Court Opinion

ID: 9473356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:27:39.213363+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:29.039824
License: Public Domain

POOLE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
Factual findings by the Immigration Judge in a deportation proceeding must be upheld if supported by substantial evidence. Zepeda-Melendez v. INS, 741 F.2d 285, 289 (9th Cir.1984). Here the Immigration Judge found petitioner’s allegations of threats of persecution lacking credibility. The majority has chosen to substitute its own findings of fact for those of the Immigration Judge. According the deference owed the findings of the Immigration Judge, I conclude that he did not err in concluding that petitioner’s allegations did not demonstrate either a clear probability of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
Further, the majority overlooks this court’s holding in Zepeda. There we held that a petitioner who alleged he faced danger because of his non-commitment to either side, faced the same danger that all of his countrymen faced. The court concluded that he was unable to demonstrate a clear probability of persecution. As the facts in the instant case are identical, the majority’s holding. clearly contravenes Zepeda.