Opinion ID: 3162305
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Appeal to the BIA and the BIA’s Decision

Text: Luis and Magnolia appealed the IJ’s decision to the BIA. They argued that Luis’s clear, consistent, and credible testimony, along with the other evidence submitted, established past persecution on account of an imputed political opinion because of his work with the Avanti Foundation. They also contended that the IJ erred by effectively requiring Luis to submit evidence directly identifying his kidnappers as the FARC and by relying on the petitioners’ failure to file a police report. The government moved for summary affirmance, citing discrepancies in Luis’s testimony, the purported implausibility of his claims, and the lack of sufficient evidence corroborating his testimony. The BIA dismissed the appeal and affirmed the IJ’s decision. In doing so, the BIA disagreed that Luis’s testimony was sufficient to establish his claim for asylum because “the Immigration Judge, as trier of fact, had the authority to request that further corroboration be supplied,” pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(ii). The BIA explained, The Immigration Judge determined that the corroborating evidence presented by the respondent was not sufficient to sustain his burden of proof. The Immigration Judge supported this determination by pointing to evidence which could have been reasonably presented, such as evidence from [Magnolia]. The Immigration Judge noted that [Magnolia] did not file a missing persons report even though [Luis] had been gone for 15 days. The Immigration Judge also considered the lack of letters or 11 Case: 14-12762 Date Filed: 12/14/2015 Page: 12 of 22 affidavits from other family members or evidence of the medical treatment he received after the kidnaping. In addition, the BIA stated that, in light of its disposition of the matter “based on the Immigration Judge’s finding regarding corroboration and the lack of a requisite nexus,” it was unnecessary to discuss the petitioners’ “other appellate arguments relating to persecution.” Luis and Magnolia timely petitioned this Court for review. On appeal, the petitioners contend that Luis’s testimony, which the IJ found to be credible, sufficiently established his claim of asylum relief. Luis, they contend, credibly testified that it was the FARC who kidnapped him and that the reason he was kidnapped was because of his work for the Avanti Foundation. They assert that the “corroborating” evidence the IJ required would have tended to prove only whether he was, in fact, kidnapped, but it would have had little or no probative value as to nexus. The IJ’s reasoning, they claim, is inconsistent and unclear, making it impossible to meaningfully review the IJ’s and the BIA’s decisions. Luis and Magnolia further contend that the IJ cannot require corroborating evidence that is not available or discount credible testimony for lack of corroboration without first finding that such evidence is available, and that the IJ failed to give notice to Luis of the need for corroboration and an opportunity to either provide the evidence or explain why he cannot do so. 12 Case: 14-12762 Date Filed: 12/14/2015 Page: 13 of 22