Court Opinion

ID: 52317
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:14:31+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:17.930488
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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                    FILED
                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                      ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               APRIL 12, 2007
                            No. 06-12334                     THOMAS K. KAHN
                        Non-Argument Calendar                     CLERK
                      ________________________

                          BIA No. A97-926-362

INGRIDA MOCKEVICIENE,
VESTA MOCKEVICIUTE,

                                                             Petitioners,

                                  versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                             Respondent.

                      ________________________

                  Petition for Review of a Decision of the
                       Board of Immigration Appeals
                       _________________________

                             (April 12, 2007)

Before BIRCH, WILSON and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Ingrida Mockeviciene and her daughter, Vesta Mockeviciute, seek review of

the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision affirming the Immigration

Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying their application for withholding of removal under the

Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”). Because the BIA’s determination that

Mockeviciene was not persecuted in Lithuania nor is more likely than not to suffer

persecution if removed does not compel reversal, we deny the petition.

                                      I. Background

       a.     Application and Testimony

       Mockeviciene and her daughter, Vesta, both Lithuanian citizens, were

admitted to the United States on April 20, 2000, as non-immigrant visitors and

overstayed their visas. On January 20, 2004, Mockeviciene filed an application

seeking asylum and withholding of removal, based on membership in a particular

social group, and for relief under the CAT.1

       In her application and at her hearing, Mockeviciene claimed that she was a

lesbian and had suffered persecution because of her sexual orientation.

Specifically, Mockeviciene testified that from 1994 until she left the country in

       1
         The IJ found, and the BIA affirmed, that Mockeviciene’s asylum application was time-
barred. This finding is not challenged on appeal, and is, therefore, abandoned. Sepulveda v.
U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005). In addition, Mockeviciene makes no
argument as to relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“CAT”), and so it too is abandoned.
                                                2
2000, the Lithuanian police searched her apartment without a warrant, had her

terminated from her employment, improperly evicted her from her apartment, and

twice detained her and beat her all on account of her sexual orientation.

Mockeviciene’s troubles with the police began in 1994 when she told her husband

that she was a lesbian. According to her, her husband beat and raped her while his

friends held her down. Mockeviciene reported the incident to the police. But

instead of assisting her, she claims that the police searched her mother’s apartment,

where Mockeviciene was staying, presumably looking for “homosexual literature.”

The police did not detain Mockeviciene but told her that they would “keep an eye

on [her].” The next year, Mockeviciene found a job at a cleaning company. She

claims that the police informed her employer that she was a lesbian and caused her

to be terminated.

      In early 1997, Mockeviciene testified that a local police officer, Iankauskas,

questioned her at her apartment about her sexual orientation. Officer Iankauskas

expressed disgust at Mockeviciene’s lesbianism, physically molested her, and

threatened to make her life a “nightmare.” Mockeviciene’s neighbors became

openly hostile, and she attributed this hostility to her husband and the police

informing them all that she was a lesbian.

      In September of 1997, Mockeviciene and her daughter went on a weekend

trip and when they returned they found another family living in their apartment
                                             3
with appropriate documents. The neighbors called the police who arrived and

arrested Mockeviciene and detained her daughter as well. At the station, an officer

explained that they had given away her apartment because they didn’t want a

lesbian living “in our district, our city or our country.” Mockeviciene claims that

the officer then kicked her. She was detained for two days and then moved to a

nearby town. She continued to work at the same place she had before the eviction,

but lost that job in May of 1998 after her employer discovered she was a lesbian.

      In December of 1999, Mockeviciene received a notice to appear at the police

station in the village she was living in. The new inspector, Pelvikes, informed her

that he was aware of her “record” and that he did not intend to have a “debauchee”

in his community. The next month, Mockeviciene received a letter asking if she

wanted to join a gay-lesbian community and, if so, requesting that she send a

picture to the return address. Mockeviciene did so and soon heard from a woman

named “Donata,” and they arranged to meet in March. At the appointed meeting

time, Mockeviciene was arrested by Inspector Pelvikes and “abused verbally and

physically” and threatened with three years’ imprisonment. She did not provide

any details regarding this abuse. Mockeviciene and her daughter left Lithuania to

the United States, via the Netherlands, a month after this last encounter with the

police.

