A bdulai , 239 F. 3d at549 n. 2) . H er e, the B I A expr es s l yadopt ed andSar ki s i an s eeks t o s uppl ementthe r ecor d byi ntr oduci ng new evi dence : a r eportof an 2 A r m eni an non- governm ent al or gani zat i on and the fa ctthatSar ki s i an' s hus band maynot g o w ith h e r t o A rm e n ia , e v e n th o u g h s h e b e lie v e d a t h e r h e a ri n g th a t h e w ill ( A R 2 0 9 ). Sar ki s i an al s o m akes a new ar gum ent

— thats he s houl d be gr ant ed as y l um for hum ani t ar i an r eas ons — and s he r enew s an ar gum entpr es ent ed bef or e the I J , butnotthe B I A , thats he i s ent i t l ed t o r el i ef unde rthe C onvent i on A gai ns tT or tur e. W e ca nnot c o n sid e r e ith e r th e n e w f a c ts o r th e n e w a rg u m e n t b e c a u se th e yw e re n o t p ro p e rly present ed to the ag ency . 8 U . S . C . § 1 25 2(b)( 4)( A ), (d) (1) . T he C on ven t i on A gainst T or tur e cl ai m i s notpr oper l ybefor e us beca us e Sarki s i an di d not“meani ngful l y ” pr es ent th e c laim to th e B IA . (A R 2 ); A bdulr ahm an , 330 F. 3d at594–95. 6 aff i r m ed the dec i s i on of the I J “w i th the exc ept i on of the adve r s e cr edi bi l i tyfi ndi ng. ” T h e B IA a s s u m e d S a rk is ia n ’s te s tim o n yw a s tru e — w h ic h w e a ls o a s s u m e , s ee Kayem be v . A sh c ro ft , 334 F. 3d 231, 234–35 & n. 1 ( 3d C i r . 2003) . B eca us e the B I A adopt ed the I J ’ s deci s i on i n al l otherr es pect s , the age ncy ’ s fi nal or dercons i s t s of the B I A ’ s deci s i on a n d th o se p a rts o f

th e IJ’ s d e c isio n th a t ar e u n re late d to th e a d v e rse c re d ib ili ty det erm i nat i on. A d d iti o n a lly , o u r re v iew is lim ited . W e m a yre v iew o n lyth o se f a c ts c o n tain e d in th e a d mi n i s tr a t i v e r e c o r d . 8 U. S . C. § 1 2 5 2 ( b ) ( 4 ) ( A) . An d we o n l yc o n s i d e rth o s e c l a i ms f o r w h ic h th e p e titio n e r h a s ra is e d a n d e x h a u s te d a ll a d m in is tr a tiv e re m e d ie s . 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 5 2 (d )(1 ); K i bi nda v. A t t ’ y G en. , 4 7 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 0

– 2 1 n .8 ; A b du lra h m a n v . A sh c ro ft , 330 F. 3d 587, 594–95 ( 3d C i r . 2003) ( hol di ng admi ni s tr at i ve r emedi es w er e notexhaus t ed for claim s n o t r aised b ef

o re the B IA ). 27 II U nderthe I m m i gr at i on and N at i onal i tyA ct , the att orneygener al has the d is c re tio n a ry a u th o ri ty to g ra n t a s y lu m to a n a lie n w h o s h o w s s h e is a re f u g e e . 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 5 8 (b ). A re f

u g e e is a n yp e rso n w h o is out s i de [the] countryof s uch per s on’ s nat i onal i ty. . . and w ho i s unabl e or u n w ill in g to re tu rn to , an d is u n a b le o r u n w ill in g to a v a il h im se lf o r h e rse lf of the pr ot ect i on of, thatcountrybeca us e of pe r s ecut i on ora w el l - founded f e a r o f p e rse c u tio n o n a c c o u n t o f ra c e , relig io n , n a tio n a lity , m e m b e rsh ip in a part i cul ars oci al gr oup, orpol i t i cal opi ni on. 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 0 1 (a )(4 2 )(A ). T h e b u rd e n o f p ro o f is o n th e a p p lica n t to e sta b lish th a t sh e is a r efuge e, 8 C . F. R . § 208. 13( a) , and the t ouchs t one of r efuge e s t atus i s a w el l - founded fear of pe rs ecuti on i n the app l i cant’ s coun tryof n at i on al i ty . T he ap pli cant can est abli sh this w el l -foun ded fear i n tw o w ay s. F i rs t , she can show she w as subj ect ed to past per s ecut i on, w hi ch gi ves r i s e t o a pr es um pt i on thatthe appl i canthas a w el l - founded f ear o f p e rs e c u tio n . I

