### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T D e c e m be r 1, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L 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- 10228 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ A ge nc y N os . A 79- 498- 218 & A 79- 498- 217 J O H A N A L U C I A G A L E A N O , C A R L O S A L B E R T O G O M E Z , 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

_________________________ ( D e c e m b e r 1, 2005) B efo re M A R C U S , W IL S O N an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:To thee xtent th epe tition e rsarea pp e alingtheIJ’s de nial of CA T re lie f, they

faile d to 1 exhaust their administrative reme dies by challeng ing this denial in their appeal to the BIA. We, there fore , lack jurisdiction to review any challeng es to the IJ ’s denial of CAT relief

. See Ta ylor v. United States, 396 F.3d 1322, 1327 ( 11th Cir. 2005) (holding that “[a] court may review a final order o f re mov al only if ‘t healien h a s e xha

us te d all adminis trativ ereme die s availa bleto the alien a s of right’” (quoting8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1)) ; see also Fer nandez-B ernal v. Att’y

Gen. of U.S., 257 F.3d 1304, 1317 n.13 ( 11th Cir. 2001) (interpreting this exhaustion requirement a s jurisdictional). 2 J oha na L uc i a G a l e a no, thr ough c ouns e l , pe t i t i ons thi s C our tf orr 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 ( “ B I A ’ s ” ) or de r , a f f i r m i ng the i m m i gr a t i on j udge ’ s ( “ I J ’ s ” ) de ni a l of a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l unde rthe I m m i gr a t i on a nd N a t i ona l i ty A c t( “ I N A ” ) , a nd of r e l i e f unde rthe U ni t e d N a t i ons C onve nt i on on T or tur e a nd O the rC rue l , I nhum a n orD e gr a di ng T r e a tm e ntor P u n i sh m en t(“ C A T ”). G al ean o arg u es o n ap p eal th atn ei th er th e IJ’ s ad v erse 1 cr edi bi l i ty det erm i nat i on , no r the IJ ’ s a l t ernat i ve det erm i nat i on thatthe pet i t i on er s di d n otes t abl i sh st atut ory e l i gi bi l i ty f or as yl um or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al w as supp ort ed by subst ant i al evi dence i n the re cord. F or the re as on s s etforth m ore f u l l y b e l o w, we d e n y th e p e t i t i o n e r s ’ p e t i t i o n f o rr e v i e w. O n M a r c h 9, 2001, G a l e a no, a na t i ve a nd c i t i z e n of C ol om bi a , e nt e r e d the U n ite d S ta te s a s a n o n - im m ig r a n t v is ito rf o rp le a s u r e , w ith a u th o r iz a tio n to r e m a in i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s f

ora pe r i od nott o e xc e e d J une 9, 2001. O n S e pt e m be r26, 2001, G a l e a no, w ho ha d r e m a i ne d i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s , f i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

or as yl um and w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al un der the IN A , al on g w i th an at t ac hedG ale an o als o in c lud e d in h e r a p p li c ati o nf

o r re li e f h e r hu s b an d , Ca

rlo s A lb e rtoG o me z, 2 who entered the United States f or plea sure on June 11, 1999, with permission to remain in the United States until December 10, 1999. Ref erences in this opinion to Galeano, the le ad petitioner, also will include her husband. On November 25, 2002, President B ush signe d into law the Homeland Security Act of 3 2002, Pub. L . No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135. This leg islation created a new Depa rtment of Homeland Security , abolished the I NS, and transf

erred its functions to the new department. Be causethis case wa s initi ated while theI NS stil l was in exist ence , this opini on ref ers to the ag ency as the I NS. 3 n a rr a tiv e a d d e n d u m . G a le a n o a s s e r te d in h e rap p lic a tio n th a t, if s h e r e tu rn e d to 2 C ol om bi a, she w ou l d b e per se cut ed by parami l i t ar i es on ac coun tof her 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 a nd he rpol i t i c a l opi ni on a s a m e m be rof the L i bera l P arty. A s partof her app l i ca t i on , G al ea no ci t ed t o sever al i nst ance s tha ts he a l l e ge d c ons t i tut e d pa s tpe r s e c ut i on, i nc l udi ng tha t , i n the be gi nni ng of 2 0 0 1 , h e rf

a th e rh a d r e c e iv e d a t w o r k th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a lls . In O ct ob er20 02 , the Im m i grat i on and N atural i za t i on S ervi ce (“ IN S ”) 3 se rved G al ea no and h erhu sband w i th n ot i ce s t o app ea r ( “ N T A s” ), char gi ng them w i th r e m ova bi l i ty , pur s ua ntt o I N A § 237( a ) ( 1) ( B ) , 8 U . S . C . § 1101( a ) ( 15) , f or r e m a i ni ng i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s f ora pe r i od l onge rtha n pe r m i tt e d. G a l e a no appeare d b ef

ore a n IJ a nd , throu gh coun se l , adm i tt ed the fa ct s c on t ai ned i n h er N T A a nd c onc e de d r e m ova bi l i ty . A f t e rG a l e a no de c l i ne d t o de s i gna t e a c ountry of re m ov al , the IJ desi gn at ed C ol om bi a.Gale ano te sti fi e d th at, at th etim eof thehe aring , h e r s ist e r h a d b e e n gra nte d a sylum

in 4 Canada . Although G alea no also attempted to introduceduringher he aringa document that alleg edly corroborate d this testim ony , the IJref used to admit this document beca use it was not translated. G alea

no has aba

ndoned our review of

this decision by

not challeng ing it in her appeal brief. SeeSepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F .3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005) (holdingthat, “[w]hen an appellant f ails to offer

argument on an issue, that issue is aba ndoned”) . Galea no and her

husband, Gomez, were not married until April 2001, after both of 5 them had entered theUnited States. 4 I n O c t obe r2003, a ta he a r i ng on G a l e a no’ s appl i c a t i on f orr e l i e f f r om r e m o v a l, G a le a n o , w h o w a s 2 4 y e a r s ’ o ld a t th e tim e o f th e h e a r in g a n d th e s o le w i tness , offe re d the fol l ow i ng t es t i m on y. G al ea no had a four-ye ar -ol d d augh t er w ho w a s l i vi ng i n C a l i , C ol om bi a w i th he rhus ba nd’ s m othe r . G a l e a no a l s o ha d a b r o th e ra n d s is te rw h o r e s id e d in T u lu a , C o lo m b ia , a b r o th e rw h o liv e d in M e d e llin , C o lo m b ia , a n d a s is te rw h o r e s id e d in C a n a d a . W h e n G a le a n o liv e d in 4 C ol om bi a, she r es i ded w i th h erpare nt s i n T ul ua, w hi ch w as approx i m at el y a n ho ur-a nd -a -hal f dri ve fr om C al i . G al ea no ’ s f am i l y ow ned a vet er i nari an’ s produ ct s t or e a nd a hom e i n T ul ua , a s w e l l a s a f a r m i n M ont e l or o, C ol om bi a . G a l e a no r out i ne l y tr a ve l e d f

r om T ul ua t o C a l i , w he r e s he w oul d vi s i the rhus ba nd a nd a tte n d c la s s e s a t th e S a n tia g o d e C a li U n iv e r s ity , a t w h ic h s h e e n r o lle d in 1 9 9 6 to stu d y eco n o m i cs. 5 I n M a r c h 1 9 9 9 , G a le a n o b e c a m e a n a c tiv e m e m b e ro f th e L ib e r a l P a r ty in C ol om bi a. A s aC om m un i ty P roj ec t s C oo rdi nat or, G al ea no t augh tthe L i bera l P a r ty ’s “p h ilo s o p h y ” in M o n te lo r o , B e n tio le r o s , a n d L a P u n ta la C o k a— to w n s inIn G ale ano ’sa pp lic atio n f

or re lie f, sh ee la

bo rate d th at her d

uti e s a s a Community 6 Project Coordinator include d attendingweekly org anizational meeting s; org anizing and e x e c ut i n gs o c i alp ro

j e c t s i nth ec o mmun i ty; a dv e rt i s i n gan d p ro m o t i n gth eL ib e ralP arty; providingassistanceto persons who had suffered violenc e; and dire ctingprograms for , and educating, women who were heads of their households. Galeano submitted into evidencecopies of (1) her identification ca rd with the Liberal Party ; and (2) a signe d letter by

the Liberal Party ’s President, which include d that Galea no was a n asset to the par