                                          4
       Mockeviciene’s daughter, Vesta, also testified at the hearing. She

corroborated Mockeviciene’s testimony regarding the two-day detention after the

eviction as well as the hostile treatment from the neighbors. Vesta also testified

that she knew her mother was a lesbian.

       Mockeviciene submitted numerous documents in support of her asylum

application, including both official reports regarding the status of gays and lesbians

in Lithuania and personal letters from individuals who knew Mockeviciene in

Lithuania. Friends of Mockeviciene wrote that they knew she was a lesbian and

that she had been harmed by the police because of her orientation. The State

Department’s 2003 Country Report did not mention sexual orientation, but reports

from the Council of Europe and the United Kingdom described the discrimination

and violence that gays and lesbians face in Lithuania.

       b.     IJ Decision

       The IJ denied Mockeviciene’s application for asylum, withholding of

removal, and relief under CAT. The IJ found that Mockeviciene was not eligible

for asylum because her application was untimely.2 The IJ denied withholding of

       2
          An alien may seek asylum if she “demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that
the application has been filed within 1 year after the date of the alien’s arrival in the United
States.” INA § 208(a)(2)(B); 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B). An untimely application may be
considered, however, if the alien shows extraordinary circumstances for the delay in filing a
timely application. INA § 208(a)(2)(D); 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). No evidence of extraordinary
circumstances was presented.
                                                  5
removal and protection under CAT because she had not met her burden to show

past persecution on account of a protected status or a likelihood of future

persecution if removed.

      The IJ expressly found that Mockeviciene was not credible because,

primarily, he did not believe she was actually a lesbian. The IJ provided the

following reasons for his doubts regarding Mockeviciene’s professed sexual

orientation: (1) Mockeviciene “defined” being a lesbian as “a woman who wants

to be around other women and . . . it does not necessarily involve[] sexual

relationships”; (2) although she had been in the United States for four years, she

had not had a lesbian partner, so that she was “[a]t best . . . a non-practicing

lesbian”; (3) she had “no documents to establish that she is a lesbian,” and the

letters or notes she did submit were not originals and did not “mention with any

degree of specificity the lesbian relationships of [Mockeviciene], only addressing

the conclusion that [Mockeviciene] is indeed a lesbian”; (4) she had “not joined

any groups while being here in the United States for four years that involve[d]

lesbian activities”; (5) she did not produce any witnesses to “attest to the fact that

she is indeed a lesbian”; (6) she provided no documentation of her problems with

the police; and (7) although her mother was currently visiting her, her mother did

not testify at the hearing. The IJ also based his adverse credibility determination

on Mockeviciene’s demeanor during testimony.
                                            6
       After finding Mockeviciene not credible, the IJ determined that, even

assuming that Mockeviciene was a member of a protected social group based on

her sexual orientation, she did not qualify for asylum because she failed to

establish that she was persecuted because of her membership in a particular social

group.3 The IJ found that the incidents that Mockeviciene testified about did not

constitute a threat to her life or freedom, and the incidents perpetrated by one

police officer were insufficient to establish that, even if he did persecute her, that

the persecution was caused by the government. Furthermore, the IJ found that the

documents introduced into evidence indicating that (1) homosexuality had been

decriminalized in Lithuania, and (2) the Lithuanian President accepted the

credentials of the new Australian Ambassador who introduced his boyfriend to the

President at the ceremony demonstrate that “homosexuality is at least somewhat

tolerated in Lithuania.” The IJ characterized Mockeviciene’s testimony as

amounting to, “at best . . . discrimination.” The IJ also determined that

Mockeviciene did not demonstrate the potential for future persecution or torture if

she returned to Lithuania.

       c.     BIA Decision

       3
         The IJ noted that if Mockeviciene does not qualify under the asylum standard, she
cannot qualify under the more difficult standard for withholding of removal.
                                                 7
      Mockeviciene, aided by counsel, filed a Notice of Appeal to the BIA

claiming that the IJ erred in determining that Mockeviciene was not a lesbian and

therefore ineligible for asylum based on her membership in a particular social

group. She also challenged the IJ’s credibility determination and claimed that the

IJ demonstrated bias by his question of the daughter’s sexual orientation.4

Although Mockeviciene’s attorney indicated that he intended to file a separate

brief in support of the appeal, he did not do so. Instead, he filed a motion to

remand in order to seek adjustment of status as the spouse of a lawful permanent

resident based on Mockeviciene’s recent marriage.

