Opinion ID: 217072
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: On Account Of Ethnicity

Text: The IJ determined that Estonia's policy was not based on ethnicity because the policy invalidated diplomas that anyone, regardless of ethnicity, earned at Russian schools. This conclusion fails to take into account that it seems inevitable that the policy disproportionately impacted ethnic Russians, who are more likely than other Estonians to have the language skills to attend and the interest in attending a Russian school. Critically, the IJ acknowledged that Estonia's policy of diploma invalidation probably was the result of pent-up frustration resulting from years of Soviet rule. A.R. 69 (IJ Op.). That finding shows that the persecution was motivated ..., at least in part, on account of an enumerated ground. Bi Xia Qu v. Holder, 618 F.3d 602, 608 (6th Cir.2010). Even if other motivesfor example, an unlikely but conceivable determination that Russian schools are systemically inadequatealso could have motivated the policy, ethnicity was one motivating factor. The only evidence about Estonia's policy for schools outside Estonia and Russia is that Stserba, when asked whether the policy appl[ied] to all foreign diplomas, responded Not at all. It's only for Russians received in Soviet Union. A.R. 129 (2/21/08 Hr'g Tr., Stserba). It is possible that Stserba was testifying about the particular policy that affected Russians; there may be other policies that invalidate diplomas from other countries. The evidence about Estonia's general practice is sparse, but its policy with regard to Russia is clear. The evidence compels the conclusion that Estonia invalidated Russian diplomas, at least in part, on account of ethnicity. In sum, Stserba's job limitations amount to past persecution on account of ethnicity. Because we conclude that Stserba suffered past persecution, we REMAND to the BIA for further proceedings and to determine in the first instance whether petitioners are entitled to a discretionary grant of asylum. Gilaj, 408 F.3d at 290; see also Mapouya, 487 F.3d at 411.