ty , and that her

depar ture from C o l o mb i a w a s re l at e d

t o “ s e c uri ty

re a s o n s d u et o th eri s k

s h eh a [ d ] f

o un d h e r s e l f l at e l y . ”In addition, Galea

no submitt ed a c ertification from a Tulua municipal ag ent, which c onfirmed her role a s a leader in the c ommunity and included that her father had informed the ag ent that Galea no had lef t the country

beca use she had rec eived a

death thre at. Although G ale ano firs t ide nti fi e d th epers on s who a pp ro a c he d h e r group a s gueri lla s, 7 on further questioning by

the IJ , Galea

no stated that these persons, in fac t, werepara milit arie s. Galea no further clarified that the zone where her group wa s located had both guerillas and para milit arie s operating within it. 5 C o lo m b ia th at also w er e a p p ro x im ately a n h o u r- an d -a -h alf d riv e f ro m h erfa m il y’s hom e i n T ul ua . I n J une 1999, e i the rm e m be r s of a gue r i l l a pa r ty orthe 6 para m i l i t ary app roac hed h erL i bera l P arty group , threa t ened them , and i nstruct ed them t o l ea ve the ar ea . A l tho ug h thi s e ventsc ar ed G al ea no , and she fi l ed a pol i ce 7 r e p o r t, s h e c o n tin u e d w ith h e ra c tiv itie s a n d n o th in g r e s u lte d f r o m h e rr e p o r t. M oreover, i n A ug ust19 99 , w hi l e G al ea no and h erfa m i l y w er e e nj oyi ng a day at th eir f ar m in M o n telo ro , so m e o f th e f ar m w o rk er s in fo rm ed h erfa m il y th at “a te rr o r is t g r o u p ” w a s n e a rb y , a n d h e rf a m ily le f t th e a r e a . G a le a n o s u b s e q u e n tly l ea rned that , af

t erher f am i l y l ef tthe fa rm , m em bers of the parami l i t ary had arri ved and h ad i nt errogat ed the fa rm w orkers abou tG al ea no ’ s “ w ork i n the zone” and her

“ po l i t i ca l af

fi l i at i on . ”Ag ain in responseto further questioning by

the IJ , Galea

no added that (1) her

father 8 also had re ceive d two threateningtelephone c alls in J anuar y or F ebrua

ry 2000; (2) she be lieved that the callers had c ontacted her father be causehe supported her work; a nd (3) a s a re sult of these c alls, her f

ather fea red f or his life and de cided to distancehimself from the Liberal Party . Although G alea

no initially

stated that she rece ived this second call in S eptember 2000, 9 she subsequently

stated that she rece ived it in early June, bef ore her first trip to the United States. 6 S t art i ng i n ear l y 200 0, pers on s w ho i dent i fi ed them se l ves a s par am i l i t ar i es ca l l ed G al ea no ather f

am i l y’ s hom e i n T ul ua on three occa si on s, du ri ng w hi ch c a lls th e y th r e a te n e d h e r . I n th e f ir s t p h o n e c a ll, w h ic h G a le a n o r e c e iv e d e ith e rin 8 Jan u ary o r F eb ru ary 2 0 0 0 , th e cal l er t o l d G al ean o t o “ st o p g i v i n g i d eas t o th o se peop l e, ” a l on g w i th i nform i ng her thather l i fe , otherw i se , “ w ou l d b e s ho rt . ” I n A pr i l 2000, be f

or e G a l e a no r e c e i ve d the s e c ond thr e a t e ni ng phone c a l l , a m a n i n a v e h ic le p u lle d u p b e s id e h e ra s s h e w a s w a lk in g h o m e f r o m a p a r ty m e e tin g in T u l u a, i d en t i fi ed h i m sel f as a p aram i l i t ary m em b er, t o l d G al ean o th ath er “ d ays w er e c ou nt ed” a nd her l i fe “ w as go i ng t o b e very s ho rt , ” a nd ca l l ed her a “ bast ar d. ” A l tho ug h thi s e ncou nt erfr i gh t ened G al ea no , she nei ther r eport ed i tt o the po l i ce norhe rf a m i l y . A ppr oxi m a t e l y s i x m onths a f t e rthe f i r s tthr e a t e ni ng c a l l , G a l e a no 9 r e c e i ve d a s e c ond c a l l f r om a pe r s on purpor t i ng t o be a n a l l e ge d m e m be rof the pa r a m i l i t a ry w ho a c c us e d he rof “ hi di ng thos e boxe s f

r om the gue r i l l a s ” a nd w a rn e d h e rn o t to h a v e c o n ta c t w ith th e g u e r illa s .When the IJasked G alea no why she did not include this June 2000, trip in either her 10 application for

relief or her attache d narrative, Galeano f irst replied that “ I

don’t know [it was not included], becauseIhave reporte d this when the application was made.”On further questioning, G alea

no stated, “[w]ell, Idid not consider that I had to include it in that case . I think Ican a

mend this with my

words.” Galea no stated duringher te stimony that this thi rd phone c all was the event that 11 ultimately

motivated her to lea

ve Colombia. She also stated that she reporte d this call to the po lic e , b ut t

hat sh edid

no t ha vea c op y of thepo lic erepo rt . 7 G a l e a no a l s o di s c l os e d f orthe f i r s tt i m e dur i ng thi s he a r i ng tha t , on J une 17, 20 00 , she e nt er ed the U ni t ed S t at es t o cl ea r herm i nd and “ t ake outthe stre ss [s he] had. ” D uri ng thi s vi si t , w hi ch l as t ed for f i ve m on ths, G al ea no l ef ther daugh t er 10 w ith h e rp a r e n ts in C o lo m b ia , a n d s h e s ta y e d w ith h e rth e n f u tu r e h u s b a n d . G a l e a no di d nots e e k a s y l um dur i ng thi s vi s i tbe c a us e s he ( 1) w a s c onc e rne d a bout he rda ught e r ’ s s a f

e ty ; a nd ( 2) di d notf

e e l a s m uc h pr e s s ur e a ttha tt i m e a s s he s u b s e q u e n tly f

e lt in S e p te m b e r2 0 0 1 , w h e n s h e f ile d h e ra s y lu m ap p lic a tio n . B etw ee n N ov em ber 200 0, w hen G al ea no re turned t o C ol om bi a, and M ar ch 20 01 , w hen she re ent er ed the U ni t ed S t at es , she r ec ei ved t hrea t s thatw er e m ore “in te n s e ” a n d “a c u te ” th a n s h e p r e v io u s ly h a d r e c e iv e d . G a le a n o s p e c if ic a lly s ta te d th a t, in J a n u a ry 2 0 0 1 , s h e r e c e iv e d a t h e rh o m e a th ir d th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a ll f r om a m e m be rof

the pa r a m i l i t a ry , dur i ng w hi c h the c a l l e ri nf or m e d he rtha ts he h a d b e e n p la c e d o n a d e a th lis t. I n d e s c r ib in g th is tim e p e r io d , G a le a n o in itia lly 11 t e s t i f i e d tha t“ I - - w e gota nothe rc a l l - - the r e w a s a nothe rc a l l , w hi c h - - w i th the s a m e ty pe of

