Legal Document

502 U.S. 478 112 S.Ct. 812 117 L.Ed.2d 38 IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Petitioner,v.Jairo Jonathan ELIAS-ZACARIAS. No. 90-1342. Argued Nov. 4, 1991. Decided Jan. 22, 1992. Syllabus Respondent, a native of Guatemala, was apprehended for entering the United States without inspection. In his deportation proceedings, Board Immigration Appeals determined that he ineligible discretionary grant asylum. reversing determination, Court ruled guerrilla organization's acts conscription constitute persecution on account political opinion and respondent therefore had well-founded fear such persecution. Held: A attempt to coerce person into performing military service does not necessarily "persecution . opinion" under § 101(a)(42) Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42). Even one who supports aims movement might resist combat thus become object coercion. Moreover, is established by fact coercing guerrillas "political" motives. order satisfy 101(a)(42), must be victim's opinion, persecutor's. Since did produce evidence so compelling no reasonable factfinder could fail find requisite proper basis set aside BIA's determination. See 1105a(a)(4); NLRB v. Columbian Enameling & Stamping Co., 306 292, 300, 59 501, 505, 83 L.Ed. 660. Pp. 481-484. 921 F.2d 844, reversed. SCALIA, J., delivered Court, in which REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, KENNEDY, SOUTER, THOMAS, JJ., joined. STEVENS, filed dissenting BLACKMUN O'CONNOR, Maureen E. Mahoney, Washington, D.C., petitioner. James Robertson, respondent. Justice SCALIA Court. 1 The principal question presented this case whether constitutes as added, 94 Stat. 102, 2 * Respondent Elias-Zacarias, July 1987 proceedings brought petitioner Naturalization Service (INS), Elias-Zacarias conceded deportability but requested asylum withholding deportation. 3 Judge summarized Elias-Zacarias' testimony follows: 4 "[A]round end January [when 18], two armed, uniformed with handkerchiefs covering part their faces came home. Only parents were there. [T]he asked himself join them, they all refused. them why told would back, should think it over about joining them. 5 "[Elias-Zacarias] want because are against government afraid retaliate him family if guerrillas. [H]e left Guatemala at March [1987] return." 6 understood from request "based attempted recruitment guerrillas." She concluded failed demonstrate or race, religion, nationality, membership particular social group, eligible §§ 1101(a)(42), 1158(a). further qualify 7 (BIA) summarily dismissed appeal procedural grounds. then moved BIA reopen hearing submit new that, following departure twice returned family's home continued efforts recruit him. denied reopening ground even make prima facie showing eligibility show results changed. Ninth Circuit, treating denial motion an affirmance merits Judge's ruling, 844 (1990). court nongovernmental group "well-founded fear" conscription. Id., 850-852. We granted certiorari. 500 ----, 111 2008, 114 96 (1991). II 9 Section 208(a) 1158(a), authorizes Attorney General, discretion, alien "refugee" defined i.e., unable unwilling return country "because opinion." 101(a)(42)(A), 1101(a)(42)(A). INS Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 421, 423, 428, n. 5, 107 1207, 1209, 1211, 434 (1987). determination upheld "supported reasonable, substantial, probative record considered whole." 1105a(a)(4). It can reversed only have conclude existed. 660 (1939).1 10 found reversal warranted. its view, conscript forces opinion," "the resisting forced expressing hostile persecutor persecutors' motive carrying out kidnapping political." F.2d, 850. first half seems us untrue, second irrelevant. 11 variety reasons—fear combat, desire remain one's friends, earn better living civilian life, mention few. present part; showed opposite. He testified refused so. Nor there any indication (assuming, arguendo, suffice) erroneously believed refusal politically based. 12 As Appeals' conclusion guerrillas' "motive political": apparently meant seek fill ranks carry war pursue goals. 850 (citing Arteaga INS, 836 1227, 1232, (CA9 1988)); 852. But render construing statutes, "we must, course, start assumption legislative purpose expressed ordinary meaning words used." Richards States, 369 1, 9, 82 585, 591, 492 (1962); see supra, U.S., 431, S.Ct., 1213; Phinpathya, 464 183, 189, 104 584, 589, 78 401 (1984). phrase If Nazi regime persecutes Jews, not, within language, engaging opinion; fundamentalist Moslem democrats, religion. Thus, mere existence generalized underlying inadequate establish (and, indeed, goes far refute) proposition fears requires. 13 appears argue taking sides faction itself affirmative expression opinion. That ordinarily so, since we do agree dissent "narrow, grudging construction concept 'political opinion,' " post, 487, distinguish quite different concepts indifference, indecisiveness risk-averseness. need decide compels held does, still has also will persecute rather than fight done degree clarity necessary permit finding contrary; all.2 14 objects cannot expected provide direct proof require that. statute makes critical, some it, circumstantial. And seeks obtain judicial done. 15 been respects, reverse judgment contrary. 16 ordered. 17 whom O'CONNOR join, dissenting. 