Opinion ID: 2610
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: IJ Iskra's July 16, 2002 Decision

Text: On July 16, 2002, IJ Iskra issued a ruling on Ali's requests for relief. See In re Peter Conrad Ali, No. A 30 105 177 (Immig.Ct.Arlington, Va., July 16, 2002). IJ Iskra found that Ali had not met his burden of proving that he was persecuted because of his ethnicity, so he was not eligible for asylum. But IJ Iskra found credible Ali's account of the physical and sexual abuse he experienced in Guyana in 1997. [A]lthough this respondent ... has committed many offenses and has made inconsistent statements, IJ Iskra stated, [i]t is the opinion of the Court ... that the respondent's testimony with respect to what happened to him when he was arrested in 1997 by the Guyanese authorities is credible. IJ Iskra emphasized that Ali's account was corroborated by the background information submitted, which documented inhumane and degrading prison conditions and recorded numerous instances of murder, torture, and ill treatment by the Guyanese police, including instances involving criminal suspects. On the basis of this credibility finding, IJ Iskra concluded that Ali had met his burden of proving that he would be subject to torture if returned to Guyana. IJ Iskra denied Ali's request for withholding of removal under the CAT, however, because Ali's criminal history suggested that he would be a danger to the U.S. community. Instead, IJ Iskra granted Ali deferral of removal and left it to the discretion of the INS as to whether or not [Ali] shall be released from custody. Neither party appealed this decision.