Opinion ID: 2767664
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ali's Travels

Text: Ali initially testified to the DHS that the men who paid his ransom in 2009 also paid someone to smuggle Ali into Ethiopia. After Ali arrived in Ethiopia, certain elderly gentlemen then paid $8,200 to smuggle Ali from Ethiopia to the United States. Ali claims he then flew from Ethiopia to Turkey, and from Turkey to Brazil. Ali testified that, after he arrived in Brazil, he took a direct flight from São Paulo, Brazil to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Ali then traveled by vehicle through Guatemala and Mexico before arriving at the United States. Before the IJ, Ali first testified that his uncle in Ethiopia gave him $5,500 for travel expenses. Ali later testified during the same hearing, however, that his uncle actually gave him $8,200 to fund his travels. When asked during cross examination whether he stopped in any other countries during his flight from São Paulo to Tegucigalpa, he testified No. It was—there was none. Ali's story changed, however, after the government produced evidence that there were, in fact, no direct flights between São Paulo to Tegucigalpa at the time he allegedly traveled; indeed, Ali then testified that he could no longer recall whether it was a direct flight because he was tired during his travels.