d. § 208. 13( b) . Second, and i ndepende ntof anypas tper s ecut i on, the a p p lic a n t c a n s h o w s h e h a s a w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a r o f f u tu re p e rs e c u tio n . I

d. § 2 0 8 . 1 3 (b), (b)(1 ), (b)(2 ). W hetherthe appl i cants eeks t o s how pas tper s ecut i on ora w el l - founded f earof futur e per s ecut i on, the appl i cantm us tal s o es t abl i s h thatthe per s ecut i on i s “on ac count of” one of the fi ve pr ot ect ed gr ounds l i s t ed i n 8 U . S. C . § 1101( a) ( 42) ( A )

— r ace , r el i gi on, n a tio n a lity, m e m b e rs h ip in a p a rt ic u la r s o c ia l g ro u p , o r p o litic a l o p in io n . Sar ki s i an cl ai m s herper s ecut i on i s on acc ountof m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ars oci al gr oup. W e haveT he R E A L I D A ctof 2005, Pub. L . N o. 109- 13, D i v. B . , 119 St at . 302, 303, added 3 the r equi r ementthata pr ot ect ed gr ound m us tbe “a tl eas tone ce ntr al r eas on for p erse cu ti n g the a p p li ca n t. ” 8 U . S . C . § 1 1 5 8 (b)(1 )(B ). H o w ev er, be ca u se S ark isi an ’s ap p li ca ti o n fo r asy lum w as f il ed p ri o r t o M ay1 1 , 2 0 0 5 , the e ff ec ti v e d ate o f th e R E A L ID A c t o f 2 0 0 5 , th a t p ro v is io n d o e s n o t a p p ly to h e r c a s e . See 8 U . S. C . § 1158 not e. W hetheran appl i cantw as orw i l l be per s ecut ed on ac countof m ember s hi p i n a 4 (c o n tin u e d ...) 8 adopt ed the B I A ’ s defi ni t i on thata part i cul ars oci al gr oup m us tbe bas ed on a “ comm on, i m m ut abl e cha r act er i s t i c”: T he s har ed cha r act er i s t i c mi ghtbe an i nnat e one s uch as s ex, col or , or ki ns hi p t i es , ori n s om e ci r cumst ance s i tm i ghtbe a s har ed pas texper i ence s uch as form erm i l i t aryl eade r s hi p orl and ow ner s hi p. . . . [W ] hat everthe comm on char act er i s t i c thatdefi nes the gr oup, i tm us tbe one thatthe m e m b e rs o f

th e g ro u p e ith e r c a n n o t ch a n g e , o r sh o u ld n o t b e re q u ire d to change beca us e i ti s fundament al t o thei ri ndi vi dual i dent i t i es or con sci ences. Fa t i n v . I NS , 1 2 F . 3 d 1 2 3 3 , 1 2 3 9

– 4 0 (3d C ir . 1 9 9 3 ) ( q u o tin gIn re A c o sta , 19 I . & N . D ec. 211, 233 ( B I A 1985) ) . T o s how per s ecut i on on acc ountof m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ar soci al group , an ap pli cant m ustest abli sh three el em ents : (1) “a grou p thatcon st i tutes a

