Source: http://openjurist.org/410/f3d/863
Timestamp: 2015-03-30 11:10:24
Document Index: 39808136

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 212', '§ 1182', '§ 1003', '§ 1252', '§ 1158', '§ 1208']

410 F3d 863 Vasha v. Gonzales | OpenJurist
410 F. 3d 863 - Vasha v. Gonzales	Home410 f3d 863 vasha v. gonzales
410 F3d 863 Vasha v. Gonzales 410 F.3d 863
Fatos VASHA, Petitioner,v.Alberto GONZALES, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 03-3592.
ARGUED: Marisa Petrella, Petrella & Associates, P.C., Southfield, Michigan, for Petitioner. Thankful T. Vanderstar, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
ON BRIEF: Marisa Petrella, Petrella & Associates, P.C., Southfield, Michigan, for Petitioner. Thankful T. Vanderstar, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
Before: MOORE and SUTTON, Circuit Judges; ADAMS, District Judge.*
MOORE, J., delivered the opinion of the court except as to Part II-B.
SUTTON, J. (pp. 876-77), joined the opinion of the court but delivered a separate opinion with respect to Part II-B.
ADAMS, D.J., concurred in the judgment only.
Petitioner, Fatos Vasha ("Vasha"), seeks review of a final order of the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") affirming the decision of the Immigration Judge ("IJ") denying his request for asylum and withholding of removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"). The BIA affirmed the IJ's finding that Vasha was incredible and that he had failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution. In his petition for review, Vasha argues that (1) the BIA's opinion upholding the IJ's decision was not supported by the evidence; (2) his due process rights were violated by the manner in which the IJ conducted the removal hearing; and (3) the BIA improperly applied its streamlining regulation to the case. Upon review, we conclude that the decision to deny Vasha's asylum claim was supported by substantial evidence and that the BIA did not err in designating this case for review by a single BIA member. Furthermore, though we find the IJ's actions in this case particularly troubling, the procedural errors ultimately did not prejudice Vasha's case. Therefore, Vasha's petition for review is DENIED.
Vasha is a thirty-three-year-old native and citizen of Albania. He was born and raised in Mamurras, Albania, which is located in the northern part of the country. Vasha testified that his family has a long history of political persecution under the former communist regime. Several members of his family, including his grandfather, fled from Albania to the United States in 1947. As a result, the family members who remained in Albania were branded as traitors and forced to live in an internment camp. Vasha testified that once he became older, he joined the anti-communist movement and participated in protests against the communist regime. Vasha continued his protests against the socialist government, which was elected in 1997 and which he claims is comprised of the same people who were in power in the communist government. At his removal hearing, Vasha testified to five specific incidents which occurred during either the communist or socialist eras, in support of his asylum and withholding of removal claims.
On July 9, 1990, at the age of eighteen, Vasha, along with a large group of anti-communist protestors, tried to flee Albania by traveling to Tirana, the capital of the country, to seek asylum at the various foreign embassies located there. Vasha testified that the police stopped the large crowd of people at the entrance to Tirana, and arrested him. At his removal hearing, he testified that the police grabbed him by the hair, shouted profanities at him, and threw him in a police car, which transported him back to Mamurras. Vasha claimed that the Mamurras police held him for seventy-two hours, during which he was interrogated and tortured. Specifically, Vasha testified that the police "beat me pretty badly. They beat me with plastic rods ... with wet rope, and they stuck needles underneath my nails." Joint Appendix ("J.A.") at 322 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 29). According to Vasha, he was released after seventy-two hours, because the police did not have any evidence to charge him with a crime. He explained that following his release, his mother attempted to treat his wounds with homeopathic drugs, aspirin, and tea, but eventually he was taken to the medical center for treatment of his injuries.
On December 10, 1990, Vasha traveled with his cousins and friends to Tirana to support a hunger strike by pro-democracy students protesting the communist government. Vasha testified that he participated in the demonstration by shouting anti-communist slogans. On December 13, 1990, Vasha returned to Mamurras, where he was arrested by the police, taken to the police station, and placed in a very small room. He testified that the police kicked, punched, and beat him for thirty minutes with plastic rods and wet rope. He claimed that the police told him that "[w]e have had [communism] for 45 years and we are not going to let it go." J.A. at 317 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 24). According to Vasha, his relatives had discovered he was being held at the police station and protested outside of it demanding his release. The police decided to release him after forty-eight hours, but to "discredit [him] in the eyes of the Mammuras [sic] people." J.A. at 318 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 25). He testified that he was taken to the medical center for treatment of his injuries.