m e s s a ge . ” H ow e ve r , a f t e rthe I J a s ke d G a l e a no e xa c t l y how m a nyOn the other hand, Galeano include d in her a pplication for relief that she stopped 12 b e i n ga s tu d e nti nC al i , C o l o mb i a i n1 9 9 9 . Wh e nth eIJa s k e d h e r t o e xp l ai nth i s i n c o n s i s t e n c y, Galea no stated that, in November 1999, she took a break f rom her studies to g ive birth to her daughter. 8 th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a lls s h e r e c e iv e d , G a le a n o r e s p o n d e d a s f o llo w s : “[ w ]e ll, exac t l y thatw as on e c al l , bu tw as -- thatw as so ho rr i bl e. ” G al ea no t es t i fi ed thatshe s t op ped h erstud i es i n M ar ch 20 01 , w hen she l ef t C o lo m b ia a n d e n te r e d th e U n ite d S ta te s . S h e a ls o s ta te d th a t s h e w a s a f r a id to 12 r e turn t o C ol om bi a be c a us e s he be l i e ve d tha ts he w oul d be ki l l e d. O n que s t i oni ng fr om the IJ , G al ea no st at ed thatshe had no ttri ed t o m ov e t o ano ther pl ac e other th a n T u lu a o rC a li, a n d th a t s h e d id n o t b e lie v e th a t s h e c o u ld s a f e ly r e lo c a te to a n o th e rlo c a tio n in C o lo m b ia b e c a u s e “e v e ry w h e r e in C o lo m b ia [ s h e w o u ld ] b e in da nge r , be c a us e the pa r a m i l i t a r i e s m ove a r ound c ont i nuous l y a nd the y ha [ d] others , others [s i c] grou ps and o pera t [e d] i n o ther z on es . ” I n a d d itio n to th is te s tim o n y , th e r e c o r d c o n ta in e d th e U .S . S ta te D e p a r tm e n t’s 2 0 0 1 C o u n try R e p o r t o n H u m a n R ig h ts P r a c tic e s f o rC o lo m b ia (“ 2 0 0 1 C o u n try R ep o rt ”). T h i s d o cu m en ti n cl u d ed th atC o l o m b i a, w h i ch i s a c o n s titu tio n a l, m u ltip a r ty d e m o c r a c y , g e n e r a lly h a s a p o o rh u m a n r ig h ts r e c o r d . I n te rn a l s e c u r ity is m a in ta in e d b y b o th th e a rm e d f o r c e s a n d th e n a tio n a l p o lic e . A s a resu l to f arm ed co n fl i ctb etw een th e g o v ern m en t , p aram i l i t ary g ro u p s, l eft i st gu er i l l as , and n ar cot i c tra ff i cker s, betw ee n 3 , 00 0 and 3, 50 0 ci vi l i ans w er e ki l l ed9

du ri ng 20 01 , i ncl ud i ng com batca sual t i es , po l i t i ca l m urders , and forced di sapp ea ra nces . T he parami l i t ary um brel l a organi za t i on , w hi ch has a n est i m at ed m e m be r s hi p of

be tw e e n 8, 000 a nd 11, 000 c om ba t a nt s , “ e xe r c i s e d i nc r e a s i ng i nf l ue nc e dur i ng the y e a ra nd f oughtt o e xt e nd i t s pr e s e nc e thr ough vi ol e nc e a nd i nt i m i da t i on i nt o a r e a s pr e vi ous l y unde rgue r i l l ac ontr ol w hi l e c onduc t i ng s e l e c t i ve ki l l i ngs of

c i vi l i a ns w hom i ta l l e ge d c ol l a bor a t e d w i th gue r i l l a s . ” T he 2001 C ountry R e por ta l s o i nc l ude d tha t , a l though the pa r a m i l i t a r i e s ha d i nc r e a s i ng p o p u la rs u p p o r t in 2 0 0 1 d u e , in p a r t, to th e g u e r illa s ’ c o n tin u e d h u m a n r ig h ts vi ol at i on s, the parami l i t ar i es re l i ed l es s on m as sa cr es , and t he go vernm entand l aw e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f ic ia ls in c r e a s e d th e ire f

f o r ts to c o m b a t p a r a m ilita ry g r o u p s a n d to p r o s e c u te p e r s o n s w h o f in a n c e d th e p a r a m ilita r ie s . F ur the r m or e , G a l e a no s ubm i tt e d a r e por tpr e pa r e d by U ni t e d N a t i ons H i gh C om m i s s i one rf

orR e f uge e s i n 2002, w hi c h w a s t i t l e d “ I nt e rna l P r ot e c t i on Co n s i d e r a t i o n s Re g a r d i n g Co l o mb i a n A s y l u m- Se e k e r s a n d Re f u g e e s ” ( “ U N H CR R eport ”) . T he U N H C R R eporti ncl ud ed that“ [t ] he C ol om bi an po l i t i ca l sc ene has l ong be e n dom i na t e d by tw o r i va l pol i t i c a l pa r t i e s , the C ons e r va t i ve P a r ty . . . a nd the L i bera l P arty . . . and i s c hara ct er i ze d b y organi ze d v i ol ence and a w ea k [s] t at e. ” P aram i l i t ary o rg an i zat i o n s, w h i ch em erg ed i n C o l o m b i a i n th e 1 9 8 0 s, in itia lly to p r o v id e p r o te c tio n to la r g e la n d o w n e r s a n d d ru g lo r d s , c o m b in e d inIn addition to the 2001 Country Report and the U

NHCR Report, Galea

no submitt ed 13 into evidencethreenewspa per c lippings from the local pre ss, which discussed that thousands of families had a

rrived in Tulua , Bug a, and San Pedro beca use of c onfrontations in the mountainous zon ebe tw e e n th epa

ra mil ita ri e s and thegueri lla s, and

that th epre senc eof

thepa ra mil ita ri e s in Tulua had c aused a

g eneral atmosphereof terror. 10 1 9 9 7 , an d , si n ce, h av e u sed “ ex trem e b ru t al i ty” t o w ard ci v i l i an p o p u l at i o n s, i nc l udi ng ki l l i ng, t or tur i ng, ki dnapi ng, e xt or t i on, a nd thr e a t e ni ng c i vi l i a ns suspec t ed of sy m pathi zi ng w i th g ueri l l as . T he parami l i t ar i es , w ho w er e r e s p o n s ib le f

o rg e n e r a tin g a b o u t h a lf o f a ll in te rn a l d is p la c e m e n t in C o lo m b ia in 20 02 , typi ca l l y e nt era c om m un i ty w i th a l i stof suspec t ed gu er i l l a c ol l aborat ors and con du ctsum m ary e xecut i on s. A l tho ug h the nu m ber of m as sa cr es had d e c r e a s e d f

r o m 2 0 0 1 , th e n u m b e ro f s e le c tiv e a s s a s s in a tio n s a n d d is ap p e a r a n c e s in areas u n d er th e p aram i l i t ari es’ co n tro l h ad i n creased . T h e U N H C R R ep o rtal so i nc l ude d tha tpe r s ons a ts pe c i a l r i s k of be i ng pe r s e c ut e d i n C ol om bi a by both the pa r a m i l i t a r i e s a nd the gue r i l l a s i nc l ude , a m ong othe rgr oups , pe r s ons w i th a hi gh publ i c / c om m uni ty pr of

i l e , i nc l udi ng w om e n l e a de r s w ho w or k t o i m pr ove l i vi ng co n d i t i o n s fo r th ei r co m m u n i t i es. 13 A tthe c onc l us i on of

the e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng, the I J i s s ue d a n or a l de c i s i on, de ny i ng the pe t i t i one r s ’ appl i c a t i on f ora s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l , a nd or de r i ng the m r e m ove d t o C ol om bi a . A f t e rs um m a r i z i ng G a l e a no’ s a l l e ga t i ons of pastpers ec ut i on , the IJ det erm i ned t hat“ [t ] here [w er e] m any i ncon si st enci esAlthough theIJstated that Galeano’ s first trip to the United States occur red in June 14 2001, he pre sumably

meant June 2000. The IJ , however, did state that the record contained the2001 Country Report for 15 Col omb ia , alongwi th e xplainingthat th is document adv ise d th eIJ on th ec on dition s in Col omb ia 11 b etw een [G al ean o ’ s] t est i m o n y an d h er w ri tt en asyl u m ap p l i cat i o n an d al so i n t ern al l y i n [h er] t est i m o n y [d u ri n g th e h eari n g ] . ” In ex p l ai n i n g th ese i ncon si st enci es , the IJ fi rs tno t ed thatG al ea no had fai l ed t o i ncl ud e i n ei ther her appl i ca t i on for r el i ef