      The BIA denied Mockeviciene’s motion to remand and affirmed the IJ’s

decision to deny Mockeviciene’s application. The BIA stated that Mockeviciene

had not submitted an application for adjustment of status or any evidence that her

husband had filed the appropriate visa petition. Furthermore, the BIA noted that an

immigrant visa would not be immediately available to Mockeviciene. Because

Mockeviciene did not establish her prima facie eligibility for adjustment of status,

the BIA denied her motion to remand.

      After briefly noting the IJ’s conclusions in his decision, the BIA found that

Mockeviciene’s subsequent marriage to a man undercut the credibility of her claim

to be a lesbian and thus the IJ’s credibility determination was not clearly erroneous.

      4
          The BIA found no evidence of bias, and this issue in not appealed.
                                               8
The BIA accepted the IJ’s “ultimate conclusion” that Mockeviciene did not

establish her burden of proof for asylum and therefore could not qualify for

withholding of removal or protection under the CAT.

      This petition follows.

                               II. Standard of Review

      We review the BIA’s legal conclusions de novo. D-Muhumed v. U.S. Att’y

Gen., 388 F.3d 814. 817 (11th Cir. 2004). We review the BIA’s factual findings

under the deferential substantial evidence test and will affirm its decision “if it is

supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record

considered as a whole.” Id. at 817-18 (11th Cir. 2004) (quoting Al Najjar, 257
F.3d at 1283-84) (quotations omitted). “Under the substantial evidence test, we

view the record evidence in the light most favorable to the agency’s decision and

draw all reasonable inferences in favor of that decision.” Adefemi v. Ashcroft, 386
F.3d 1022, 1027 (11th Cir. 2004) (en banc). “To reverse the IJ’s fact findings, we

must find that the record not only supports reversal, but compels it.” Mendoza v.

U.S. Att’y Gen., 327 F.3d 1283, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003).

                                            9
                                        III. Discussion

       Mockeviciene petitions us to reverse the BIA’s determination that she was

not persecuted on account of her status as a lesbian.5 The IJ determined that

Mockeviciene was ineligible for withholding of removal because she had not

established that she was a lesbian or that she suffered persecution rather than

discrimination. We examine each element of this determination in turn.

       The BIA did not expressly adopt the IJ’s findings regarding Mockeviciene’s

lack of credibility but rather found that the evidence of her recent marriage to a

man supported the finding that the IJ’s credibility determination was not clearly

erroneous. Mockeviciene, in her reply, argues that the BIA erred in referencing

material, i.e., the motion to remand for adjustment of status, that was not properly

before the IJ. The BIA’s scope of review is limited:

       5
           The government argues that we do not have jurisdiction to hear petitioner’s appeal
because she did not exhaust her administrative remedies before the BIA. See 8 U.S.C. §
1252(d)(1); see also Sundar v. INS, 328 F.3d 1320, 1323 (11th Cir. 2003) (holding that this court
lacks jurisdiction to review a claim not raised in the appeal to the BIA) (quotation and citation
omitted).
        We review de novo whether we have subject matter jurisdiction. Gonzalez-Oropeza v.
U.S. Att'y Gen., 321 F.3d 1331, 1332 (11th Cir. 2003). “A court may review a final order of
removal only if . . . the alien has exhausted all administrative remedies available to the alien as
of right . . . .”
8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1).
        Mockeviciene’s Notice of Appeal is brief but it specifically challenges the IJ’s credibility
determination and denial of asylum. Although Mockeviciene does not specifically mention
withholding of removal, it is proper for us to treat an application for asylum to include an
application for withholding of removal. We therefore have jurisdiction.
                                                   10
      Except for taking administrative notice of commonly known facts such as
      current events or the contents of official documents, the Board will not
      engage in factfinding in the course of deciding appeals. A party asserting
      that the Board cannot properly resolve an appeal without further factfinding
      must file a motion for remand. If further factfinding is needed in a particular
      case, the Board may remand the proceeding to the immigration judge or, as
      appropriate, to the Service.
8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(iv).

