Court Opinion

ID: 149764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-06-30 13:08:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:11.674775
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________                  FILED
                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           No. 09-14095                  ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                             JUNE 30, 2010
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                                                              JOHN LEY
                     ________________________
                                                               CLERK

                      Agency Nos. A098-604-827,
                            A098-701-350

DOMINGO IADONISI,
ANTONETTA PICA,
GESSICA IADONISI,
CRISTIN IADONISI,

                                                                   Petitioners,

                                 versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                                  Respondent.

                     ________________________

                 Petition for Review of a Decision of the
                      Board of Immigration Appeals
                      _________________________
                              (June 30, 2010)

Before TJOFLAT, EDMONDSON and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Domingo Iadonisi (“petitioner”) is a native and citizen of Venezuela. He

petitions this court for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”)

final order affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his applications for

withholding of removal and relief under the United Nations Convention Against

Torture (“CAT”).1

       In his decision, the IJ identified the standard for withholding of removal as a

clear probability of persecution on a protected ground, noting that withholding had

a “much more stringent” standard than asylum. The IJ did not pass on petitioner’s

credibility. The BIA stated that even if it deemed petitioner credible, he had “failed

to sustain the high burden of proof applicable to withholding of removal.” It found

that (1) the record did not establish that the alleged persecution occurred on

account of a protected ground, (2) it was not likely that petitioner would be subject

to persecution upon return to Venezuela because the alleged events occurred nearly

ten years ago, and (3) it was reasonable for him to relocate because the harm was

not government sponsored.

                                                 I.

       1
          Petitioner also applied for asylum for himself and Cristian Iadonisi, Gessica Iadonisi,
and Antonetta Pica, derivative applicants. At the removal hearing, petitioner’s attorney
withdrew the application for asylum as untimely. The derivative applicants are not entitled to
apply for withholding of removal, Delgado v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 487 F.3d 855, 861-62 (11th Cir.
2007), or CAT relief, Warui v. Holder, 577 F.3d 55, 59 (1st Cir. 2009), the dual forms of relief
petitioner seeks here. This petition for review is therefore denied as to them.
                                                  2
      Petitioner asserts that 8 U.S.C. § 1231 requires the trier of fact to make a

credibility determination, and that the BIA and IJ erred when they failed to

determine his credibility. Without making a credibility finding, he argues, it was

impossible for the IJ to determine if he had met his burden of proof because the IJ

could not weigh his credible testimony against other evidence in the record.

Petitioner also argues that the IJ and BIA violated his due process rights by not

reaching a determination as to his credibility, and that he was prejudiced because

had he been found credible, which he was, the outcome of his case would have

been different.

      We review our subject matter jurisdiction de novo and lack jurisdiction to

consider claims not raised before the BIA. Amaya-Artunduaga v. U.S. Att’y Gen.,

463 F.3d 1247, 1250-51 (11th Cir. 2006). According to statute, the trier of fact in

withholding of removal proceedings “shall make credibility determinations.” 8

U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(C). “[However], if no adverse credibility determination is

explicitly made, the applicant. . . shall have a rebuttable presumption of credibility

on appeal.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). If the agency does not find the alien’s

testimony incredible, we take the testimony as true. Mejia v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 498
F.3d 1253, 1254 n.2 (11th Cir. 2007).

      We may lack jurisdiction to review petitioner’s argument that the IJ needed

to make an explicit credibility determination because it appears that he did not
                                           3
present the argument to the BIA. Regardless, no error occurred because the statute

permits the IJ to avoid making an explicit credibility determination, and while the

BIA did not make an explicit credibility determination, it still deemed him

credible. Furthermore, any error would be harmless because, in the absence of an

adverse credibility finding, we accept his testimony as true.

                                          II.

      Petitioner argues that the BIA erred by requiring that he demonstrate

eligibility for withholding of removal based on a “very high burden” instead of the

clear probability of persecution standard, which requires a greater than 50% chance

of persecution. Moreover, in the absence of a credibility determination, he

contends that he had a rebuttable presumption of credibility on appeal. Therefore,

we must accept as true his testimony regarding: (1) his January 1999 beating by

Chavez militants; (2) his February 1999 attempted shooting by followers of

Chavez’s group and the subsequent threatening phone call; (3) the October 1999

attempt by Chavez supporters to run his car off the road; and (4) the March 2000

phone call by Chavez followers threatening him with death after he was named

Sectional Secretary of the Democratic Action Party for the State of Miranda.

