Opinion ID: 2738117
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: 2008-2011 Removal Proceedings

Text: Albornoz is a native and citizen of Venezuela. In February 2002, Albornoz arrived in Miami as a nonimmigrant visitor with authorization to remain until February 4, 2003. On January 2, 2008, Albornoz was served with a Notice to Appear, charging him with removability as an alien who had remained in the United States for a time longer than permitted, under Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) § 237(a)(1)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B). Albornoz filed a pro se application seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”), based on his political opinion and his membership in political groups. Albornoz claimed that he feared he would be harmed if returned to Venezuela because of his work against the government of President Hugo Chavez and his beliefs in freedom of expression and democracy. Albornoz also indicated that he had married his now ex-wife, a 2 Case: 13-10807 Date Filed: 09/30/2014 Page: 3 of 14 United States citizen, in 2005. Albornoz submitted evidence to support his claim that he had been tortured, beaten, threatened, and detained for opposing the Chavez government. On April 22, 2008, Albornoz conceded removability. On June 1, 2010, an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) granted Albornoz’s motion to substitute Claudia Del Castillo-Hronsky as his attorney. Castillo-Hronsky was Albornoz’s third attorney. 1 During his removal hearing on January 12, 2011, Albornoz testified that, on December 16, 2001, two men attacked, kidnapped, and, after drinking alcohol, sexually abused him. The men told Albornoz that it was “a consequence of [his] work against the government of Chavez.” On cross-examination, Albornoz admitted that he had not told the asylum officer that he had been sexually abused. The IJ found that Albornoz’s asylum claim was time-barred, and, in any event, his testimony was not credible or plausible. Albornoz did not provide sufficient detail to establish that he would be singled out by the Chavez government over other political dissidents, and made inconsistent and inaccurate statements concerning his past mistreatment. Accordingly, the IJ denied Albornoz’s claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief. On January 23, 2012, the BIA agreed with the IJ’s adverse credibility determination and dismissed Albornoz’s appeal. 1 Prior to Castillo-Hronsky, Albornoz retained Anthony Alvarez and then Juan Gonzalez as counsel. 3 Case: 13-10807 Date Filed: 09/30/2014 Page: 4 of 14