On February 13, 1991, Vasha and his friends participated in another student protest against the communist government in Tirana. The protestors pulled down a statue of Enver Hoxha, the communist ruler of Albania. Vasha participated in the protest by shouting anti-communist slogans four to five hours a day for seven consecutive days. Vasha testified that as the demonstrators marched to the city center, fire trucks sprayed them with a solution which stained their clothes a specific color. Vasha claimed that after the demonstration, he and his friends were stopped by the police outside of Tirana. Recognizing that they were protestors by their stained clothing, the police handcuffed them and dragged them by their hair to the police station. At the station, Vasha was kicked, punched, and beaten with a plastic rod for more than six hours. Vasha testified that he was beaten to the point of unconsciousness, but the police poured cold water on him to revive him. He explained that the police eventually released him to make room for additional protestors in the police station, and that he walked home.
After the collapse of the communist government and the election of the Democratic Party in 1992, Vasha experienced a "quiet period" where he was able to attend college. J.A. at 342 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 49). He became a member of the Association of Formerly Politically Persecuted Persons as well as a political party known as Balli Kombetar. His duties in the latter included recruiting new members and working with party candidates in the 1996 and 1997 elections. Vasha claimed that following the election of the Socialist Party in June 1997, he was fired from his job for political reasons. On October 15, 1997, Vasha participated in a protest against the socialist government's practice of firing governmental employees because of their political affiliation. Vasha attended the demonstration as a representative of Balli Kombetar and spoke at the event. The following morning police officers arrested Vasha at his home, handcuffed him, and took him to the police station. After Vasha admitted that he had participated in the demonstration, the police beat him with plastic rods and a wooden chair leg. He claimed he was beaten approximately six times over a two-day period.
On September 15, 1998, Vasha participated in an anti-government demonstration to protest the assassination of Azem Harjdari, a Democratic Party leader. Vasha testified that he held up a sign during the demonstration which stated "Az[e]m, You Are Alive," a reference to protestors' claim that their cause would continue despite Harjdari's death. J.A. at 351 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 58). Vasha testified that at the demonstration, sharpshooters shot and killed a member of Balli Kombetar, who was standing a few feet away from Vasha. A few days later, a friend came to Vasha's home and told him that the police had placed his name on a "blacklist." J.A. at 353 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 60). The friend advised Vasha to leave the country immediately or else risk being arrested or killed. On September 18, 1998, two officers from the investigative division arrived at Vasha's home looking for him, but he was in hiding.
Vasha testified that soon afterwards he sold one of his houses and used the proceeds to pay smugglers to bring him to the United States. On October 10, 1998, he and his cousin entered the United States in Chicago using false documents and traveled to Michigan. Later, his wife entered the United States illegally and joined him. Vasha and his wife have a daughter, who was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and is a United States citizen. Though he does not have a job, Vasha supports his family by performing household chores for his U.S. relatives, who in turn permit the family to live with them.
On March 1, 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") served Vasha with a Notice to Appear, charging him with being present in the United States without being admitted or paroled, in violation of § 212(a)(6)(A)(i) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(A)(i). On April 5, 1999, Vasha filed an application for asylum and withholding of removal. At the removal hearing, Vasha conceded his unlawful status, but asserted he was eligible for asylum and withholding of removal because he would be imprisoned or killed if he were ever to return to Albania. Dr. Darren Fischer ("Dr.Fischer"), an associate professor at Indiana University, testified as an expert witness on Vasha's behalf, and stated that Mamurras is "something of a wild west region" where "the government has very little control," "[t]he police tend to be ineffectual," and "[t]he courts tend to be corrupted." J.A. at 410 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 117). He explained that "real power tends to rest with a series of Albanian, and probably now, regional Mafias." J.A. at 410 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 117). Dr. Fischer also testified that there was "long-standing hostility" between the Socialist Party and Balli Kombetar. J.A. at 412 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 119).
