Opinion ID: 687673
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: decision of the district director

Text: 25 We conclude the district director's decision did not lack a rational basis and he did not abuse his discretion in denying Khalaj's application for stay of deportation. 26 The fact that the district director did not address the grant of asylum to Khalaj's sister does not render his decision without a rational basis. While the treatment of family members who share a petitioner's political beliefs is material to the likelihood of the petitioner's own persecution, Makonnen v. INS, 44 F.3d 1378, 1383 (8th Cir.1995), the record in the present case does not indicate Khalaj ever showed that the circumstances surrounding the grant of asylum to her sister were in any way similar to her own circumstances. In the absence of such information, Germany's grant of asylum to Khalaj's sister has no probative value for Khalaj's situation. 27 The district director did not abuse his discretion in failing to consider the impact of Khalaj's impending marriage. There is no indication in the record that Khalaj informed INS officials of the marriage. Further, the fact of marriage after deportation proceedings have commenced does not necessitate the granting of a stay. See, e.g., Bothyo, 772 F.2d at 357; see also Salas-Velazquez v. INS, 34 F.3d 705, 709 (8th Cir.1994) (petitioner's marriage to a U.S. citizen after immigration proceedings had begun did not compel a finding of extreme hardship for purposes of a suspension of deportation); Carnalla-Munoz v. INS, 627 F.2d 1004, 1006 n. 3, 1007 (9th Cir.1980) (an equity obtained after a deportation order was entered is entitled to less weight than it would otherwise demand).