Opinion ID: 455831
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: ARGUELLO-SALGUERA'S SECTION 243(h) CLAIM

Text: 20 The immigration judge observed Arguello-Salguera over the course of three deportation hearings and explicitly determined both that she was credible and that her evidence was sufficient to establish both a well-founded fear and a clear probability of persecution. Nevertheless, the Board rejected her claims. In doing so, the Board merely restated what Arguello-Salguera's evidence consisted of, and what sorts of facts she had not established. We cannot determine from its opinion whether, despite the immigration judge's express credibility findings, the Board found that Arguello-Salguera's story was not credible, or whether it accepted her testimony as truthful and believable but nevertheless found the evidence legally insufficient to establish a clear probability of persecution. 21 As the government points out, the Board has the power to review the record de novo and make its own findings of fact. See Noverola-Bolaina v. INS, 395 F.2d 131 (9th Cir.1968). The Board also has the right to disagree with the immigration judge's credibility findings. See McMullen, 658 F.2d at 1318. Similarly, the Board may determine that the evidence is legally insufficient, despite an immigration judge's contrary determination. 22 Nevertheless, in order for us properly to review the Board's determination, we must understand the basis for its decision and how it arrived at the findings underlying that decision. See Conteras-Buenfil v. INS, 712 F.2d 401, 403 (9th Cir.1983); Mejia-Carrillo v. INS, 656 F.2d 520, 522 (9th Cir.1981). If the findings of the immigration judge and the Board conflict, we will consider the judge's findings as well as the Board's. McMullen, 658 F.2d at 1318 (citing Universal Camera Corp. v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474, 71 S.Ct. 456, 95 L.Ed. 456 (1951), for the proposition that evidence in support of the Board's conclusion may be considered less persuasive if examiner who observed witness drew conclusions different than Board's); cf. Saballo-Cortez v. INS, 761 F.2d 1259, 1266 (9th Cir.1985) (we defer to immigration judge's negative credibility findings if supported by the record). However, we cannot tell how to view the credibility issue nor can we properly determine whether the Board's decision is supported by substantial evidence, see Bolanos-Hernandez, 767 F.2d at 1282 n. 8; Saballo-Cortez, 761 F.2d at 1262, unless we understand the Board's findings and its reasons for denying relief. 23 Because we cannot determine from the Board's opinion whether its conclusion that Arguello-Salguera failed to satisfy the requirements for relief under section 243(h) was based on its independent, implicit negative credibility findings or reflected some legal determination it made after accepting the immigration judge's credibility findings, we must remand her prohibition against deportation claim for clarification of the Board's opinion. 24 REVERSED AND REMANDED.