Opinion ID: 77281
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: REVIEW OF THE IJ's FACTUAL FINDINGS

Text: 93 The IJ's credibility determinations were specific, cogent, and supported by substantial evidence. The IJ doubted Mr. Alim's credibility because he committed multiple acts of fraud: Mr. Alim deserted the Syrian air force, exited Syria illegally, entered the U.S. by fraud, falsely stated that he had not been convicted of a crime when he applied for adjustment of status, and then, after visiting Syria in 1999 for 30 days, exited Syria by fraud. The IJ also doubted whether Mr. Alim would actually be persecuted or tortured, given that he spent six months in Syria after deserting the military without being captured, and willingly returned to Syria in 1999 for 30 days to visit his mother. He further noted an inconsistency in Mr. Alim's testimony. Mr. Alim first testified that, in 1999, he re-entered Syria with a false passport, but later testified that the passport was valid, but merely incorrectly spelled his name. The IJ then explained that this still constituted fraud. We find these determinations are well-supported by the record and find nothing compelling us to conclude that the IJ was wrong. Moreover, we note that these credibility determinations were but a small part of the factual basis for the IJ's conclusions. Those conclusions were primarily based on Mr. Alim's inability to articulate specific instances where he was persecuted or tortured, and the lack of evidence suggesting that Mr. Alim would be persecuted or tortured if removed to Syria. 94 The IJ found that Mr. Alim's case was based on his cousin being killed after leaving Syria to fight a war in Lebanon on behalf of Christians. He found this evidence unconvincing because Mr. Alim had no first-hand knowledge of the circumstances of his cousin's death, he could not produce a death certificate or other physical evidence, and the person who informed him merely showed him a picture of the cousin sitting on top of an Israeli tank. The IJ was also not convinced that Mr. Alim's experience in the military supported his claims. His superiors knew he was a Christian, but he was never harmed for being a Christian, served for eight years, and was never arrested, detained or imprisoned while in the military for any reason. The IJ further noted that Mr. Alim was never arrested or detained while in Syria during his civilian life. According to the IJ, there was no reason to find that Mr. Alim would be persecuted and/or tortured for being Christian if removed to Syria today, because he was not persecuted and/or tortured for being a Christian when he lived in Syria. He found Mr. Alim's testimony to be too vague and conclusory to warrant withholding of removal under § 1231(b)(3) or the CAT. 95 These findings are also supported by substantial evidence. Mr. Alim could not explain how he knew why his cousin was killed, or how he knew who killed him. The family member who told him that his cousin was killed did not have first-hand knowledge of the circumstances of the murder either. Nor could Mr. Alim provide a death certificate or other corroborating evidence. Moreover, the evidence regarding Mr. Alim's cousin equally supported the conclusion that he was killed because he was a spy for Israel, instead of on account of his Christian faith. Nor did Mr. Alim provide evidence compelling us to conclude that he would be the target of any persecution or torture in Syria because of something that happened to his cousin, in Lebanon, during a civil war. See, e.g., Roy v. Ashcroft, 389 F.3d 132, 140 (5th Cir.2004) (petitioner did not show that he would more likely than not be tortured if removed, where evidence concerned his father's brother-in-law, and his father's nephew, and petitioner was not present when his family members were arrested, harassed, or beaten). In sum, the evidence regarding Mr. Alim's cousin does not compel us to conclude that Mr. Alim suffered past persecution or torture, or will more likely than not suffer persecution or torture if removed to Syria. 96 Mr. Alim's testimony of his civilian life as a Christian in Syria largely consisted of vague statements that Syrian Christians are discriminated against and have trouble finding work. He testified that Syrian Muslims feel they will go to heaven for killing a Christian, but he never testified as to any specific instance where he was persecuted or tortured. He testified that while living in Syria, he was a member of a Christian group that tried to convert Muslims and that this upset the Muslim authorities. He mentioned an instance where his friend was shot in 1987 or 1988 for being an outspoken Christian. He never testified, however, to an instance where he was persecuted or tortured for converting Muslims to Christianity. He did say that, on account of his Christian faith, certain unidentified people went after him, there was a bad point or black point in his school records, and there were negative reports about him. But these statements were vague, and even if true, do not compel us to find that he was (or will be) persecuted or tortured. 97 Mr. Alim was in the Syrian military for eight years, was a Christian when he entered the military, and was known to be a Christian throughout his tenure in the military. He testified that Christians are discriminated against in the military, and that he was treated badly and denied certain rights while in the military. But he failed to provide any explanation or detail as to the nature of the discrimination or bad treatment. Nor did he explain what rights of his were violated, or how. Military authorities knew that he was an outspoken Christian while he was in the military, yet he was never arrested, detained or imprisoned for any reason. Indeed, he was promoted at least once during those eight years. 98 At the very most, Mr. Alim's testimony describes instances of harassment and intimidation, but mere harassment does not amount to persecution, Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at 1231. See also Sanchez, 153 Fed. Appx. at 701 (petitioner did not establish past persecution or that he would more likely than not be persecuted if removed, where only evidence offered was that he received threatening telephone calls from guerrilla group, and found his car window shattered and a threatening note attached to a rock in the car). Mr. Alim was certainly not tortured. In essence, the record lacks sufficient evidence that anyone in [Syria] has the present inclination to persecute or torture Mr. Alim for being a Christian. Fahim, 278 F.3d at 1218.