Opinion ID: 201440
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Subjective Fear

Text: 18 To prove a well-founded fear of future persecution, Petitioner also must demonstrate a subjective fear of persecution. Velasquez, 342 F.3d at 58-59. Under this prong, Petitioner must prove that his fear is genuine. See Aguilar-Solis, 168 F.3d at 572. A crucial aspect in determining whether an applicant has a genuine fear is the applicant's credibility. See Mukamusoni, 390 F.3d at 125 (The BIA cannot, as a matter of law, question the genuineness of petitioner's fear without addressing credibility.). 19 We begin, yet again, with the fact that the IJ reasonably found Petitioner's testimony not credible. The IJ noted Petitioner's inability to explain why he returned to Egypt on three occasions despite his apparent fear of imminent death if he were to return there now. While returning to one's native country does not automatically refute the possibility of having a genuine fear, see, e.g., Mukamusoni, 390 F.3d at 126 (The petitioner's return to Rwanda to finish her education, when faced with no viable means of support otherwise, did not undercut her claim as people take risks in the face of their fears.), Petitioner's three trips to Egypt, all occurring after the alleged incidents of his persecution, significantly undercut his claim that he is now afraid to return. Petitioner's first return in 1993 was for twenty-three days, allegedly to renew his passport, which he could have done (albeit more expensively) outside of Egypt. His second return in 1995, for twenty-five days, was to renew his visa to stay in Greece. His third, a trip for ten days in 1996, was to visit his mother. In his defense, Petitioner claims that he was only able to return to Egypt on these occasions because he went back in secret and stayed at a different address from his family. The reasons for these returns, however, and the length of the stays, support the IJ's determination that Petitioner does not have a subjective fear of returning to Egypt. As such, any error that the IJ may have made in failing to provide a reasoned analysis of the country condition reports and articles is harmless, and the BIA's decision is affirmed. See, e.g., Mekhoukh v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 118, 130 (1st Cir.2004) (applying harmless error standard). 8 20 The petition for judicial review is DENIED.