Court Opinion

ID: 618772
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-12-13 16:16:59+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:46.218273
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                          FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                  No. 10-2128
                                  ___________

Imad Ibrahim Mouawad,                  *
                                       *
             Petitioner,               *
                                       * Petition for Review of an
       v.                              * Order of the Board of
                                       * Immigration Appeals.
Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General  *
of the United States,                  *     [UNPUBLISHED]
                                       *
             Respondent.               *
                                  ___________

                            Submitted: October 19, 2011
                               Filed: December 13, 2011
                                ___________

Before MELLOY, BEAM, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
                           ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Imad Ibrahim Mouawad (Mouawad), a native and citizen of Lebanon, petitions
for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) that affirmed the
Immigration Judge's (IJ) denial of relief under the Convention Against Torture
(CAT). We deny the petition.
I.    BACKGROUND

        On August 24, 2000, Mouawad entered the United States as a non-immigrant
visitor. In 2003, the government issued a Notice to Appear, charging Mouawad with
removablity for overstaying his visa. Mouawad conceded removablity but sought
relief from removal by applying for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief.
The IJ and BIA denied Mouawad relief, and he petitioned for review before this
court. We declined to review Mouawad's asylum claim for lack of jurisdiction, and
we denied his petition for review as it related to his claim for withholding of removal.
Mouawad v. Gonzales, 485 F.3d 405, 414 (8th Cir. 2007). However, we granted
Mouawad's petition for review as it related to his CAT claim and remanded it to the
BIA for further consideration. Id. The BIA remanded the CAT claim to the IJ.

       At the hearings before the IJ, Mouawad produced evidence that consisted
primarily of his testimony and documents discussing the conditions in Lebanon. We
recount the substance of Mouawad's testimony. Mouawad was born in Deir el-
Kamar, Lebanon, and has been a Maronite Christian from birth. From 1995 to 1996,
Mouawad held the rank of private in the Lebanese military, where he served as an
aide and driver to a military commandant. While serving in the military, unidentified
men approached Mouawad, made vague threats, and sought military information.
Mouawad believed these men belonged to the Islamic organization, Hizballah.
Mouawad testified that members of Hizballah attempted to recruit him and his family.

      Mouawad also presented evidence that on October 27, 1997, members of
Hizballah allegedly murdered Samir Doew (Doew), Mouawad's friend and neighbor.
Doew was involved in some type of covert employment. Shortly after Doew's
murder, two unidentified men knocked on Mouawad's apartment door. Fearful of the
men, Mouawad did not answer the door and hid under his bed. Mouawad overheard
the men speaking with a neighbor, explaining that they wanted to speak with Doew's

                                          -2-
friend. For the next three years, Mouawad went into hiding by traveling to various
locations in Lebanon.

       In April 2000, Mouawad traveled to Syria and applied for a visa to obtain entry
into the United States. After returning to Lebanon, Mouawad waited about four
months before he departed for the United States. Even though he had departed for the
United States, Mouawad claimed Hizballah continued to look for him in Lebanon.
Mouawad fears that if he returns, the Syrian militia or Hizballah will kill him.

      In resolving Mouawad's CAT claim, the IJ found Mouawad's testimony lacked
credibility for several reasons. First, the evidence showed that Mouawad paid a
woman to participate in a fraudulent marriage to remain in the United States. Second,
although Mouawad claimed Hizballah attempted to recruit him, the IJ found this
unpersuasive based on his status as a Maronite Christian. Third, Mouawad claimed
Hizballah wanted military information from him, but he had only attained the rank of
private in the Lebanese military, limiting his access to information. Fourth,
notwithstanding Mouawad's alleged fear of Hizballah, he made several trips to Syria,
a major supporter of Hizballah, in order to obtain his United States visa. Finally, after
obtaining a visa to enter the United States, Mouawad waited four months before
leaving Lebanon. According to the IJ, this delay indicated Mouawad did not fear
immediate harm from Hizballah.

