Source: https://casetext.com/case/turay-v-ashcroft
Timestamp: 2019-09-23 17:59:24
Document Index: 183729622

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1158', '§ 1101', '§ 1208', '§ 1231', '§ 208', '§ 208', '§ 1252']

Turay v. Ashcroft, 405 F.3d 663 | Casetext
Turay v. Ashcroft
405 F.3d 663 (8th Cir. 2005)
Turayv.Ashcroft
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth CircuitApr 26, 2005
Turay is a citizen of Sierra Leone who came to the United States in 2001 and timely sought refugee status. Turay contends that he was a victim of past persecution for his political beliefs. In support, Turay recounted the incidents that precipitated his departure from Sierra Leone during its civil war. Specifically, Turay was physically assaulted and kidnapped by the Kamajors, a pro-government rebel group that invaded his residence. At the time, Turay believed the Kamajors were anti-government. Turay stated "they want me to join in their fight . . . but their fight [was] with the government and I don't even know why they are fighting, but I don't want to join them in that fight." Turay tried to hide from the rebels but they captured him.
Once in Kamajor custody, Turay was questioned by the rebels about his political allegiance. Turay testified that he did not tell the rebels his political opinion because Turay believed the rebels would kill him due to his pro-government stance. The rebels tried to recruit Turay but he refused. The rebels, assuming that Turay opposed the government, repeatedly physically assaulted him, including the infliction of knife wounds. The rebels also burned down Turay's house and forced Turay to carry loads for them. Turay testified that the Kamajors "wanted to overthrow [President Kabbah] because they wanted to take over power."
Turay has a one-inch scar on his right arm, an inch mark on his left arm, and a two-inch scar on his left leg.
Turay applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under CAT. At Turay's hearing, the IJ asked Turay whether he knew of Foday Sankoh. Turay replied that he did not. Turay's application was denied in large measure based upon the IJ's findings that Turay's account and supporting evidence lacked credibility. Turay appealed to the BIA. The BIA affirmed the IJ's decision and dismissed Turay's appeal finding that Turay failed to present credible evidence in support of his application. Turay now appeals from the BIA's dismissal.
We review questions of law de novo, Tang v. INS, 223 F.3d 713, 718-19 (8th Cir. 2000); Ikenokwalu-White v. INS, 316 F.3d 798, 804 (8th Cir. 2003), and we review an IJ's fact determinations by applying the substantial evidence test. Melecio-Saquil v. Ashcroft, 337 F.3d 983, 986-87 (8th Cir. 2003); Perinpanathan v. INS, 310 F.3d 594, 597 (8th Cir. 2002). Under that test, we must affirm if the IJ's decision is supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence. Melecio-Saquil, 337 F.3d at 986-97; Perinpanathan, 310 F.3d at 597. Fact determinations may be reversed only if the petitioner demonstrates that the evidence was so compelling that no reasonable fact finder could fail to find in favor of the petitioner. Melecio-Saquil, 337 F.3d at 986; Perinpanathan, 310 F.3d at 597.
The Attorney General has discretion to grant asylum to a "refugee." 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(1999). Refugee is defined as "any person who is outside of the country of his nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to avail himself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well found fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42)(1999).
In resolving most asylum cases, "the critical inquiry is whether the applicant has a well-founded fear of future persecution upon return to his or her country." Perinpanathan, 310 F.3d at 597-598 (citing Kratchmarov v. Heston, 172 F.3d 551, 553 (8th Cir. 1999)). A well-founded fear must be both "subjectively genuine and objectively reasonable." Id.; Feleke v. INS, 118 F.3d 594, 598 (8th Cir. 1997). "An alien may establish the subjective element with credible testimony that he or she genuinely fears persecution." Francois v. INS, 283 F.3d 926, 930 (8th Cir. 2002) (citing Ghasemimehr v. INS, 7 F.3d 1389, 1390 (8th Cir. 1993)). Objectively, the alien must show "credible, direct, and specific evidence that a reasonable person in the alien's position would fear persecution if returned to the alien's native country." Id. This fear "must have [a] basis in reality and must be neither irrational nor so speculative or general as to lack credibility." Perinpanathan, 310 F.3d at 598.
An application for asylum automatically includes a request for withholding of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.3(b); see INS v. Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 420 n. 13, 104 S.Ct. 2489, 81 L.Ed.2d 321 (1984). An alien may not be removed if the alien shows there is a clear probability that his "life, or freedom would be threatened in [the alien's] country because of the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion." 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A)(1999); Ngure v. Ashcroft, 367 F.3d 975, 989 (8th Cir. 2004). The standard for withholding of removal, a clear probability of persecution, is more rigorous than the well-founded fear standard for asylum. Rife v. Ashcroft, 374 F.3d 606, 613 (8th Cir. 2004); Wondmneh v. Ashcroft, 361 F.3d 1096, 1099 (8th Cir. 2004). An alien who fails to prove eligibility for asylum cannot meet the standard for establishing withholding of removal. Ngure, 367 F.3d at 992.
Under CAT, an alien must show that "it is more likely than not that he would be tortured if returned to the proposed country of removal." Ngure, 367 F.3d at 992 (citing Perinpanathan,
310 F.3d at 599); 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2). In determining eligibility under CAT, "all evidence relevant to the possibility of future torture should be considered including but not limited to: past torture inflicted upon the applicant; the applicant's ability to relocate to another area of the country where torture is unlikely; and gross, flagrant, or mass violations of human rights." Ngure, 367 F.3d at 992; 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(3).
Turay offered no new arguments or evidence for his CAT claim. The recent Asylum Reports for Sierra Leone indicate that the situation has stabilized, with a successful election in 2002. Moreover, there were no reported killings by the rebels in the past two years. We therefore deny Turay's CAT claim.
The IJ made an adverse credibility finding based on the documents Turay offered, Turay's ignorance as to identity of the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Foday Sankoh, and his ignorance of the political ideology of the Kamajors. "The IJ's adverse credibility findings, however, `are conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.' 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B)." Pilica v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 941, 952 (6th Cir. 2004).