Court Opinion

ID: 166626
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 09:19:32+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:48:44.026835
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                                          Tenth Circuit
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                       November 4, 2005
                                TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                          Clerk of Court

 JUAN PABLO SUAREZ-ROMERO,

               Petitioner,                              No. 04-9557
          v.                                         (No. A 79-512-243)
 ALBERTO R. GONZALES, Attorney                      (Petition for Review)
 General, *

               Respondent.

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT **

Before BRISCOE, ANDERSON, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral

      *
       On February 4, 2005, Alberto R. Gonzales became the United States
Attorney General. In accordance with Rule 43(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure, Mr. Gonzales is substituted for John Ashcroft as the
Respondent in this action.
      **
        This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore

ordered submitted without oral argument.

      Petitioner Juan Pablo Suarez-Romero petitions for review of the decisions

of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) and the immigration judge (“IJ”)

denying his application for asylum, restriction on removal (formerly withholding

of removal) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), and protection

under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We affirm the denial of his

petition.

                                BACKGROUND

      Suarez-Romero is a native and citizen of Colombia. He entered the United

States on August 15, 2000, as a temporary visitor and legally extended his stay

until August 14, 2001. He then overstayed his authorized extension and was

found to be removable for that reason. He filed a timely application for asylum

and restriction on removal under the INA, as well as for protection under the

CAT. He asserted that he was a member of one or more particular social groups

and that he was targeted for persecution because his father, Guillermo Suarez,

was a retired career military officer and because both he and his father were

involved, both as stockholders and otherwise, in various transportation

companies.

                                        -2-
      Suarez-Romero testified that his life was normal until 1999. At that time,

he said he saw a television program in which a guerilla organization, the ELN,

threatened Suarez-Romero’s father. Suarez-Romero’s father showed him a letter

he said he had received from the ELN, in which the ELN called for a “political

judgment” against him. Admin. R. at 108-09, 302. When Suarez-Romero’s father

went to the police, he was given information about what to do in the event of an

attempted kidnaping. Suarez-Romero stated that the military was “not helpful.”

Id. at 112.

      Suarez-Romero testified that in December 1999, he was followed for fifteen

minutes by a group of men in a taxi. He claims he ultimately evaded the men by

driving into a military zone. He believed that they were guerillas attempting to

kidnap him. He asserts he changed his daily routine following this incident, and

“was very uneas[y] and afraid.” Id. at 116. He further testified that his wife’s

father provided her with a personal bodyguard and that the stress of the situation

ultimately led to his divorce. His parents, siblings, ex-wife and children have

remained in Colombia. Suarez-Romero testified that his parents continually move

to “different places” and that he uses a telephone ring code to contact them. Id. at

120. Suarez-Romero did not, however, mention the incident when he was

followed by the taxi in either his asylum application or his asylum interview.

                                         -3-
      The IJ denied Suarez-Romero’s application for asylum and for restriction

on removal under the INA, and he also denied Suarez-Romero relief under the

CAT. The IJ stated he was “concerned about [Suarez-Romero’s] credibility.”

Oral Dec. of the Imm. J. at 7, Admin. R. at 69. In particular, the IJ noted that

“[t]he asylum application submitted by [Suarez-Romero] does not mention the

central events testified to” by him, id., nor did he mention the incident when he

was allegedly followed by men in a taxi in his interview with the asylum officer.

These failures, in turn, undermined the credibility of his testimony at the hearing

and “[led] the Court to believe that [Suarez-Romero] may have recently

fabricated” them to support his claims. Oral Dec. at 8, id. at 70. The IJ further

stated that, assuming Suarez-Romero has shown that he belongs to a particular

social group, he nonetheless failed to show that he meets the definition of a

refugee because he failed to show that the Colombian government is unwilling or

unable to protect him. In support of this conclusion the IJ noted that, because

Suarez-Romero was “from a well-connected family” and because his father was a

“senior military officer,” “[i]t’s to be expected that the government in Colombia

would be able to assign some resources to [Suarez-Romero] for his protection or

for the protection of [his] family.” Oral Dec. at 9-10, id. at 71-72. The IJ also

reasoned that the fact that Suarez-Romero’s family, particularly his father,

                                         -4-
remained in Colombia “would militate against a finding that [Suarez-Romero’s]

fear of persecution is a reasonable fear.” Oral Dec. at 10, id. at 72.

      A single member of the BIA, acting on behalf of the Board, affirmed the

IJ’s decision pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(5). 1 The Board concluded that the

IJ’s “factual findings, including his adverse credibility finding, are not clearly

erroneous.” Order at 1, Admin. R. at 2. The Board further held that:

      the [IJ] correctly concluded that the evidence presented by [Suarez-
      Romero] is insufficient to establish that he has a well-founded fear of
      persecution on account of an enumerated ground if he is returned to
      Colombia. [Suarez-Romero’s] fears arise primarily from his
      membership in a family unit and his family members remaining in
      Colombia, including his father who was the focus of the alleged
      threat by guerillas, have not been harmed. Contrary to [Suarez-
      Romero’s] suggestion that his father is in hiding, his father continues
      to live in one of the family homes where [Suarez-Romero] is able to
      routinely contact him. Moreover, [Suarez-Romero’s] speculation that
      he was personally the subject of an attempted kidnaping is not
      entitled to great weight based on the specific facts set forth by
      [Suarez-Romero] concerning the event.

