Opinion ID: 2974634
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Independent Evidence

Text: The IJ and BIA decisions both conclude that Petitioner failed to corroborate his testimony with independent evidence. The record indicates that Petitioner produced some independent 11 No. 05-4044 evidence, namely, 1) the medical-legal report; 2) two hospital reports, dated November 21, 2000, and February 9, 2001; 3) a letter from a doctor in the United States affirming that Petitioner had a nose surgery to repair injuries sustained in Albania and was scheduled for another surgery; and 4) a declaration from an Albanian attorney. Petitioner’s submissions, however, fail to substantiate his testimony. Petitioner produced the medical-legal report to corroborate his testimony about being detained and beaten by police officers in October 2000. However, during his examination at the hearing, Petitioner simply could not explain the circumstances surrounding the medical-legal report, namely, he failed to explain exactly how or why the report was prepared, and whether it was related to a government investigation. The medical-legal report, therefore, does not corroborate Petitioner’s testimony. The Albanian medical records and the letter from the United States doctor indicate that Petitioner sustained nose injuries, but do not, and simply cannot, connect his injuries to a detention, beating, or incident of past persecution. Since Petitioner’s testimony did not provided specific facts and details about his detention and beating, how he sustained the injuries remains unclear. Petitioner produced the declaration from the Albanian attorney to substantiate his testimony about the October 2000 police beating. However, the declaration contradicts and undermines Petitioner’s testimony. Petitioner affirmed that “right after [he] was released from the police station, [he] went to the emergency room,” (J.A. 75), to seek medical treatment for his injuries. Yet, the lawyer’s declaration indicates that he waited several days to seek medical treatment. Petitioner failed to reconcile this inconsistency. 12 No. 05-4044 Petitioner did not proffer adequate independent evidence to corroborate his alleged past persecution. He also failed to adequately connect his corroborating evidence to his testimony. In addition, although Petitioner avers a long history of involvement with the Democratic Party he failed to produce any evidence of his membership in the party. The Court finds that the IJ and BIA properly denied Petitioner’s immigration applications because his testimony lacked meaningful independent evidence.