, or i n h erdet ai l ed narr at i ve addend um t o thi s app l i ca t i on , that s h e h a d v i s i t e d th e U n i t e d St a t e s i n 2 0 0 0 , b e f o r e s h e e n t e r e d f

o rth e s e c o n d t i me 14 in M a r c h 2 0 0 1 , e v e n th o u g h th is ap p lic a tio n s p e c if ic a lly in s tru c te d h e rto lis t a ll previ ou s tri ps. S ec on d, the IJ expl ai ned t hatG al ea no ’ s t es t i m on y, thatshe had s to p p e d b e in g a s tu d e n t in C a li, C o lo m b ia in M a r c h 2 0 0 1 , w a s in c o n s is te n t w ith he rs t a t e m e nti n he rappl i c a t i on tha ts he s t oppe d a tt e ndi ng c l a s s e s i n 1999. T hi r d, the I J di s c us s e d tha tG a l e a no ( i ) ha d f a i l e d t o i nc l ude i n he rappl i c a t i on the th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a ll th a t s h e te s tif ie d s h e r e c e iv e d in J a n u a ry 2 0 0 1 ; ( ii) in itia lly h a d in d ic a te d d u r in g h e rte s tim o n y th a t s h e h a d r e c e iv e d o th e rth r e a te n in g c a lls af t erthatdat e; and (i i i ) had st at ed i n h erappl i ca t i on , i nst ea d, thather f ather had r e c e iv e d th r e a te n in g p h o n e c a lls . I n a ddi t i on t o i de nt i f

y i ng the s e i nc ons i s t e nc i e s , the I J di s c us s e d tha tG a l e a no h a d f a ile d to p r o d u c e s u p p o r tin g d o c u m e n ta ry e v id e n c e , in c lu d in g p o lic e r e p o r ts tha ts he c l a i m e d s he f

i l e d i n r e l a t i on t o s e ve r a l a l l e ga t i ons of pa s tpe r s e c ut i on. 15as of the da te of its issuance. As discussed above , Galea no actually

returne d to Colombia in November 2000. 16 12 T h e IJ ex p l ai n ed th at , “ [g ] i v en th e p rev i o u sl y m en t i o n ed i n co n si st en ci es, corr ob orat i ng evi dence about the i nci dent s bec om es m ore i m po rt ant . ” T he IJ c onc l ude d tha the c oul d notf i nd tha tG a l e a no “ ha [ d] pr ovi de d c ons i s t e nta nd cr edi bl e e vi dence t o the [I J] on w hi ch she c an supp orther app l i ca t i on . ” A l t ernat i vel y, the IJ det erm i ned t hat , even i f the IJ w er e t o con si der G al ea no ’ s t es t i m on y a s c re di bl e, G al ea no had fai l ed t o est abl i sh thatshe w as el i gi bl e f or as yl um or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al by show i ng pastpers ec ut i on or 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 b a s e d o n a p r o te c te d f a c to r . I n m a k in g th is d e te r m in a tio n , th e I J s p e c if ic a lly s ta te d : A l l of the m ai n p robl em s thatshe a l l egedl y s uffe re d w er e bef ore her tr i p i n J une 2000 t o thi s c ountry . S he c a m e he r e , s t a y e d f orf i ve m o n th s w ith h e rp r e s e n t h u s b a n d , a n d d id n o t r e q u e s t a s y lu m . D e s p ite th e s u p p o s e d te rr o ro f th e in c id e n ts , s h e r e tu rn e d to C o lo m b ia in N o v e m b e ro f

2 0 0 1 [ ,] a n d is th e n f

r ig h te n e d b y o n e p h o n e c a ll, if 16 th atp h o n e cal l actu al l y t o o k p l ace. H er fath er, w h o w as al so threa t ened and w as a m em ber of the L i bera l P arty, re m ai ns i n h er hom e i n T ul ua , C ol om bi a , a nd the r e i s no e vi de nc e tha ta ny thi ng f u r th e rh a s h ap p e n e d to h im o rth a t th e r e h a v e b e e n a n y f u r th e rth r e a ts

. . . . [A t ] m ost , she r ec ei ved sever al ph on e c al l s a nd on e physi ca l w a rni ng. S he w a s ne ve rm i s tr e a t e d orha r m e d a nd the r e ha s be e n no s how i ng w hy s he c a nnotr e turn t o C ol om bi a a nd l i ve the r e w i thout b ei n g h arm ed fo r an y o f th e fi v e . . . en u m erat ed g ro u n d s.O nF eb r u ar y 7 , 2 0 0 5 , w es u a

s p o nt edi s m i s s e d

th i s p e t i t i o nf

o r re v i e wa s unt i m e l y, 17 ba se d o n o ur

de terminatio n th at th epe tition , which w a s f ilesta mpe d o n Jan

ua ry 14 , 2 00 5, sh ould have be en filed by

J anuar y 13, 2005. However, wesubsequently vacated this dismi ssal order , explaining that “[c]ounsel for [p] etitioners ha[d] s upplied confirmation that the petition was rec eived by

the Court on J anuar

y 13, 2005.” 13 G al ea no appeal ed the IJ ’ s dec i si on t o the B IA , ar gu i ng i n h erbri ef thatthe IJ erre d i n d enyi ng her a sy l um and w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al because the evi dence es t abl i shed thatshe w as pers ec ut ed i n the pasti n C ol om bi a by par am i l i t ar i es because of herpo l i t i ca l op i ni on , and t hatshe had a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof future pers ec ut i on base d o n h erpastpers ec ut i on . A s partof thi s app ea l , G al ea no m ov ed the courtt o rem and t he ca se t o the IJ t o con si der new evi dence thatshe had att ac hed t o the bri ef

, thati s, evi dence s ho w i ng that , si x d ay s a ft erthe evi dent i ary he a r i ng, G a l e a no’ s br othe rw a s s hotw hi l e he w a s w a l ki ng on a s tr e e ti n M e de l l i n, C o lo m b ia . G a le a n o a ls o a tta c h e d in s u p p o r t a d o c u m e n t h e rf a th e rh a d f

ile d w ith the autho ri t i es af

t erthi s ki l l i ng , i n w hi ch he report ed thi s i nci dent , sum m ar i ze d other threa t s the fa m i l y had re ce i ved, and request ed prot ec t i on . T he B IA af fi rm ed w i thoutopi ni on the I J ’ s de c i s i on, pur s ua ntt o 8 C . F . R . § 1003. 1( e ) ( 4) , w i thout d i s c u s s i n g th e n e w e v i d e n c e . Ga l e a n o th e n f i l e d th i s t i m e l y p e t i t i o n f o rr e v i e w. 17 I s s u e 1: A d ve r s e C r e d i b i l i t y D e t e r m i n at i on G a le a n o g e n e r a lly a r g u e s th a t, if w e c o n c lu d e th a t th e I J ’s c o m m e n ts in h is o r a l d e c is io n c o n s titu te d a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d e te r m in a tio n , th e I J e rr o n e o u s ly14

r e a c he d thi s de t e r m i na t i on ba s e d on ( 1) m i nora nd i rr e l e va ntdi s c r e pa nc i e s i n the r e c or d, ( 2) the I J ’ s unr e a s ona bl e e xpe c t a t i on tha tG a l e a no pr ovi de s uppor t i ng p o lic e r e p o r ts , a n d ( 3 ) th e I J ’s f a ilu r e to c o n s id e ra ll o f

th e e v id e n c e in th e r e c o r d . G a l e a no s pe c i f

i c a l l y c ont e nds tha the rom i s s i on f r om he rappl i c a t i on of

he rJ une 2000, tr i p t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s di d nots uppor tthe a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on because ( 1) thi s om i ss i on w as m i no r, (2) G al ea no corr ec t ed i tw hen she t es t i fi ed a bouti tdur i ng the e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng, a nd ( 3) s he e xpl a i ne d tha ts he di d not in itia lly in c lu d e it b e c a u s e s h e d id n o t r e a liz e th a t s u c h in c lu s io n w a s r e q u ir e d . G a l e a no s i m i l a r l y a s s e r t s tha t , a ny di s c r e pa nc y be tw e e n he rappl i c a t i on a nd her t es t i m on y a s t o w hen she st op ped b ei ng a s tud entw as m i no r, col l at er al t o h er c l a i m s f orr e l i e f , a nd e xpl a i ne d by the f a c ttha ts he f

i r s tl e f the rs tudi e s i n 1999, w h e n s h e g a v e b ir th to h e rc h ild . I n a d d itio n , G a le a n o a r g u e s th a t h e rf a ilu r e to i ncl ud e i n h eras yl um appl i ca t i on her t es t i m on y thatshe, i nst ea d o f herfa ther, re ce i ved a threa t eni ng ph on e c al l i n January 20 01 , and i ncon si st enci es du ri ng her te s tim o n y o n h o w m a n y c a lls s h e r e c e iv e d d u r in g th is tim e p e r io d , in a d d itio n to be i ng m i nor , e i the rw e r e a m bi guous om i s s i ons , ori nvol ve d m a tt e r s f orw hi c h the IJ shou l d h ave devel op ed a bett erre cord. F i nal l y, G al ea no cont ends thatthe IJ ( 1) e rr one ous l y r e l i e d on the f a c ttha ts he di d noti ntr oduc e pol i c e r e por t s tha ts he c l a i m e d s he f

