Opinion ID: 75479
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Entry

Text: Lastly, the Al Najjars claim that they will be denied entry into the UAE and Saudi Arabia because of their status as stateless Palestinians, which they claim constitutes persecution on account of nationality. The IJ rejected this argument, finding that persecution based on denial of entry was not established as to Fedaa or Mazen. In so doing, the IJ relied on Faddoul v. INS, 37 F.3d 185 (5th Cir.1994). In Faddoul, a Saudi-born Palestinian argued that Saudi Arabia's denial of exit and re-entry privileges to Palestinians born in Saudi Arabia constitutes persecution. The Fifth Circuit rejected this argument, reasoning that even though Saudi Arabia ... denies Palestinians certain rights enjoyed by Saudi citizens, the government does not single 21 The Department of State Report contained in the record tells the story of Muhammed Al-Mas'ari, spokesman for the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR). The CDLR was established in 1993 to advocate a rigidly Islamic fundamentalist approach. DOS Report, supra, at 1253. Among other things, CDLR spokesman, Al-Mas'ari has expressed opposition to the Saudi King and high level government officials, as well as opposition to peace with Israel and to Saudi support for the peace process. Id. After Al-Mas'ari fled Saudi security forces, fifteen to twenty of his relatives and supporters were arrested. Some were sentenced to prison terms and at least one has been executed by the Saudi government. This account prompts us to consider whether Saudi Arabia supports Israel in the Palestinian-Israeli clash, and to ask whether the Saudis arrested CDLR supporters for expressing opposition to the Israeli-Peace process. We conclude that the foregoing story is not sufficiently specific or telling to demonstrate either. Although other inferences ... may be drawn [from this account], it is not our task to do so as long as substantial evidence supports the BIA's conclusion. Perlera-Escobar, 894 F.2d at 1299. An alien must demonstrate  'specific, detailed facts showing a good reason to fear that he or she will be singled out for persecution.'  Faddoul, 37 F.3d at 188. The story of the CDLR members does not satisfy such a strong showing and therefore, is insufficient, standing alone, to undercut the IJ's determination that Fedaa failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on account of imputed political opinions. In light of the limited scope of our review, we are not at liberty to reject the inferences which the IJ and BIA accepted—i.e., that the Saudis arrested the CDLR supporters because of their opposition to the Saudi King and high level governmental officials—and instead to adopt the inference more favorable to Fedaa's position which the IJ and BIA rejected. out Palestinians for such discriminatory treatment. Id. at 188. Instead, Saudi law grants citizenship based solely on Saudi ancestry. The Fifth Circuit reasoned that Saudi Arabia's method of conferring citizenship does not amount to persecution of Palestinians because all non-Saudis are subject to the same entry and exit restrictions. Id. at 189. Fedaa's claim of persecution based on a denial of entry mirrors Faddoul's. She asserts that because she is of Palestinian ancestry, she will be denied citizenship and/or entry into Saudi Arabia, which constitutes persecution under the Act. As Faddoul recognizes, however, Saudi law grants citizenship solely based on ancestry. This means that the Saudi government does not single out Palestinians for discriminatory treatment. Thus, such treatment does not amount to persecution under the INA. See id. Although Fedaa is not legally entitled to become a Saudi citizen, the Saudis permit nonimmigrant resident refugees to retain Saudi re-entry visas if they return to the country at least every six months. Fedaa procured a Saudi re-entry visa prior to coming to the United States, and since she has been here, she has failed to follow the visa's conditions which caused it to expire. The cancellation of Fedaa's visa had nothing to do with her Palestinian ancestry; it was caused by Fedaa's failure to follow the terms of her visa. Now that her visa is expired, Fedaa's ability to return to Saudi Arabia is contingent on Saudi Arabia's generally applicable policies concerning nonimmigrant refugees. There has been no evidence that these policies single out Palestinian refugees for discriminatory treatment. Instead, testimony offered to the IJ indicates that if Fedaa's entry were sponsored by an employer, like that of other non-Saudis, she could obtain a work permit and return to Saudi Arabia, regardless of her ancestry. The significant fact about the instant record is that Fedaa has failed to demonstrate that if she is denied such a visa, it will be because of her Palestinian ancestry. Indeed, there is nothing in the record to indicate that Saudi Arabia will deny Fedaa an entry visa because she is of Palestinian descent. To reverse a determination that an alien is statutorily ineligible for asylum, there must be record evidence that is so compelling that a reasonable factfinder would be compelled to reach a conclusion contrary to that of the BIA. Here, we have not been presented with any evidence that the Saudis will deny Fedaa entry, or that if such a denial occurred it would be due to her nationality. Therefore, we find substantial, reasonable, and probative evidence supporting the IJ's conclusion that Fedaa failed to establish a well-founded fear that she would be denied entry on account of her nationality. With respect to Mazen's denial of entry claim, we likewise find substantial evidence supporting the IJ's conclusion that persecution on this basis was not established. Much like Saudi Arabia, the UAE grants citizenship based on ancestry and/or marriage. Neither Mazen nor his family is eligible to become citizens of the UAE, since they are of Palestinian origin. There are no formal procedures for accepting refugees into the UAE. See DOS Report, supra, at 1277. Nonetheless, Mazen testified that nonimmigrant refugees may receive temporary residence permits from the Emirate government. Mazen's siblings have procured temporary residence permits from the Emirate government and reside in the UAE at this time. Further, Mazen's father worked for the Ministry of Education in the UAE for over twenty-years, and his parents presently reside in the UAE at least one-half of the year utilizing temporary residence permits. Mazen failed to explain why he would be ineligible for such a permit. Moreover, he has failed to offer any evidence that the Emirate government has ever, or will ever, deny temporary resident permits on the basis of Palestinian ancestry. Not only do Mazen's Palestinian parents and siblings possess such documents, but Mazen himself had such a temporary permit before he moved to the United States. For the foregoing reasons, we find substantial evidence supporting the IJ's determination that Mazen's fear that he will be denied entry into the UAE on account of his nationality is not well-founded.22