      The question before us then is whether the BIA may take into account

Mockeviciene’s recent marriage when reviewing the IJ’s credibility determination.

It is undisputed that her marriage was not before the IJ. Although the BIA is not

normally to engage in fact finding, this case falls into the “official documents”

exception in the regulations governing the BIA. Id. Mockeviciene herself

submitted the motion to remand for adjustment of status based on her recent

marriage. It would be absurd to allow the BIA to consider evidence of the

marriage in determining the motion and then bar the BIA’s consideration of the

very same evidence when evaluating the IJ’s credibility determination.

      Moreover, we are skeptical of the reasoning the IJ used to determine his

adverse credibility finding. See Forgue v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1282, 1287

(11th Cir. 2005) (holding that “the [BIA] must offer specific, cogent reasons for an

adverse credibility finding.”). The fact that Mockeviciene had not been in a recent

relationship with a woman is not probative of her sexual orientation. The very

                                          11
notion of a “non-practicing lesbian” seems to misunderstand the nature of sexual

orientation, either homosexual or heterosexual.

      Contrary to the IJ’s findings, Mockeviciene did not define being a lesbian as

“not necessarily involv[ing] sexual relationship,” but, rather, when the IJ asked her

what she thought being a lesbian meant, she responded that “[i]t doesn't have to be

a sexual affair,” and added that “[s]ex is necessary between two lesbians. I want to

say that I want to have the sex with the woman. I cannot have it with a man.”

Additionally, the IJ’s statement that no witnesses attested to the fact that she was a

lesbian is incorrect, because her daughter testified that Mockeviciene was a lesbian.

This testimony and the affidavits provided extrinsic evidence of Mockeviciene’s

claimed sexual orientation that the IJ was required to consider.

      However, it is not our role to evaluate the record anew. We are limited to

reviewing the BIA and IJ decisions and reversing only if the evidence compels us

to do so. Mendoza, 327 F.3d at 1287. Given Mockeviciene’s recent marriage, the

evidence does not compel reversal of the BIA’s credibility determination.

      Even assuming that the record compels us to reverse the BIA’s credibility

determination, Mockeviciene is not eligible for withholding of removal because

she did not meet her burden of proving past persecution or risk of future

persecution. 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b). Under our case law, persecution is “an extreme

concept, requiring more than a few isolated instances of verbal harassment or
                                          12
intimidation[.]” Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1231 (11th Cir.

2005). The BIA has defined persecution to mean “a threat to the life or freedom

of, or the infliction of suffering or harm upon, those who differ in a way regarded

as offensive.” Matter of Acosta, 19 I&N Dec. 211, 222 (BIA 1985). However, the

BIA also has stated that “persecution [does] not encompass all treatment that

society regards as unfair, unjust, or even unlawful or unconstitutional.” In re V-T-

S, 21 I&N Dec. 792, 798 (BIA 1997).

         Mockeviciene’s description of the police’s treatment of her does not rise to

the level of persecution. Although she claims to have been detained twice, once

for two days, the other time unstated, brief detention alone is not sufficient to

constitute persecution. See Zheng v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 451 F.3d 1287 (11th Cir.

2006).

         This court recently has held that individual incidents that would not, alone,

constitute harm may rise to the level of persecution if considered cumulatively.

Ruiz v. Gonzales, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 3699, at *11 (11th Cir. Feb. 20, 2007)

(holding that the cumulative effect of the beatings, threatening phone calls, and a

kidnaping amounts to persecution). Unlike Ruiz, however, Mockeviciene’s

detentions, alleged beating, and illegal eviction do not rise to the level of

persecution because she presented no evidence that her life or freedom were ever in

danger on account of her social group. Besides the past mistreatment, there is no
                                            13
reason to think that Mockeviciene will face persecution if she returns to Lithuania

either.

                                    IV. Conclusion

          The record before us does not compel a finding of past persecution given the

deferential standard of review and the standard of proof necessary to show past

persecution. Accordingly, we DENY Mockeviciene’s petition.

                                            14