i l e d a s a r e s ul tof

ha r a s s i ng i nc i de nt s , ( 2) di d nota l l ow he rs uf f i c i e nt15

t i m e t o obt a i n the s e pol i c e r e por t s , a nd ( 3) di d notc ons i de rothe rs uppor t i ng e v id e n c e in th e r e c o r d . W he n a s i ngl e m e m be rof the B I A s um m a r i l y a f

f i r m s the I J ’ s de c i s i on w i tho utan op i ni on , such as here , the IJ ’ s dec i si on becom es the fi nal re m ov al order s u b je c t to r e v ie w . S e e M e n d o z a v . U .S . A tt’y G e n ., 3 2 7 F .3 d 1 2 8 3 , 1 2 8 4 n .1 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2003) . 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 r m i na t i on, o u rr e v ie w is d e n o v o . D - M u h u m e d v . U .S . A tt’y G e n ., 3 8 8 F .3 d 8 1 4 , 8 1 7 ( 1 1 th C i r. 20 04 ). O n the ot her hand, the IJ ’ s f ac tual det erm i nat i on s a re re vi ew ed un der th e s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e te s t, a n d w e “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 t he re cord consi dere d as aw ho l e. ” A l N ajj arv. A shcr oft , 25 7 F . 3d 12 62 , 12 83 -84 (11 th C i r. 2 0 0 1 ) ( q u o ta tio n a n d in te rn a l m a r k s o m itte d ) .

“ W e c anno tengage i n fac t -f i nd i ng on appeal , no r m ay w e w ei gh evi dence tha tw a s notpr e vi ous l y c ons i de r e d be l ow . ” I d. a t1278. M or e ove r , “ [ u] nde rthe s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e te s t, w e r e v ie w th e r e c o r d e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r a b le t o the agency’ s dec i si on and d ra w al l re as on abl e i nfer ence s i n favor of that deci si on . ” A defe m i v. A shcr oft , 38 6 F . 3d 10 22 , 10 27 (11t h C i r. 20 04 ) ( en banc), c e r t. d e n ie d , 1 2 5 S .C t. 2 2 4 5 ( 2 0 0 5 ) . T h u s , a f in d in g o f f a c t w ill b e r e v e r s e d “o n ly w h e n th e r e c o r d c o m p e ls a r e v e r s a l; th e m e r e f a c t th a t th e r e c o r d m a y s u p p o r t a16

c ontr a ry c onc l us i on i s note nough t o j us t i f y a r e ve r s a l of

the a dm i ni s tr a t i ve f i ndi ngs . ” I d. A cr edi bi l i ty det erm i nat i on al so i s r evi ew ed un der the subst ant i al evi dence te s t; th u s , w e “m a y n o t s u b s titu te its ju d g m e n t f o rth a t o f th e [ I J ] w ith r e s p e c t to cr ed ib il ity f

in d in g s.” D -M u h u m ed , 3 8 8 F .3 d at 8 1 8 . If c re d ib le, an alien ’s te s tim o n y m a y b e s u f

f ic ie n t to s u s ta in th e b u r d e n o f p r o o f w ith o u t c o rr o b o r a tio n . Y ang v . U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 41 8 F . 3d 11 98 , 12 01 (11t h C i r. 20 05 ). “ T he w ea ker a n appl i ca nt ’ s t es t i m on y, ho w ever , the great erthe need for corr ob orat i ve evi dence. ” 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 t he abse nce of emb el l i shm ent s. S ee I n r e B - , 21 I & N D e c . 66, 70 ( B I A 1995) ; s e e a l s o D a i l i de v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 387 F .3 d 1 3 3 5 , 1 3 4 3 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) ( a f f ir m in g th e B I A ’s a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility de t e r m i na t i on, w hi c h w a s ba s e d upon i t s f i ndi ng tha tthe a l i e n’ s t e s t i m ony c o n f lic te d w ith h is a n s w e r s to in te rr o g a to r ie s a n d o th e rd o c u m e n ta ry e v id e n c e ) . “C o n v e r s e ly , a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d e te r m in a tio n a lo n e m a y b e s u f f ic ie n t to s uppor tthe de ni a l of

a n a s y l um appl i c a t i on. ” F or gue v. U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 12 82 , 12 87 (11t h C i r. 20 05 ). H ow ever , “ an adverse cr edi bi l i ty det erm i nat i on do es nota l l e vi a t e the I J ’ s duty t o c ons i de rothe re vi de nc e pr oduc e d by a n a s y l um ap p lic a n t.” I d . I f

a n ap p lic a n t p r o d u c e s e v id e n c e b e y o n d h is o w n te s tim o n y , “it is17

n o t s u f f ic ie n t f o rth e I J to r e ly s o le ly o n a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d e te r m in a tio n in thos e i ns t a nc e s . ” I d. F ur the r m or e , “ the I J m us tof f e rs pe c i f i c , c oge ntr e a s ons f

or an ad v erse cred i b i l i ty fi n d i n g . ” Id . (q u o t at i o n o m i tt ed ). “ O n ce an ad v erse cr ed ib il ity f

in d in g is m ad e, th e b u rd en is o n th e a p p li ca n t ali en to sh o w th at th e I J’s c r e di bi l i ty de c i s i on w a s nots uppor t e d by ‘ s pe c i f i c , c oge ntr e a s ons [ , ] ’ orw a s not base d o n sub st ant i al evi dence. ” I d. (quo t at i on om i tt ed). A s aprel i m i nary m att er , t o the ext entG al ea no ’ s bri ef ca n b e c on strued as r a i s i n g th e c l a i m th a tth e I J d i d n o tm a k e a n a d v e r s e c r e d i b i l i ty d e t e r m i n a t i o n , we r e c e nt l y ha ve c l a r i f

i e d tha t , w he n a n I J “ s a y s nottha t[ the I J ] be l i e ve s the a s y l um s e e k e ro r[ th a t] [ th e I J ] d is b e lie v e s h e r. . . th e r e v ie w in g C o u r t is le f t in th e d a r k ,” a nd tha ta n I J m us tm a ke a “ c l e a n de t e r m i na t i on[ ] of c r e di bi l i ty . ” S e e Y a ng, 418 F . 3d at12 01 (i nt ernal qu ot at i on s om i tt ed). H ow ever , i n add i t i on t o fi nd i ng that

“ [t ] here [w er e] m any i ncon si st enci es betw ee n [G al ea no ’ s] t es t i m on y a nd her w r i tt e n a s y l um appl i c a t i on a nd a l s o i nt e rna l l y i n [ he r ] t e s t i m ony [ dur i ng the he a r i ng] , ” the I J i n the i ns t a ntc a s e e xpl i c i t l y s t a t e d tha tG a l e a no “ ha [ d] not prov i ded credi bl e a nd consi st entevi dence t o the [c ] ou rti n sup po rtof her appl i c a t i on. ” T hus , w e c onc l ude tha t , de s pi t e the I J ’ s of f e r i ng a n a l t e rna t i ve e x p la n a tio n f

o rc o n c lu d in g th a t G a le a n o w a s n o t e lig ib le f o rr e lie f f r o m r e m o v a l, the I J m a de 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.18

