Opinion ID: 795029
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Order Granting Asylum

Text: 3 In her claim for asylum, Hailemichael never alleged past persecution. Instead, she sought asylum because she feared persecution on account of her political opinion if she returned to Ethiopia. Hailemichael and her husband had been politically active in support of Ethiopia's Mengistu government, which Ethiopia's current government overthrew in the early 1990s. 4 Among other bases for her fear, Hailemichael testified about her political activities and her husband's and father's politically-motivated imprisonment in Ethiopia. Relying upon Hailemichael's testimony and numerous exhibits containing country information regarding the respondent, the IJ found that Hailemichael possessed a well-founded fear of persecution. As a result, in September 2000, the IJ granted Hailemichael asylum. 5