‘ part i cul ars oci al gr oup’ w i thi n the i nt erpr et at i on j us tdi s cus s ed, ” ( 2) m ember s hi p i n that g ro u p , a n d (3 ) p e rs e c u tio n b a s e d o n th a t m e m b e rs h ip . I d. at 12 4 0 . R eg ard ing this th ir d fac t or , “the s t atut e makes m ot i ve cr i t i cal , ” and the appl i cant“mustpr ovi de s om e evi dence of i t , di r ectorci r cumst ant i al . ” I N S v. E l i az - Zacar i as , 502 U . S. 478, 483 ( 1992) . T he 3 three el em ents , i ncludi ng the sho w i ng of m oti ve, are r equ i red t o p rove bo th p ast per s ecut i on and a w el l - founded f earof futur e per s ecut i on on acc ountof a pa r t i cul ars oci al gr oup. 4( . . . cont i nued) 4 part i cul ars oci al gr oup, as defi ned bythe s t atut e, i s a ques t i on of l aw , s ubj ectt o de novo re v ie w . G om ez - Zul uaga v. A t t ' y G en. , 5 2 7 F . 3 d 3 3 0 , 3 3 9 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 8 ) ( ci t i ng Es cobar v. G onz al es , 4 1 7 F . 3 d 3 6 3 , 3 6 5 (3d C ir . 2 0 0 5 )). T he hea di ng s t at es the “l egal fi ndi ng thatA r m i ne i s nota mem berof a pa r t i cul ar 5 s o c ia l g ro u p ” is in c o rr e c t. ( B r. o f P e titio n e r a t 2 0 .) T he onl yotherpas s age i n Sar ki s i an’ s br i ef a ddr es s i ng m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ar 6 s oci al gr oup i s on pages 26–28. T hi s pas s age a s s um es Sar ki s i an pr evai l s on the i s s ue of p a s t p e rs e c u tio n . ( See B r. of P et i t i on er at26 (not i ng “A rm i ne h as al readysuffered p ast p e rse c u tio n b a se d o n m e m b e rsh ip in a p a rticu lar so c ial g ro u p ” ); i d. at28 ( as s um i ng Sar ki s i an “w as per s ecut ed upon tw o i ns t ance s due t o m ember s hi p i n a part i cul ars oci al gr oup”) . ) I tal s o di s t i ngui s hes a Si xth C i r cui tcas e bypoi nt i ng outthatSar ki s i an had al r eadybeen s ubj ect ed t o per s ecut i on. ( B r . of Pet i t i onerat27. ) B utpas tper s ecut i on (c o n tin u e d ...) 9 A R egar di ng pas tper s ecut i on, the age ncyconcl uded Sarki s i an had notbeen p e rse c u ted o n a c c o u n t o f m e m b e rsh ip in a p a rticu lar so c ial g ro u p . A lth o u g h th e B IA d id notaddr es s thi s i s s ue, the I J concl uded Sarki s i an w as nota mem berof a pa r t i cul ars oci al g rou p . B ec au se th e B IA ex p resslyad o p ted th e IJ’s d ec isi o n , that p o rt ion o f th e IJ’s d e te rm in a tio n is p a rto f th e a g e n c y ’s f

in a l o rd e r. See Ki bi nda , 477 F. 3d at118–19; C ham , 445 F. 3d at690; G ao , 299 F. 3d at271 ( ci t i ng A bdulai , 2 3 9 F .3 d a t 5 4 9 n .2 ). Sar ki s i an cont es t s thi s fi ndi ng i n the hea di ng i ntr oduci ng the ar gum ents ect i on of h e r b rie f a n d in a sin g le s e n ten c e in th e a rg u m e n t: “A rm in e c o n ten d s th a t th e in c id e n ts

5 w e re in f licte d a g a in st h e r a s a m e m b e r o f a p a rticu lar so c ial g ro u p , i. e ., a f e m a le v irg in and orphan i n A rm enia w ho w as actuall ytraffi cked i n A rm enia, du ri ng her abd ucti on s, and t ar get ed fora l i fe of pr os t i tut i on . . . . ” ( B r . of Pet i t i onerat21. ) B utthe expe r i ence 6( . . . cont i nued) 6 c a n n o t d e f

