Opinion ID: 203910
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Statutory standards for withholding of removal and CAT protection

Text: Withholding of removal is available if `the alien's life or freedom would be threatened in the destination country because of the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.' Sompotan v. Mukasey, 533 F.3d 63, 68 (1st Cir.2008) (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A); alteration omitted). An applicant for withholding of removal may carry his burden of demonstrating this threat to his life or freedom by demonstrating past persecution, which gives rise to a rebuttable presumption of future persecution, or by showing that it is `more likely than not' that [he] will face future persecution based on one of the [five] statutory grounds. Limani v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 25, 31 (1st Cir.2008) (citing 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b)(1)(i), (b)(2)). Persecution, in turn, means mistreatment that extends beyond harassment, unpleasantness, and basic suffering. Sompotan, 533 F.3d at 68 (quotation, alterations omitted). Finally, it is critical that the petitioner[] show a nexus between the alleged persecution and one of the statutorily protected grounds. Id. (quotation omitted). Establishing that nexus requires a demonstration that it is reasonable to believe that the harm was motivated by a protected ground. Id. (quotation omitted). To qualify for protection from removal under the CAT, an applicant must establish that it is `more likely than not that he would be tortured if removed' to the country at issue. Khan v. Mukasey, 549 F.3d 573, 575 n. 2 (1st Cir.2008) (quoting Limani, 538 F.3d at 32; alterations omitted); 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2). `Torture' means `severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental ... inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.' Limani, 538 F.3d at 32 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.18(a)(1)).