Opinion ID: 3049641
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Procedural History and IJ Hearing

Text: Im filed an application for asylum on March 6, 2001, identifying his wife Sitha Ngin as a derivative asylum beneficiary.1 On July 23, 2001, the INS issued NTA’s as to Im and Ngin, finding that they were subject to removal under INA § 237(a)(1)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B), because of their status as non-immigrant aliens who had remained in the country beyond their required departure date. At a removal hearing held on September 13, 2001, Im and Ngin conceded that they were subject to removal. Im also renewed his applications for asylum and withholding of removal, as well as for protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). He again listed Ngin as a derivative asylum applicant. Im and Ngin appeared before an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) for hearings on April 25, 2003, June 25, 2003, and August 21, 2003. After hearing testimony from both Im and his Asylum Officer, the IJ found Im and Ngin removable as charged, denied Im’s application for asylum and withholding of removal under the INA and CAT, and granted him deferral of removal under the CAT. The IJ also denied Ngin’s application for asylum and ordered her removed because he did not believe that she could receive derivative relief under the CAT. The IJ explained the rationale for his decision at the conclusion of the August 21, 2003 hearing and then again in his written order. At the hearing’s end, the IJ informed Im that he was barred from receiving asylum relief or the withholding of removal because he had worked as a prison guard, which the IJ believed rendered him a former persecutor. The IJ acknowledged, however, that he was “going to find all of [Im’s testimony regarding the threats to his safety] completely 1 Im’s wife is also a party to this appeal, separate from her status as a derivative asylum beneficiary. IM v. GONZALES 9763 believable and true,” and that “there’s no dispute that [the assassination attempt] happened.”2 The IJ echoed this position in his written order, stating, “applicant presented testimony which was believable, consistent and sufficiently detailed, therefore he was found to be credible.” The IJ also added “that [Im] has established by a preponderance of the evidence, that it is more likely than not he would be tortured, that is to say, subjected to extreme cruel abuse by the security forces . . . if he were returned to Cambodia.” Because of the significant risk that Im would be tortured if returned to Cambodia, the IJ granted him a deferral of removal under the CAT. Im timely filed a notice of appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) on September 12, 2003, and the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) filed a cross-appeal, challenging the IJ’s grant of deferral of removal under the CAT. While these appeals were pending, Ngin filed a motion on July 28, 2004, asking that the BIA sever her case from Im’s and remand hers to the immigration court to allow her to file her own applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the CAT. On December 21, 2004, the BIA adopted and affirmed the IJ’s decision, dismissed the appeals by Im and DHS, and denied Ngin’s motion 2 The IJ further noted that “Respondent’s claim of past persecution which includes an assassination attempt on his life was attributed to members of a group associated with the government and frankly which the government is unable or unwilling to control, is documented by objective evidence including newspaper reports which are in the record.” He also found that the State Department’s Country Condition reports are “entirely consistent with the Respondent’s claim of past persecution and his assertion of a well-founded fear of future persecution.” In fact, the Cambodian Country Reports on Human Rights practices reveal that a number of Sam Raimsy Party members were assassinated in 2000, and numerous attempts were made on the lives of other party members. 9764 IM v. GONZALES to remand. Im then timely filed the instant petition for review on January 3, 2005.