in e th e s o c ia l g ro u p th a t m o tiv a te d th a t v e ry p e rs e c u tio n . L u kw a g o v . A sh c ro ft , 329 F. 3d 157, 172 ( 3d C i r . 2003) . A ccor di ngl y , w e cons true thi s pas s age a s an ar gum ent aboutfutur e per s ecut i on. B eca us e Sarki s i an w as notent i t l ed t o thi s pr es um pt i on, w e w i l l notcons i derw hether 7 the g o v ern m en t m et i ts bu rde n to sh o w fu n d am en tal lych an g ed circu m stan ce s u n d er 8 C . F. R . § 208. 13( b) ( 1) ( i ) ( A ) . W e do, how ever , expr es s conce rn aboutthe B I A ’ s us e of admi ni s tr at i ve not i ce. T he B oar d l ooked t o an I nt ernat i onal O r gani zat i on of M i gr at i on R e p o rt (“ IO M R e p o rt” ), an d to o k n o tice o f th e p ro p o sitio n th a t “ none of the tr aff i cked w om en i n the s tudyw er e mar r i ed. ” ( A R 3 ( ci t i ngI nt ernat i onal O r gani zat i on of M ig ra tio n , Traf

f i cki ng i n W

om en and C hi ldr en f

r om the Republ i c of

A r m eni a: A St udy ( 2001) , at20) . ) B eca us e Sarki s i an w as m arr i ed, the B oar d w oul d have us bel i eve, her ci r cumst ance s w er e funda m ent al l ychange d s uch thats he w oul d nothave aw el l - founded fea rof futur e tr aff

i cki ng. T he B I A fai l ed t o not e, how ever , thatnear l y90 per centof the tr af fick ed w o m en in the stud yh ad b ee n m arried: m o re tha n 7 2 p erc en t of the w o m en w ere d iv o rc e d ; 1 4 p e rc e n t w e re w id o w e d ; an d 2 .3 p e rc e n t w e re se p a ra ted , w h ich is p a rticu lar ly pr obl emat i c bec aus e i n m anyj ur i s di ct i ons per s ons w ho ar e s epar at ed ar e s t i l l cons i der ed m arr i ed. I O M R eportat20–21. A ccor di ngl y , the evi dence w as i ncorr ect , m i s l eadi ng, or atl eas ti ncompl et e bec aus e i t s pr obat i ve val ue depe nds on uns uppor t ed as s um pt i ons a b o u t th e lik e lih o o d o f

d e a th , d iv o rc e , o r se p a ra tio n . A d d iti o n a lly , the B IA d id n o t n o te (c o n tin u e d ...) 10 of p astpersecut i on cann ot defi ne a p art i cularsoci al group m oti vati ng the p ast p e rs e c u tio n . L u kw a g o v . A sh c ro ft , 329 F. 3d 157, 172 ( 3d C i r . 2003) . T hi s i s a mat t erof l ogi c: m ot i vat i on m us tpr ece de ac t i on; and the s oci al gr oup m us texi s tpr i ort o the per s ecut i on i f m ember s hi p i n the gr oup i s t o m ot i vat e the per s ecut i on. H er e, Sar ki s i an us es the pas tper s ecut i on— the tr aff i cki ng and abduc t i ons — t o defi ne the s oci al gr oup that s he cl ai m s w as the mot i vat i on forherpas tper s ecut i on. T hi s does nots uffi ce. A ccor di ngl y , Sar ki s i an has nots how n the pas tper s ecut i on w as m ot i vat ed byone of the pr ot ect ed gr ounds , and s he i s notent i t l ed t o a pr es um pt i on of a w el l - founded f ear of per s ecut i on under8 C . F. R . § 208. 13. 7( . . . cont i nued) 7 a n im p o rta n t am b ig u ityin th e IO M su rv e y . T h e su rv e ya sk e d f o r m a rital s tatu s, b u t itis n o tc l e a rwh e th e rth e q u e s t i o n s a s k e d r e s p o n d e n t s a b o u tth e i rma r i t a l s t a tu s a tth e t i me th e yw e re tr a f

