Opinion ID: 2975312
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Petitioner’s Appeals to the BIA and This Court

Text: Petitioner filed a notice of appeal to the Board. On May 31, 2006, in a one-page order, the Board adopted and affirmed the decision of the IJ and dismissed the appeal. Petitioner timely filed a petition for review by this court. Petitioner contends that his “forced conscription into the Salvadoran guerrilla army, with beatings, exposure to combat, and threats of assassination of those who flee the guerrillas,” constitutes persecution on account of political opinion and that, consequently, he is eligible for withholding of removal, despite the Supreme Court’s holding in INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478 (1992). Petitioner’s primary argument in this appeal is that he was persecuted on account of imputed political opinion, that is, that he was persecuted by the guerrillas either because they perceived him to be sympathetic to their cause or because he could be forced to adopt their position. In response, the Government asserts, 5 first, that this court should not consider Petitioner’s imputed political opinion argument because he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with respect to this claim. Second, the Government contends that because the imputed political opinion argument is the primary claim raised in Petitioner’s brief before this court, Petitioner has abandoned or waived any challenge to the IJ’s conclusion that he did not face a clear probability of future persecution. Finally, the Government argues, in the alternative, that even if this court reviews this case on its merits, Petitioner has failed to establish that the record compels reversal of the final removal order.