M o reo v er, th e IJ o ffered “ sp eci fi c, co g en treaso n s” fo r h i s ad v erse cr edi bi l i ty f

i nd i ng thatar e s up po rt ed by the re cord. A l tho ug h G al ea no di sc l osed du ri ng her t es t i m on y thatshe tra vel ed t o the U ni t ed S t at es i n Jun e 200 0, and t hat she r em ai ned i n the U ni t ed S t at es for f i ve m on ths before re turni ng t o C ol om bi a, s he f a i l e d t o e i the ri nc l ude thi s f a c ti n he rappl i c a t i on orhe ra tt a c he d na rr a t i ve w he n the appl i c a t i on s pe c i f i c a l l y i ns truc t e d he rt o i nc l ude a l l s uc h i nf or m a t i on, or to e x p la in d u r in g h e rte s tim o n y w h y s h e p r e v io u s ly o m itte d th is f a c t. C o n tr a ry to G a l e a no’ s a r gum e nttha tthi s om i s s i on w a s i m m a t e r i a l , i ti nvol ve d f i ve m onths d u r in g th e tim e p e r io d th a t s h e a lle g e d th e p a r a m ilita r ie s w e r e p e r s e c u tin g h e r . M oreover, as di sc usse d b el ow , G al ea no ’ s f ai l ure t o app l y f

or as yl um and h er vo l un t ary r eturn t o C ol om bi a i n N ov em ber 200 0, w as re l evantt o the i ss ue w hether she s ubj ec t i vel y had a w el l -f ou nd ed fe arof pers ec ut i on . S ee 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 13 (a ), (b) ( re qu i ri ng pet i t i on erse eki ng as yl um t o est abl i sh ei ther pas tpers ec ut i on or a “w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a r ” o f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n b a s e d o n a p r o te c te d f a c to r ) . S i m i l ar l y, t o the ext entthe IJ focuse d o n the i ncon si st ency re l at i ng t o w hen G al ea no st op ped b ei ng a s tud ent , the re cord ref l ec t s thatG al ea no st at ed i n h er appl i c a t i on tha ts he s t oppe d he rs tudi e s i n 1999, w hi l e s he t e s t i f i e d dur i ng the h e a r in g th a t s h e s to p p e d b e in g a s tu d e n t in M a r c h 2 0 0 1 , w h e n s h e le f t C o lo m b ia a nd e nt e r e d the U ni t e d S t a t e s . A l though thi s di s c r e pa nc y a r gua bl y w a s not19

s uf f i c i e nt l y s i gni f

i c a nton i t s ow n t o s uppor ta n a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on, and i tw as , atl ea stpart i al l y, expl ai ned b y the fa ctthatG al ea no t em po ra ri l y l ef ther s tu d ie s in 1 9 9 9 to g iv e b ir th . G a le a n o ’s s ta tu s a s a f u ll- tim e s tu d e n t in C a li, C o lo m b ia , w a s m a te r ia l to th e e x te n t th a t s h e a ls o o f f e r e d e v id e n c e th a t, d u r in g th is t i m e p eri o d , sh e w as an “ act i v e m em b er” o f th e L i b eral P arty, an d th atsh e w as a com m un i ty l ea der i n T ul ua, C ol om bi a— a t ow n thatw as approx i m at el y a n h ou ra n d - a - h a lf

d r iv e f r o m C a li, C o lo m b ia . F i na l l y , a l though G a l e a no t e s t i f i e d tha ts he pr i m a r i l y de c i de d t o l e a ve C ol om bi a due t o a thr e a t e ni ng phone c a l l s he r e c e i ve d i n J a nua ry 2001, dur i ng w hi c h the c a l l e ri nf

or m e d he rtha ts he ha d be e n pl a c e d on a de a th l i s t , G a l e a no of f e r e d i nc ons i s t e nt , ora tl e a s tc onf us i ng, t e s t i m ony on how m a ny thr e a t e ni ng p h o n e c a lls s h e r e c e iv e d a f te rs h e r e tu rn e d to C o lo m b ia in N o v e m b e r2 0 0 0 . G a l e a no a l s o onl y i nc l ude d i n he rappl i c a t i on tha the rf a the rr e c e i ve d thr e a t e ni ng p h o n e c alls d u rin g th is ti m e p er io d . T h u s, G alea n o h as fa il ed to sh o w th at th e I J’s c r e di bi l i ty de c i s i on “ w a s nots uppor t e d by ‘ s pe c i f i c , c oge ntr e a s ons [ , ] ’ orw a s not ba s e d on s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . ” S e e F or gue , 401 F . 3d a t1287. T o th e e x te n t G a le a n o a ls o is a r g u in g th a t th e I J e rr e d in r e q u ir in g h e rto prod uce pol i ce re po rt s thatshe c l ai m ed she f i l ed af t ersom e of the al l eged in c id e n ts , a s d is c u s s e d a b o v e , if c r e d ib le , th e a lie n ’s te s tim o n y m a y b e s u f f ic ie n t to20

s u s ta in th e b u r d e n o f

p r o o f w ith o u t c o rr o b o r a tio n . S e e id . H o w e v e r , th e I J o n ly no t ed thatG al ea no had fai l ed t o p rovi de corr ob orat i ng po l i ce re po rt s a ft erthe IJ expl ai ned w hy G al ea no ’ s t es t i m on y on the i nci dent s a ti ss ue i n these re po rt s w as notc r e di bl e . I n a ddi t i on, de s pi t e G a l e a no’ s a r gum e nttha tthe c our ts houl d ha ve grant ed her a c on t i nu ance t o p rodu ce thi s e vi dence, G al ea no fa i l ed t o requestsuch a c on t i nu ance , and G al ea no has f ai l ed t o exp l ai n w hy she c ou l d n othave ob t ai ned thi s e vi dence pri or t o the evi dent i ary hea ri ng , w hi ch w as cond uct ed i n O ct ob er 2 0 0 3 , m o r e th a n tw o y e a r s a f te rs h e a rr iv e d in th e U n ite d S ta te s in M a r c h 2 0 0 1 . M o r e o v e r , a lth o u g h , a s d is c u s s e d a b o v e , “a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility det erm i nat i on do es no tal l evi at e the IJ ’ s duty t o con si der other e vi dence produ ce d by an as yl um appl i ca nt , ” s ee i d. , the IJ ’ s dec i si on do es no tre fl ec tthati tre l i ed s o le ly o n its a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility d e te r m in a tio n . I n d e e d , th e I J e x p lic itly s ta te d in hi s dec i si on thatthe re cord cont ai ned t he 20 01 C ou ntry R eportfor C ol om bi a, a lo n g w ith e x p la in in g th a t th is d o c u m e n t a d v is e d th e I J o n th e c o n d itio n s in C ol om bi a a s of

the da t e of

i t s i s s ua nc e . A l though the I J di d notdi s c us s e i the rthe U N H C R R ep o rto r th e l o cal n ew sp ap er cl i p p i n g s G al ean o su b m i tt ed , th ese a ddi t i ona l doc um e nt s c ont a i ne d the s a m e r e l e va nti nf or m a t i on on the pa r a m i l i t a r i e s ’ a c t i vi t i e s i n C ol om bi a a s out l i ne d i n the 2001 C ountry R e por t , a nd21

G al ea no has notci t ed t o evi dence i n these do cum ent s thatcom pel l ed the IJ t o rea ch a d if f e r e n t f in d in g . In addi t i on , t o the ext entG al ea no subm i tt ed i nt o evi dence copi es of (1) her id en ti fica ti o n ca rd w ith th e L ib er al P ar ty; an d (2 ) a lett erb y th e L ib er al P ar ty’s P re si dent , w hi ch i ncl ud ed thatG al ea no w as an as se tt o the party, and t hather d e p a r tu r e w a s r e la te d to “s e c u r ity r e a s o n s d u e to th e r is k s h e h a [ d ] f o u n d h e r s e lf l at el y, ” a l on g w i th a ce rt i fi ca t i on fr om a T ul ua m un i ci pal agent , w hi ch confi rm ed her r ol e a s al ea der i n the com m un i ty a nd i ncl ud ed thather f ather had st at ed that she had l ef

tthe coun try because s he had rece i ved a death threa t , the fa ctthat e vi de nc e i n the r e c or d a l s o m a y 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 fi n d i n g s i s n o ten o u g h t o j u st i fy a rev ersal . S ee A d efem i , 3 8 6 F . 3 d at1 0 2 7 . T h u s, the I J ’ s r e a s ons f

orhi s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on a r e s uppor t e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , a nd nothi ng i n the r e c or d c om pe l s us t o s ubs t i tut e our ju d g m e n t f

o rth a t o f th e I J r e g a r d in g c r e d ib ility . S e e id . I s s u e 2: S t at u t or y e l i gi b i l i t y f or as y l u m or w i t h h ol d i n g of r e m oval G a l e a no a l s o a r gue s tha tthe I J e rr e d i n a l t e rna t i ve l y c onc l udi ng tha ts he f a ile d to e s tab lis h s ta tu to ry e lig ib ility f o ra s y lu m o rw ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l. G a le a n o g e n e r a lly a s s e r ts th a t th e I J ’s d e c is io n r e f le c ts th a t th e I J m a d e in c o m p le te f i ndi ngs of

f a c ta nd f a i l e d t o t a ke i nt o c ons i de r a t i on a l l of the e vi de nc e i n the22