f ic k e d o r a t th e tim e o f

th e s u rv e y . IO M R e p o rta t 4 6 . G ener al l y , the B I A m ayt ake a dm i ni s tr at i ve not i ce, 8 C . F. R . § 1003. 1( d) ( 3) ( i v) ; the IO M R epo rtm aybe rel evan tt o S arki si an’s ci rcum st ances; and becau se Sarki si an’s past p e rs e c u tio n c la im is in s u f f ic ie n t f o r o th e r r e a s o n s , a n ye rr o r o n th is p o in t is h a rm le s s . T he fa ct s not i ced he r e, how ever , ar e a ki nd forw hi ch adve r s ar i al t es t i ng w oul d have be en part i cul ar l yhel pful and admi ni s tr at i ve not i ce pa r t i cul ar l yi l l s ui t ed. 11 B B ecause S arki si an’s ar gu m ents abo ut pastpersecut i on are i nsuff i ci ent, w e al so c o n s id e r w h e th e r s h e c a n s h o w a n in d e p e n d e n t w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a r o f f u tu re p e rs e c u tio n . Sar ki s i an cont ends s he i s a y oung A r m eni an w om an w ho w as t ar get ed i n the pas t , her abduct or s ar e or gani zed, theyknow w ho s he i s , and theyw i l l t ar getheragai n i f s he r eturns t o A r m eni a. A s w i th pas tper s ecut i on, the appl i cantm us ti dent i fya part i cul ar s oci al gr oup of w hi ch s he i s a mem berand demonstr at e thatfutur e per s ecut i on w oul d be m o tiv a te d b ym e m b e rs h ip in th a t g ro u p . See Lukwago , 3 2 9 F .3 d a t 1 7 4 ; Fa tin , 12 F. 3d at 1235–36, 1238–42. A part i cul ars oci al gr oup m us texi s ti ndepende ntof the per s ecut i on s uffe r ed bythe a p p lic a n t. Lukw ago , 329 F. 3d at172. A s not ed, forpas tper s ecut i on, thi s i s a mat t erof lo g ic : th e p a rt ic u la r s o c ia l g ro u p m u s t p re -e x is t th e p e rs e c u tio n to b e a m o tiv a tin g f a c to r. R e g a rd in g a f

e a r o f f u tu re p e rs e c u tio n , p a s t p e rs e c u tio n m a yb e re le v a n t. I d. a t 1 7 2 , 1 7 8 . A s the B I A has r ecogni zed, “a s har ed pas texper i ence m aybe enough t o l i nk m ember s of a ‘ part i cul ars oci al gr oup. ’ ” Id . at178 ( q u o tin gA c o sta , 19 I . & N . D ec. at233) . A nd that12

exper i ence m aybecome partof a pe r s on’ s char act er , fundament al t o hercons ci ence or id e n tity. See i d. I n Lukw ago w e found the pet i t i onerhad es t abl i s hed a w el l - founded f ear o f f u ture p erse cu ti o n b ec au se o f m em b ersh ip in the g rou p o f “ ch il d ren fro m N o rth ern U ganda w ho have e s cape d fr om i nvol unt arys ervi tude af t erbei ng abduct ed and e ns l aved” b yth e L o rd ’s R e s is ta n c e A rm y . I d. at174. A nd i n G om ez - Zul uaga v. A t t ’ y G en. , 527 F. 3d 330, 345–48 ( 3d C i r . 2008) , the pet i t i oneres t abl i s hed a w el l - founded f earbas ed on e s c a p e f ro m th e F u e rz a s A rm a d a s R e v o lu c io n a ri a s d e C o lu m b ia (“ F A R C ” ). In b o th c a se s, th e p e tit io n e rs p re se n ted n o t o n lye v id e n c e th a t p re v io u sly per s ecut ed mem ber s of thei rgr oup w er e s ubj ectt o r epea tper s ecut i on butal s o evi dence of a mo t i v a t i n g f

a c t o r . Lu k wa g o p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e th a tth e Lo r d ’ s Re s i s t a n c e Ar my exac t ed r etr i but i on fores cape , ki l l i ng es cape d chi l dr en t o puni s h them or t o m ake a n e x a m p le o f