      Accepting his testimony as true, petitioner asserts, he established by clear

and credible evidence that his life and freedom were in danger on account of his

political opinion since the attacks and threats occurred due to his membership in
                                          4
the Democratic Action Party. Therefore, he should have received withholding of

removal. Petitioner also argues that even if he did not qualify for withholding of

removal, he would qualify for CAT relief, since his testimony established that he

sustained injuries and threats of future harm sufficient to show that he would be

tortured by the government of Venezuela upon return.

      We review only the BIA’s decision except to the extent the BIA expressly

adopts the IJ’s opinion or reasoning. Al Najjar v. Ashcroft, 257 F.3d 1262, 1284

(11th Cir. 2001). We review the BIA’s decision here with the exception of the

findings and conclusions it expressly adopted from the IJ’s decision.

      We review questions of law de novo. Kazemzadeh v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 577
F.3d 1341, 1350-51 (11th Cir. 2009). Factual findings are reviewed under the

substantial evidence test. Al Najjar, 257 F.3d at 1283. Under the substantial

evidence test, we must affirm the BIA’s decision if it is “supported by reasonable,

substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole. ” Id. at

1284. “To reverse a factual finding by the BIA, we must find not only that the

evidence supports a contrary conclusion, but that it compels one.” Farquharson v.

U.S. Att’y Gen., 246 F.3d 1317, 1320 (11th Cir. 2001). The fact that evidence in

the record may support a conclusion contrary to the administrative findings is not

enough to justify a reversal. A defemi v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 1022, 1027 (11th Cir.

2004) (en banc).
                                          5
         To establish eligibility for CAT relief, the alien must show that it is “more

likely than not” he would face torture if returned to his country. Al Najjar, 257
F.3d at 1303. Furthermore, when determining if the alien would be tortured upon

return, one factor considered is whether the alien could relocate to a part of the

country where he is not likely to be tortured. Id. at § 208.16(c)(3)(ii). The alien

also must show that any torture would be done with the acquiescence of the

government. Rodriguez Morales v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 488 F.3d 884, 891 (11th Cir.

2007). “Relief under the Convention is in the form of the mandatory remedy of

withholding of removal.” Al Najjar, 257 F.3d at 1303; see 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c).

         To establish eligibility for withholding of removal, an alien carries a burden

of proof that is higher than that for establishing eligibility for asylum. Al Najjar,
257 F.3d at 1303. The alien must, with specific and credible evidence, establish

that his “life or freedom would be threatened” on account of a protected ground,

including political opinion. 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b)(2)(i). If the alien demonstrates

past persecution, there is a rebuttable presumption that he has a well-founded fear

of future persecution. Tan v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 446 F.3d 1369, 1375 (11th Cir.

2006).

         If the presumption of future persecution arises, it may be rebutted in one of

two ways. Antipova v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 392 F.3d 1259, 1264 (11th Cir. 2004). The

burden is on the government to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, either
                                             6
that (1) the circumstances in the home country fundamentally have changed to the

extent that the alien need no longer fear persecution, or (2) the alien could avoid

future persecution by relocating within the home country, and it would be

reasonable for the alien to do so. Id.; 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b)(1)(i).

      As an initial matter, while petitioner asserts that the IJ and BIA used the

wrong standard in considering his application for withholding of removal, they

cited to the appropriate standard and correctly identified that withholding of

removal has a higher burden of proof than asylum. Even if petitioner had

established past persecution on account of his political opinion, he has not

challenged in his brief the BIA’s determination that he could relocate within

Venezuela. Therefore, he has abandoned that issue and cannot show that his life or

freedom would be threatened upon return to Venezuela or that he would be

tortured upon his return. Thus, the BIA did not err by affirming the denial of his

claims for withholding of removal and CAT relief.

      PETITION DENIED.

                                           7