       After reaching the merits of his claim, the IJ determined Mouawad failed to
satisfy his burden for establishing CAT relief. Specifically, the IJ determined that
Mouawad failed to establish that he will more likely than not be tortured by Hizballah
with the Lebanese government's acquiescence. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.16(c)(2),
1208.18(a)(1). Accordingly, the IJ denied Mouawad's application for CAT
protection. Mouawad appealed this adverse decision.

                                          -3-
       On appeal, the BIA affirmed the IJ's decision, concluding Mouawad lacked
credibility and failed to establish the requisite probability of torture in Lebanon.
Subsequently, the BIA granted Mouawad's motion for reconsideration, where it
agreed with the IJ's reasoning, again determined Mouawad did not establish a
likelihood of torture, and dismissed the appeal. Mouawad now petitions this court
for review.

II.   DISCUSSION

       The BIA essentially adopted the IJ's opinion and added some of its own
reasoning, so we review both decisions. Khrystotodorov v. Mukasey, 551 F.3d 775,
781 (8th Cir. 2008). We review determinations regarding CAT relief for substantial
evidence. Constanza v. Holder, 647 F.3d 749, 753 (8th Cir. 2011). Giving deference
to the findings of fact, we overturn only if "the record evidence was so compelling
that no reasonable fact finder could fail to find [Mouawad] eligible for . . . relief
under the Convention Against Torture." Habtemicael v. Ashcroft, 370 F.3d 774, 779
(8th Cir. 2004) (internal quotation omitted).

      Under the CAT's implementing regulations, Mouawad has the burden of
proving that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured if removed to
Lebanon. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2). The IJ must consider all relevant evidence,
including:

      (i)     Evidence of past torture inflicted upon the applicant;

      (ii)    Evidence that the applicant could relocate to a part of the country
              of removal where he or she is not likely to be tortured;

      (iii)   Evidence of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights
              within the country of removal, where applicable; and

                                       -4-
       (iv)   Other relevant information regarding conditions in the country of
              removal.

Id. § 1208.16(c)(3). To constitute "torture" under the CAT, the conduct must be
"inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public
official or other person acting in an official capacity." Id. § 1208.18(a)(1).
"Acquiescence of a public official requires that the public official, prior to the activity
constituting torture, have awareness of such activity and thereafter breach his or her
legal responsibility to intervene to prevent such activity." Id. § 1208.18(a)(7).

       Previously, we determined that substantial evidence supported "the IJ's denial
of Mouawad's CAT claim insofar as it relates to torture at the hands of the Lebanese
or Syrian governments directly." Mouawad, 485 F.3d at 414. Thus, the limited issue
on remand was whether it is more likely than not that Hizballah will likely torture
Mouawad with the Lebanese government's acquiescence. See id.

      After reviewing the record, we conclude substantial evidence supports the IJ's
and BIA's denial of CAT relief. In the proceedings below, the BIA affirmed the IJ's
finding that Mouawad's testimony lacked credibility because of his fraudulent
marriage and implausible allegations. Mouawad did not challenge this adverse
credibility finding in his motion to reconsider nor in his petition for review. Although
the adverse finding is not necessarily fatal to his CAT claim, the BIA and IJ
appropriately considered Mouawad's discounted credibility when determining
whether Mouawad sufficiently established that he will likely be tortured. See
Nadeem v. Holder, 599 F.3d 869, 873 (8th Cir. 2010).

       In addition to his discredited testimony, Mouawad submitted several media and
government reports documenting general conditions in Lebanon and Hizballah's
hostilities toward Israel. These reports do not establish the requisite probability of
torture for CAT relief. Id. at 873-74 ("Evidence of general conditions is insufficient

                                           -5-
to establish that one is more likely than not to suffer torture."). To the extent some
reports gave accounts other than general conditions, the IJ and BIA carefully
evaluated the evidence, and we find it not "so compelling that no reasonable fact
finder could fail to find [Mouawad] eligible for . . . relief under the Convention
Against Torture." Habtemicael, 370 F.3d at 779 (internal quotation omitted).

III.   CONCLUSION

       We deny the petition.
                      ______________________________

                                         -6-