re cord. G al ea no cont ends thatshe s ho w ed pastpers ec ut i on base d o n h erpo l i t i ca l af fi l i at i on by offe ri ng evi dence that(1) s he re ce i ved d ea th threa t s, (2) herfa ther re ce i ved cal l s r egar di ng her s af ety, (3) s he re ce i ved a w arni ng af t erher vehi cl e w as i nt er ce pt ed, and (4) paramil i t ar i es tre spas se d o n h erfa m i l y’ s f arm and i nq ui re d a b o u t h e rp o litic a l a c tiv itie s . G a l e a no a l t e rna t i ve l y a r gue s tha ts he s how e d a w e l l - f ounde d s ubj e c t i ve a nd obj ec t i ve fe arof future pers ec ut i on by offe ri ng cr edi bl e t es t i m on y thatshe f ea re d f orhe rl i f e , a nd by s ubm i tt i ng e vi de nc e c onf i r m i ng the a c t i vi t i e s of

the pa r a m i l i t a r i e s i n the 2001 C ountry R e por ta nd the U N H C R R e por t . G a l e a no c ont e nds tha tthe c ont i nue d pr e s e nc e of he rf a m i l y m e m be r s i n C ol om bi a di d not c o n tr a d ic t h e rc la im th a t s h e h a s a w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a ro f r e tu rn in g to C o lo m b ia because ( 1) the go vernm entfa i l ed t o sho w thatthese fa m i l y m em bers w er e si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed, (2) the IJ fa i l ed t o d evel op the re cord as t o the threa t s herfa ther re ce i ved regardi ng her s af ety, and (3) new evi dence s he subm i tt ed t o the B IA r e f l e c t e d tha the rf

a m i l y c ont i nue d t o be thr e a t e ne d. M or e ove r , G a l e a no a r gue s f or the f i r s tt i m e i n r e pl y tha t , t o the e xt e ntw e m a y note nga ge i n f a c tf i ndi ng r e l a t i ng t o ne w e vi de nc e tha ts he s ubm i tt e d on appe a l t o the B I A , w e s houl d r e m a nd the c a s e t o a l l ow the I J t o c ons i de ri n the f i r s ti ns t a nc e a l l of

the r e l e va nte vi de nc e a nd to a v o id a m a n if

e s t in ju s tic e .Even if Galeano had not abandone d this argument, it is without merit. Although the 18 BIA has the discretion to grant a motion to reopen if thereis new evidence that is material and was not available at the removal hea r, see8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c) (1), a nd although evidenc e re latingto h e r b ro ther’ s kill ingwa s n e w, Gale ano did no t e sta bli shthat th is kill ingwa s re late d to her c laims in her application for re lief from removal, a nd, thus, that it was material. 23 A s aprel i m i nary m att er , t o the ext entG al ea no ’ s r epl y bri ef ca n b e c on strued as ar gu i ng thatthe B IA erre d i n n otre m andi ng the ca se t o the IJ t o con si der ev id en ce sh o w in g th at h erb ro th erh ad b ee n k il led in C o lo m b ia fo ll o w in g th e I J’s i s s ua nc e of

i t s de c i s i on, G a l e a no i nc l ude d i n he rs t a t e m e ntof the f a c t s tha ts he subm i tt ed thi s e vi dence t o the B IA , and she di sc usse d i n h erar gu m entse ct i on that the I J ’ s de c i s i on tha ts he di d notha ve a w e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on w a s unde r c utby he rbr othe r ’ s s ubs e que ntki l l i ng. G a l e a no, how e ve r , di d nota r gue in h e rin itia l b r ie f

th a t th e B I A e rr e d e ith e rin n o t r e m a n d in g th e c a s e to th e I J to c ons i de rthi s ne w e vi de nc e , ori n notdi s c us s i ng thi s e vi de nc e i n i t s or de ra f f i r m i ng th e I J ’s d e c is io n . G a le a n o , th e r e f o r e , h a s a b a n d o n e d th is a r g u m e n t b y f a ilin g to ra i se i ti n h eri ni t i al bri ef . S ee S epul veda, 40 1 F . 3d at12 28 n. 2. M oreover, as 18 di sc usse d abo ve, because the re cord do es no tre fl ec tthatei ther the IJ or the B IA c o n s i d e r e d th i s n e w e v i d e n c e , we m a y n o tc o n s i d e ri ti n th e f i r s ti n s t a n c e . S e e Al N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 7 8 ( h o ld in g th a t w e “c a n n o t e n g a g e in f a c t- f in d in g o n ap p e a l, n o r m ay w e w ei g h ev i d en ce th atw as n o tp rev i o u sl y co n si d ered b el o w ”); see al so F or gue , 401 F . 3d a t1286 ( e xpl a i ni ng tha tw e “ c a nnotf i nd, orc ons i de r , f

a c t s not r a is e d in th e a d m in is tr a tiv e f o ru m ” ) .Pursuant to the REALID Act of 2005, I NA § 208(b) (1), 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)( 1), wa s 19 amende d to add “TheSecretary of Homela

nd Security

or the Attorney

General,”as if enacted on Marc h 1, 2003. See Pub.L . 109-13, 119 Stat. 231 (May 11, 2005), Division B, Sec . 101, 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1) a

nd note (1). 24 A l so as di sc usse d abo ve, the IJ ’ s f ac tual det erm i nat i on s a re re vi ew ed un der th e s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e te s t, a n d w e “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 t he re cord consi dere d as aw ho l e. ” S ee A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 83 -84. A n al i en w ho arri ves in , o ris p r e s e n t in , th e U n ite d S ta te s m a y ap p ly f o ra s y lu m . I N A § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 8(a) (1). T he S ec re t ary of H om el and S ec uri ty or the A tt orney G ener al 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. ” I N A § 2 08 (b)( 1), 8 U . S . C . § 1 15 8(b)(1). A “ re fugee” i s def i ned as 19 any per son w ho i s out si de any c ou ntry of such pers on ’ s nat i on al i ty or, in th e c a s e o f

a p e r s o n h a v in g n o n a tio n a lity , is o u ts id e a n y c o u n try in w hi c h s uc h pe r s on l a s tha bi tua l l y r e s i de d, a nd w ho i s una bl e or unw i l l i ng t o r e turn 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 hers el f of the prot ec t i on of, thatcoun try because of per se cut i on or a w e l l - f ounde d f e a rof pe r s e c ut i on on a c c ountof r a c e , 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 po l i t i ca l o p in io n . . .. IN A § 1 01 (a )( 42 )( A ), 8 U . S . C . § 1 10 1(a) (42)(A ). “ T he as yl um appl i ca ntca rr i es the bur de n of

pr ovi ng s t a tut ory ‘ r e f

uge e ’ s t a tus . ” D - M uhum e d, 388 F . 3d a t818. T o e s t a bl i s h a s y l um e l i gi bi l i ty , the pe t i t i one rm us t , w i th s pe c i f i c a nd c r e d ib le e v id e n c e , d e m o n s tr a te ( 1 ) p a s t p e r s e c u tio n o n a c c o u n t o f a s ta tu to r ily l i st ed fact o r, o r (2 ) a “ w el l -fo u n d ed fear” that th e st atu t o ri l y l i st ed fact o r w i l l cau se25

f utur e pe r s e c ut i on. 8 C . F . R . § 208. 13( a ) , ( b) ; A l N a jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1287. I f the pe t i t i one rde m ons tr a t e s pa s tpe r s e c ut i on, the r e i s a r e butt a bl e pr e s um pt i on tha the ha s a w e l l - f

ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on. 8 C . F . R § 208. 13( b) ( 1) . I f he ca nn otshow pastpers ec ut i on , then t he pet i t i on erm ustdem on stra t e aw el l -f ou nd ed f e 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 b je c tiv e ly g e n u in e a n d o b je 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 ap 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 f e a r s p e r s e c u tio n ,” w h i l e th e o b

j 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 a good r e a s on t o f e a rf utur e pe r s e c ut i on. ” I d. (quo t at i on om i tt ed). A n a lie n s e e k in g w ith h o ld in g o f r e m o v a l u n d e rth e I N A m u s t s h o w th a t h is