Following the close of all the evidence and the opportunity for closing arguments, the IJ, Elizabeth A. Hacker, recessed the proceeding to "formulate a decision." J.A. at 419 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 126). After the recess, the IJ returned and stated on the record that through discussions with the court clerk, who is of Albanian descent, the IJ learned that Vasha had a relationship with Ekrem Bardaj ("Bardaj"), a prominent member of the local Albanian community.1 The IJ stated that she questioned Vasha off the record about the relationship, and discovered that Bardaj was Vasha's second cousin, with whom he was living. Furthermore, the IJ learned from her clerk that the president of Albania was visiting the Detroit area the next month and Bardaj was one of the sponsors of the trip. The IJ concluded that:
The Court's intention at this point, since I am aware, by the Court's Clerk, who is currently on vacation, by virtue of our discussions, who is also a member of the Albanian community, that the [Albanian president] is coming and I'm aware of who is sponsoring it. Unless the parties have reason to dispute what I've said, I've no intention of continuing. I'm prepared to enter an order now.
J.A. at 422 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 129). At this point, Vasha's counsel suggested that the evidence be placed on the record. The IJ responded that "in order to satisfy both sides ... I will ensure that before I issue my decision in this case, I will get the record. And the decision will I then enter forthwith. I will allow no further submission of evidence." J.A. at 423 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 130). The IJ cautioned, however, that "given the relationship and given the fact that this is the same cousin who has been supporting this respondent, as we have learned in our discussions ... there's a strong likelihood that I may make a finding which is adverse." J.A. at 424 (Removal Hr'g Tr. at 131).
The IJ then recessed the proceeding and signed a subpoena for Bardaj to appear for a removal hearing for Vasha's cousin, which was scheduled the same day as Vasha's next hearing. On November 4, 1999, Vasha's removal hearing was reconvened and the Government called Bardaj to testify. Bardaj testified that Vasha lived in his house for some period of time and that Bardaj served as one of the hosts when the Albanian president visited the United States. On August 7, 2001, the IJ issued a written order denying Vasha's request for asylum and withholding of removal. The IJ found Vasha to be incredible based on several inconsistencies and implausibilities in his testimony as well as the absence of any corroboration. Furthermore, the IJ found that Vasha failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution in light of the fact that his cousin, Bardaj, had a significant relationship with the current Albanian president. In addition to ordering his removal, the IJ also entered a Frivolous Finding Order against Vasha. On March 27, 2003, pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(5), a single member of the BIA affirmed the IJ's decision, with the exception of the Frivolous Finding Order. Vasha now petitions this court for review of the denial of his asylum and withholding of removal claims.
Vasha argues in his petition that the BIA erred in upholding the IJ's adverse credibility conclusion. We have stated that "[c]redibility determinations are considered findings of fact, and are reviewed under the substantial evidence standard." Sylla v. INS, 388 F.3d 924, 925 (6th Cir.2004). Under that standard, findings of fact are treated as "`conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.'" Yu v. Ashcroft, 364 F.3d 700, 702 (6th Cir.2004) (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B)). Applying this deferential standard to Vasha's case, we conclude that the IJ's credibility finding was supported by the evidence, and therefore, the record does not compel a contrary result.
Under the INA, the Attorney General may grant asylum to an alien who qualifies as a "refugee," which is defined as one "who is unable or unwilling to return to ... [his or her home country] because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(1), 1101(a)(42)(A). An applicant for asylum bears the burden of demonstrating that "persecution is a reasonable possibility should he be returned to his country of origin." Perkovic v. INS, 33 F.3d 615, 620 (6th Cir.1994) (internal quotation omitted). The applicant need not demonstrate that he will probably be persecuted if returned because "[o]ne can certainly have a well-founded fear of an event happening when there is less than a 50% chance of the occurrence taking place." INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 431, 107 S.Ct. 1207, 94 L.Ed.2d 434 (1987). "The testimony of the applicant, if credible, may be sufficient to sustain the burden of proof without corroboration." 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(a).
In this case, the BIA adopted the reasoning of the IJ, who denied Vasha's asylum application "primarily due to [his] lack of credibility and corroboration." J.A. at 45 (IJ Written Order at 21). We have stated that though "an adverse credibility finding is afforded substantial deference, the finding must be supported by specific reasons. An adverse credibility finding must be based on issues that go to the heart of the applicant's claim. They cannot be based on an irrelevant inconsistency." Sylla, 388 F.3d at 926 (internal quotation and citations omitted). Moreove