Id. (citations omitted).

      Suarez-Romero appeals, arguing: (1) the Board erred in deferring to the

IJ’s adverse credibility determination because that determination was based on

      1
          8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(5) provides in pertinent part as follows:

      If the Board member to whom an appeal is assigned determines, upon
      consideration of the merits, that the decision is not appropriate for
      affirmance without opinion, the Board member shall issue a brief
      order affirming, modifying, or remanding the decision under
      review . . . .

                                           -5-
omissions and discrepancies that either did not exist or that were explained by

Suarez-Romero; (2) the Board erred in deferring to the IJ’s adverse credibility

determination because that determination was based on an unreasonable

expectation that the letter threatening Suarez-Romero’s father be authenticated;

(3) the Board erred in deferring to the IJ’s adverse credibility determination

because that determination was based on omissions and discrepancies in Suarez-

Romero’s asylum interview; (4) the Board erred in deferring to the IJ’s adverse

credibility determination because that finding was based on speculation that

Suarez-Romero should have received protection from the government; (5) the

Board’s determination that Suarez-Romero’s family remained unharmed in

Colombia was not supported by substantial evidence, and (6) the Board’s

determination that Suarez-Romero’s story of an attempted kidnaping was not

entitled to great weight and he therefore did not prove a well-founded fear of

persecution was not supported by reasonable, substantial, or probative evidence.

                                   DISCUSSION

      As indicated, the Board affirmed the IJ’s decision under 8 C.F.R.

§ 1003.1(e)(5), which permits a single Board member to “issue a brief order

affirming” the IJ’s decision. Suarez-Romero argues the Board’s decision was

“without analysis,” Pet’r’s Op. Br. at 14, and that the IJ’s decision is therefore the

                                         -6-
final agency action that we review. The government argues that we simply review

the Board’s decision under the usual standards. Because we find the Board’s

decision to be somewhat sparse in the details of its analysis, we examine the IJ’s

decision as that of the agency providing “an adequate basis for our review.”

Cruz-Funez v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1187, 1191 (10th Cir. 2005).

      “We review the [IJ’s] legal determinations de novo, and its findings of fact

under a substantial-evidence standard.” Niang v. Gonzales, 422 F.3d 1187, 1196

(10th Cir. 2005); see also Elzour v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 1143, 1150 (10th Cir.

2004). In applying the substantial-evidence standard, “our duty is to guarantee

that factual determinations are supported by reasonable, substantial and probative

evidence considering the record as a whole.” Niang, 422 F.3d at 1196 (further

quotation omitted). “The [IJ’s] findings of fact are conclusive unless the record

demonstrates that any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to

the contrary.” Yuk v. Ashcroft, 355 F.3d 1222, 1233 (10th Cir. 2004) (further

quotation omitted). We have never held, however, that the IJ or the BIA is bound

to follow a rigid structure in analyzing an applicant’s claims.

      “The IJ’s credibility determinations, like other findings of fact, are subject

to the substantial evidence test.” Elzour, 378 F.3d at 1150. More particularly,

“we have held that in order to determine that an alien is not a credible witness,

the IJ must give specific, cogent reasons for disbelieving his or her testimony.”

                                         -7-
Id. (further quotation omitted); see also Sviridov v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 722, 727

(10th Cir. 2004). “Finally, our review is confined to the reasoning given by the

IJ, and we will not independently search the record for alternative bases to

affirm.” Elzour, 378 F.3d at 1150.

      Because Suarez-Romero was noticed to appear after April 1, 1997, this

appeal is governed by the permanent rules of the Illegal Immigration Reform and

Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRIRA”), Pub. L. No. 104-208, 110 Stat.

3009 (Sept. 30, 1996). See Tsevegmid v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 1231, 1234 n.3 (10th

Cir. 2003). Suarez-Romero seeks asylum, restriction on removal and protection

under the CAT. 2

      “A request for asylum involves a two-step process.” Yuk, 355 F.3d at 1232

(further quotation omitted). The applicant must first show eligibility for asylum

by establishing that he is a refugee. See id. A refugee is defined as someone

“outside his . . . country of nationality and ‘unable or unwilling to return to . . .

that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on

account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or

political opinion.’” Elzour, 378 F.3d at 1149 (quoting 8 U.S.C.

      2
       While he asserts that he appeals the BIA’s decision denying his petition
for asylum, or restriction on removal and protection under the CAT, he develops
no specific arguments in his brief on any claim except his petition for asylum.
We accordingly hold those other claims are waived.