“ l i fe or fr ee do m w ou l d b e threa t ened i n thatcoun try because 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 part i cul arsoci al grou p, or po l i t i ca l op i ni on . ” I N A § 241( b) ( 3) ( A ) , 8 U . S . C . § 1231( b) ( 3) ( A ) . A n a l i e n s e e ki ng w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l , how e ve r , m us tde m ons tr a t e tha the “ m or e - l i ke l y - tha n- notw oul d be pe r s e c ut e d ort or tur e d upon hi s r e turn t o the c ountry i n que s t i on, ” M e ndoz a , 327 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . A n a lie n a ls o c a n n o t d e m o n s tr a te th a t h e m o r e - lik e ly - th a n - n o t w o u ld be pe r s e c ut e d on a pr ot e c t e d gr ound i f the I J f i nds tha tthe 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 . I d. T hus , w e ha ve26

de t e r m i ne d tha tthi s bur de n of pr oof , a l though s i m i l a rt o the bur de n f ora s y l um r e l i e f , i s “ m or e s tr i nge nt . ” S e pul ve da , 401 F . 3d a t1232. T h e s ta tu te s g o v e rn 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 rnm e ntf or c e s , buta l s o a ga i ns tpe r s e c ut i on by nong o v er n m en tal g ro u p s th at th e g o v er n m en t can n o t co n tro l. S an ch ez v . U .S . A tt ’y G e n. , 392 F . 3d 434, 437 ( 11th C i r . 2004) . H ow e ve r , the appl i c a ntm us tpr 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 a good r e a s on t o f e a rtha t[ s ] 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 s u c h a n o p in io n .” A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . F urtherm ore, al tho ug h the IN A do es no tdefi ne pers ec ut i on , w e have expl ai ned t hat

“ m er e har as sm entdo es no tam ou ntt o p er se cut i on , ” a nd thatpers ec ut i on i tas “ an e xtr e m e c onc e ptr 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. ” S e pul ve da , 401 F . 3d a t1231 ( i nt e rna l quot a t i ons a nd m a r ks o m itte d ) . H er e, even acc ept i ng as true G al ea no ’ s t es t i m on y, she di d n otes t abl i sh that she s uffe re d p as tpers ec ut i on base d o n ei ther her po l i t i ca l op i ni on , or her m em bers hi p i n the L i bera l P arty. G al ea no t es t i fi ed that(1) i n Jun e 199 9, ei ther g u e r i l l a s o rp a r a mi l i t a r i e s ap p r o a c h e d h e rLi b e r a l Pa r ty g r o u p a n d th r e a t e n e d th e m; ( 2) i n A ugus t1999, pa r a m i l i t a r i e s tr e s pa s s e d on he rf a m i l y f a r m a nd a s ke d a bout her “ po l i t i ca l af

fi l i at i on ”; (3) i n 2 00 0 and 20 01 , pers on s w ho i dent i fi ed them se l ves a s pa r a m i l i t a r i e s c a l l e d he ra the rf a m i l y hom e on thr e e di f f e r e ntoc c a s i ons a nd27

thr e a t e ne d he r ; a nd ( 4) i n A pr i l 2000, a m a n i n a ve hi c l e pul l e d up t o he rw hi l e s he w as w al ki ng do w n the road, i dent i fi ed hi m se l f a s apara m i l i t ary, and t hrea t ened he r . H ow e ve r , e ve n a s s um i ng a ne xus e xi s t e d be tw e e n G a l e a no’ s pol i t i c a l opi ni on a nd the a l l e ge d i nc i de nt s , none of the s e i nc i de nt s r os e t o the l e ve l of pe r s e c ut i on nece ss ary t o sat i sf

y the show i ng for a sy l um or w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al . S ee S ep u l v ed a, 4 0 1 F . 3 d at1 2 3 1 (h o l d i n g th at“ m en aci n g t el ep h o n e cal l s an d th reat s” di d n otri se t o the l evel of pastpers ec ut i on for a sy l um ). G al ea no al so fa i l ed t o d em on stra t e, i n the al t ernat i ve, a f uture threa tt o h er l i f e orf r e e dom on a pr ot e c t e d gr ound i n C ol om bi a , ortha ts he c oul d nota voi d a threa tby re l ocat i ng t o a di ff er entpartof C ol om bi a. A s di sc usse d abo ve, the IJ f in d in g a s n o t c r e d ib le G a le a n o ’s te s tim o n y th a t s h e r e c e iv e d a d e a th th r e a t in J a n u a ry 2 0 0 1 , w a s s u p p o r te d b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e in th e r e c o r d . D e s p ite G a l e a no’ s t e s t i m ony tha ts he w a s a f r a i d t o r e turn t o C ol om bi a be c a us e s he b el i ev ed th atsh e w o u l d b e k i l l ed , an d th atsh e d i d n o tseek asyl u m d u ri n g h er fi rst tr i p t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s be c a us e s he w a s c onc e rne d a boutthe s a f e ty of he rm i nor d a u g h te r , w h o w a s s till liv in g in C o lo m b ia , s h e v o lu n ta r ily r e tu rn e d to C o lo m b ia o n l y s e v e r a l mo n th s b e f o r e l e a v i n g i ta g a i n , a n d s h e e v e n tu a l l y s o u g h ta s y l u m, d e s p ite th a t h e rd a u g h te rs till is liv in g in C o lo m b ia . I n a d d itio n , G a le a n o ’s c la im thata f uture threa texi st s i s bel i ed, atl ea sti n p art , by the fa ctthatthe re cord do es n o t c o n ta in e v id e n c e s h o w in g th a t o th e rm e m b e r s o f h e rr e m a in in g f

a m ily in28

C ol om bi a— i nc l udi ng he rf a the r , w ho i s a l s o a m e m be rof the L i be r a l P a r ty— ha ve be e n pe r s e c ut e d ba s e d on a pr ot e c t e d f a c t or . C f

. T a w m v. A s hc r of

t , 363 F . 3d 740, 743 ( 8th C i r . 2004) ( c onc l udi ng a s pe r s ua s i ve a uthor i ty tha ta n a l i e n di d not e s t a bl i s h a w e l l - f

ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on w he r e , a m ong othe rthi ngs , the a lie n ’s f a m ily c o n tin u e d to liv e in L e b a n o n w ith o u t in c id e n t) . F i na l l y , t o the e xt e ntG a l e a no r e l i e s on the 2001 C ountry R e por ta nd the U N H C R e p o r t in a s s e r tin g th a t s h e h a d a w e ll- f o u n d e d f e a ro f r e tu rn in g to C ol om bi a , both of

the s e doc um e nt s r e f

l e c t e d tha tthe pa r a m i l i t a r i e s ha d a w i de m em bers hi p i n C ol om bi a a nd exer ci se d i ncre as i ng i nfl uence i n 2 00 1. H ow ever , w he the rornotG a l e a no c oul d r e l oc a t e t o a nothe ra r e a w he r e the pr e s e nc e of pa r a m i l i t a r i e s w a s non- e xi s t e ntorm i ni m a l , s he f a i l e d t o de m ons tr a t e tha ts he w ou l d b e s i ng l ed ou tfor per se cut i on on ac coun tof a prot ec t ed grou nd . S ee S e pul ve da , 401 F . 3d a t1232- 33 & n. 7 ( a f f i r m i ng de ni a l of

a s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of re m ov al , despi t e thatC ou ntry R eporti n the re cord ref l ec t ed thatthe pet i t i on er c oul d notr e l oc a t e t o a n a r e a i n C ol om bi a w he r e the pr e s e nc e of gue r i l l a s w oul d be n o n - e x is te n t o rm in im a l) . T h u s , th e I J ’s d e te r m in a tio n th a t th e p e titio n e r s f a ile d to e s t a bl i s h s t a tut ory e l i gi bi l i ty f ora s y l um orw i thhol di ng of r e m ova l i s s uppor t e d by s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e , a n d th e r e c o r d d o e s n o tc o m p e l a c o n tr a ry r e s u l t . S e e Al N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 3 - 8 4 .29

A cc o rd in g ly, w e c o n clu d e th at su b stan ti al ev id en ce su p p o rted b o th th e I J’s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e r m i na t i on a nd the I J ’ s a l t e rna t i ve de t e r m i na t i on tha tthe pe t i t i one r s f

a i l e d t o e s t a bl i s h s t a tut ory e l i gi bi l i ty f ore i the ra s y l um orw i thhol di ng o f r e m o v a l . We , th e r e f

o r e , d e n y th e i rp e t i t i o n f o rr e v i e w. P E T I T I ON DE NI E D.