Opinion ID: 4563581
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jabateh Seeks Asylum

Text: But though mad, Jabateh was no fool. So when the civil war ended with Taylor and the NPFL victorious, and a possible reckoning for his crimes loomed, Jabateh left Liberia and applied for asylum in the United States. As part of the application, Jabateh filed Form I-589 (“Asylum Application”) 7 with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. One question on the Asylum Application asked: Have you or any member of your family ever belonged to or been associated with any organizations or groups in your home country, such as, but not limited to, a political party, student group, labor union, religious organization, military or paramilitary group, civil patrol, guerrilla organization, ethnic group, human rights group, or the press or media? If yes, provide a detailed explanation of your or your relatives’ involvement with each group and include the name of each organization or group; the dates of membership or affiliation; the purpose of the organization; your duties or your relatives’ duties or responsibilities in the group or organization; and whether you or your relatives are still active in the group(s). (App. at 93.) Jabateh responded “Yes” and referred to the attached personal statement. (App. at 93.) In addition, the Asylum Application asked: Have you, your spouse, or child(ren) ever caused harm or suffering to any person because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or belief in a particular political opinion, or ever ordered, assisted, or otherwise participated in such acts? (App. at 95.) In response to this question, Jabateh marked “No” on the form. (App. at 93.) 8 In the personal statement accompanying his asylum application, Jabateh spun a tale that reimagined his role during the war and diffidently cast himself as an innocent victim of ethnic persecution. He claimed he worked as an intelligence officer for ULIMO’s predecessor, and was merely transferred into the successor organization. Jabateh painted ULIMO’s cause as noble, hoping to “protect Mandingo and Krahn people from being murdered and massacred by NPFL forces and to bring democracy to Liberia[.]” (App. at 99.) But Jabateh never mentioned military combat. Instead, he explained his work as largely clerical and administrative, first inside the executive headquarters and later as part of the security detail for ULIMO’s leader. Then, he explained, when ULIMO’s opponents took office, Jabateh and his fellow Mandingo colleagues were dismissed. And fearing persecution, he fled to the United States. In short, fabrications and falsehoods filled his written statements. In 1999, Jabateh met with Nancy Vanlue, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) asylum officer, for an interview about his application (“1999 Interview”). At the meeting, Vanlue reviewed Jabateh’s written responses in his Asylum Application, and his accompanying personal statement. During the interview, Vanlue asked Jabateh to confirm his answers, including whether he had “ever committed a crime” or “harmed anyone else.” (App. at 166, 570–71.) Jabateh was firm, responding “no.” Accepting his sworn answers, Vanlue recommended Jabateh be granted asylum. Based on his application responses and Vanlue’s recommendation, Jabateh was granted asylum. 9