                                          -8-
§§ 1101(a)(42)(A), 1158(b)(1)). A showing of past persecution creates a

rebuttable presumption of a well-founded fear of future persecution. Wiransane

v. Ashcroft, 366 F.3d 889, 893 (10th Cir. 2004). If an applicant bases his claim

on a well-founded fear of future persecution, he must show objectively that the

fear is reasonable and subjectively that the fear exists. Id. Even if the applicant

satisfies the definition of refugee, however, the Attorney General still has

discretion, at the second step, to either grant or deny asylum. See Yuk, 355 F.3d

at 1233. In this case, the IJ and the BIA determined, at the first step, that Suarez-

Romero failed to establish that he was a refugee and was therefore ineligible for

asylum.

       The IJ began by noting that, while the letter from the ELN threatening a

“political judgment” against Suarez-Romero’s father provided some corroboration

for his claim that his father was subject to persecution, the letter was of dubious

authenticity. The IJ explained that the letter was undated and contained “no

indicia of authenticity.” Oral Dec. at 6, Admin. R. at 68. Further, Suarez-

Romero’s testimony about the letter did nothing to verify the letter’s authenticity.

The IJ accordingly concluded that it “cannot find that that letter is substantial

corroboration for” Suarez-Romero’s claims. Oral Dec. at 7, id. at 69. We find no

fault with the IJ’s reluctance to give much credence to the letter.

                                          -9-
      Additionally, the IJ found Suarez-Romero’s testimony not credible on

various points. The IJ gave “specific, cogent” reasons for disbelieving Suarez-

Romero. One reason the IJ gave for finding Suarez-Romero not credible was that

he failed to allege the events central to his request for asylum—the letter from the

ELN specifically threatening his father and the incident where men in a taxi

followed him—in his asylum application or in his asylum interview. The

application references “threats” and the “Political Judgment” threatened against

his father, but nothing more specific, and, in particular, nothing more specific

involving him. We have held that “[a]n IJ’s adverse credibility determination

may appropriately be based upon such factors as inconsistencies in the witness’

testimony, lack of sufficient detail, or implausibility.” Elzour, 378 F.3d at 1152.

      Further, the IJ rejected as unconvincing Suarez-Romero’s explanation for

the omissions from his asylum application, noting that Suarez-Romero “had two

opportunities to mention having been followed by the guerillas in Colombia, and

he failed to do so” and further noting that the person who helped Suarez-Romero

prepare his asylum application “obtained a great deal of other information from

the respondent.” Oral Dec. at 8, Admin. R. at 70.

      The IJ also explained that Suarez-Romero’s failure to mention the incident

involving the men in the taxi, or the threats against his family, to the asylum

officer “leads the Court to believe that [Suarez-Romero] may have recently

                                         -10-
fabricated them as part of his claim.” Id. The IJ therefore adequately explained

his reasons for finding Suarez-Romero not credible with respect to his claim that

he had been the victim of an attempted kidnaping and that his family was

seriously threatened with harm.

      With respect to his fear of persecution, the IJ noted that the fact that

Suarez-Romero’s family, “especially his father . . . remain in Colombia would

militate against a finding that the respondent’s fear of persecution is a reasonable

fear.” Oral Dec. at 10, id. at 72. We have on previous occasions noted that the

fact that an applicant’s family remains unharmed in the country where the

applicant claims he has experienced persecution or has a well-founded fear of

future persecution undermines the credibility of the claimed persecution. See

Yuk, 355 F.3d at 1234. 3 Suarez-Romero argues that there is insufficient evidence

supporting the conclusion that his family remains unharmed. To the contrary,

Suarez-Romero presented no evidence that any family members were in fact the

victims of persecution other than an unsupported assertion that his parents moved

to “different places.” He testified that his father still owned two homes in

Colombia and that Suarez-Romero was able to contact his father regularly. There

      The IJ observed that Suarez-Romero’s family “remains” in Colombia. The
      3

Board amplified this slightly, noting that the family remains “unharmed” in
Colombia.

                                         -11-
is no evidence in this record that would compel any reasonable adjudicator to

conclude that Suarez-Romero’s family has suffered any harm.

      Suarez-Romero argues that the IJ erred when he held that Suarez-Romero

had not shown that the Colombian government was unwilling or unable to protect

him. He argues the IJ impermissibly speculated that, because Suarez-Romero’s

family was “well-connected” and his father was a career military person, “[i]t’s to

be expected that the government . . . would be able to assign some resources” to

Suarez-Romero and his family. Oral Dec. at 9, Admin. R. at 71. While the IJ’s

speculation on this point does not assist us in our task of reviewing the adequacy

of the IJ’s reasoning, we also note that the IJ, at bottom, simply pointed out

Suarez-Romero’s failure to carry his burden of proving that the government was

unwilling or unable to protect him. The IJ found Suarez-Romero’s testimony not

credible because it defied common sense. While IJ’s should not speculate, they

also need not abandon their common sense.

      Finally, Suarez-Romero argues that the IJ erred in finding he failed to show

a well-founded fear of persecution based upon the incident involving the men in

the taxi briefly following him. As indicated, the IJ adequately explained why he

found Suarez-Romero’s allegations about this incident not credible. That is all

that is required.

                                         -12-
      For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the denial of Suarez-Romero’s

petition.

                                            ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                            Stephen H. Anderson
                                            Circuit Judge

                                     -13-