18 organization engaged Guatemala. fled "take me kill me."1 After departure, armed visited occasions searching officer credited, stated "these people" come back me."2 19 undisputed harmed, killed, returns cause harm, occur, displeasure insurrection government. law presents respondent's "fear Act.3 20 prevail, Appeals, 1990), classified automatically entitled relief, however, General required everyone meets definition refugee." (1987) (emphasis original). Instead, 208 Act provides may, "in [his] discretion," refugees.4 21 Today holds "on reasons. First, prove motivated; least motivated joined ante, 482-483. Second, motives political. particular, implicit threat them," 483, I disagree both parts Court's reasoning. 22 negatively well affirmatively. support cause—by staying election day, refusing take oath allegiance, step forward induction center—can express effectively statement conduct. nothing more simple continue life family, kind provisions intended protect. 23 explained Bolanos-Hernandez 767 1277 1985): 24 "Choosing neutral less decision choosing affiliate faction. Just nation's one, see, e.g., Neutrality 1939, 441-465 (1982), individual's. When aware contending affirmatively chooses faction, choice one. rule identify dominant warring factions possess when many persons fact, opposed views policies both, frustrate basic objectives Refugee 1980—to protection victims regardless ideology. opinion' short-sighted manner result limiting benefits ameliorative our immigration laws those extreme another; moderates choose sit battle qualify." 1286 original; footnote omitted). 25 narrow, "political adopts today inconsistent approach endorsed supra. case, relying heavily alien's status merely asylum—as contrasted entitlement authorized 243(h) Act—the burden proving likely occur. explained: 26 "Our analysis plain language symmetry Nations Protocol, history, lead inexorably 'well-founded persecution,' she persecuted her country. these canons statutory compelling, regard longstanding principle lingering ambiguities statutes favor alien. Errico, 385 U. S. 214, 225, 87 473, 480, 318 (1966); Costello 376 120, 128, 84 580, 559 (1964); Fong Haw Tan Phelan, 333 6, 10, 68 374, 376, 92 433 (1948). 27 "Deportation always harsh measure; replete danger claim subject death enacting 1980 Congress sought 'give sufficient flexibility respond situations involving religious dissidents detainees throughout world.' H. R. Rep., 9. Our holding increases rejecting Government's contention may consider granting fails strict standard. Whether 'refugee' eventually matter decide. clear intend restrict relief deported." S., 449-450, 1222-1223. 28 Similar reasoning resolve doubts concerning character arms legitimate my adequate form expressive conduct constituted 208(a).5 29 follows night day implied "take" "kill" change position threatened of" Bolanos-Hernandez, supra: 30 "It persecutors what individual's motivation is. El Salvador inquire process insist remaining refuse cause. They concerned act overt manifestation Persecution 1287.6 31 important emphasize applicant exactly him; requires recognized Cardoza Fonseca, shows 'reasonable possibility' 440, 1217-1218 (quoting I.N.S. Stevic, 467 407, 425, 2489, 2498, 81 321 (1984)). Because guerrillas, responded threatening mind, founded.7 32 Accordingly, affirm Appeals. Quite beside point, therefore, dissent's assertion [to guerrillas] 488 added). To conclusion, it—and misdescribes point several respects. For example, exaggerates "well-foundedness" whatever possesses, progressively transforming 'take me,' 817, into, first, 'take' 'kill' him," id., 489 added), and, then, flat "responded 490 describes "undisputed" harm fears, government." 817 concession said feared being taken killed plausible, indeed likely, augment troops displeasure; killing course taken. App. Brief Opposition 5a. 6a. codified provides: "(a) used chapter— "(42) term means (A) outside person's nationality or, having last habitually resided, to, avail herself of, (B) special circumstances President after appropriate consultation (as section 1157(e) title) specify, residing, include ordered, incited, assisted, otherwise participated "The shall procedure physically land border port entry, irrespective status, apply asylum, discretion determines refugee 1101(a)(42)(A) title." 444-445, 1219-1220, (1987): 'The [House] Committee carefully arguments expand numbers refugees force substantially greater admissions absorb. However, individual comes guarantee resettlement States.' H.R. 10. ". assigned delegates task making hard individualized decisions; although crafted narrower definition, chose authorize determine which, any, asylum." Here, "[b]ecause very well, you You die And, your family." view speaks simply terms developed elegantly expressed. Government argued analogous leaves avoid drafted service. long recognized, normal enforcement selective "persecution" draftee's while Afghan soldier Soviet command qualified refugee, Matter Salim, I. N.Dec. 311 (BIA 1982), adhered "to long-accepted citizens." A-G-, 502, 506 1987); cf. High Commissioner Refugees, Handbook Procedures Criteria Determining Status ¶ 167 (1979) ("Fear prosecution punishment desertion draft-evasion [1967 Protocol Relating Refugees]"). response dissent, suggests exaggerated fear. 483 2. legal analysis, precisely same how unambiguous retaliation been. sinister suggestion "think over" masked men machine guns resolved favor.

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