th e m . Lukw ago , 329 F. 3d at179–80. L i kew i s e, G om ez- Z ul uaga e s t abl i s hed th a t th e F A R C k ille d e s c a p e d m e m b e rs o f h e r f a m ily a n d o th e rs w h o h a d e s c a p e d . G om ez - Zul uaga , 5 2 7 F .3 d a t 3 4 7 . T h e s e F A R C k illin g s w e re re tr ib u tio n f o r e s c a p e . I

d. T h e f a c t o f p a st p e rse c u tio n in th e se c a se s w a s re lev a n t n o t m e re lyb e c a u se th e a p p lica n ts w er e per s ecut ed, thei rper s ecut or s knew w ho theyw er e, orthei rper s ecut or s m i ght p e rse c u te th e m a g a in . R a th e r, th e se a p p lica n ts p re se n ted e v id e n c e sh o w in g th e ir per s ecut or s w oul d r et al i at e bec aus e of thei res cape , an expe r i ence s har ed w i th other es cape es , oratl eas tthatthe es cape w as one ce ntr al r eas on forper s ecut i on.13

I n thi s cas e, Sar ki s i an s eeks t o defi ne the part i cul ars oci al gr oup i n t erm s of her pas tper s ecut i on— y oung A r m eni an w om en w ho w er e t ar get ed i n the pas t . She cl ai m s s he w as per s ecut ed bef

or e, herper s ecut or s w i l l r ecogni ze he r , and thats he i s l i kel yt o be t ar get ed aga i n. B utunl i ke the appl i cant s i n Lukw ago and G om ez - Zul uaga , Sar ki s i an does notexpl ai n how herpas tper s ecut i on w i l l m ot i vat e herabduct or s t o t ar gether . W i thout the emphas i s on herpas tper s ecut i on, Sar ki s i an’ s ar gum enti s thathery outh and gende r putheratr i s k forfutur e abduc t i on. B utas w e have not ed, “[p] os s es s i on of br oadl y - bas ed c h a ra c ter istics su c h a s y o u th a n d g e n d e r w ill n o t b yitse lf e n d o w in d iv id u a ls w ith m ember s hi p i n a part i cul argr oup. ” Lukw ago , 329 F. 3d at172 ( q u o t i n gGo mezv . I NS , 9 4 7 F .3 d 6 6 0 , 6 6 4 (2 d C ir. 1 9 9 1 )); s ee al s o Es cobarv. G onz al es , 417 F. 3d 363, 367–68 (3 d C ir. 2 0 0 5 ) (c o n c lu d in g p o v e rty , h o m e les sn e ss , an d y o u th , tho u g h “ a p p e a lin g to s ym pathyand compas s i on, ” ar e “f art oo vague a nd al l encompas s i ng t o be cha r act er i s t i cs that set th e p erim eters f o r a p rotec ted g rou p ”). B eca us e Sarki s i an has nots how n pas tper s ecut i on orfea rof futur e per s ecut i on on acc ountof a pr ot ect ed gr ound, the age ncy ’ s deni al of Sarki s i an’ s as y l um appl i cat i on w as n o t i m p rop er. III In addit i on t o asy l um , S arki si an seek s w i tho l ding of rem ov al . S he m ustest abli sh thati ti s m or e l i kel ythan notthats he w i l l fac e per s ecut i on on acc ountof a pr ot ect ed g ro u n d if re tu rn e d to h e r c o u n tryo f o rig in . 8 C .F .R . § 2 0 8 .1 6 (b ); G om ez - Zul uaga , 52714

F .3 d a t 3 4 8 ; Lukw ago , 329 F. 3d at182. B eca us e Sarki s i an has notes t abl i s hed thather per s ecut i on i s on acc ountof a pr ot ect ed gr ound, the ana l y s i s of heras y l um cl ai m di s pos es of herw i thhol di ng of r emoval cl ai m . T he age ncy ’ s deni al of herappl i cat i on for w ith h o lding o f re m o v al w as a cc o rdin g lyn o t i m p rop er. IV F o rth e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , we wi l l d e n yS a r k i s i a n ’ s p e t i t i o n f o rr e v i e w.