Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:18:47.242765+00
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Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

12-15-2006

Sutrisno v. Atty Gen USA
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-4654

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                                                              NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                 No. 05-4654

                              RUDI SUTRISNO,
                                 Petitioner

                                       v.

              ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
                            Respondent

                                 ___________

                     Petition for Review of an Order of the
                         Board of Immigration Appeals
                               (No. A96-262-298)
                     Immigration Judge Donald V. Ferlise

                   Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                               October 4, 2006

            Before: McKEE, AMBRO, and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.

                          (Filed: December 15, 2006)

                                 ___________

                          OPINION OF THE COURT
                               ___________

NYGAARD, Circuit Judge.
                                                I.

       Rudi Sutrisno, a native and citizen of Indonesia, was granted a visitor visa on

October 29, 1998. Sustrisno’s visa expired on January 28, 1999, but he nonetheless

remained in the United States. On April 16, 2003, the Government initiated removal

proceedings against him. He conceded removability, but applied for asylum, withholding

of removal, protection from removal pursuant to the Convention Against Torture1 or,

alternatively, permission to depart voluntarily.

       In his applications for relief, Sutrisno alleged native Muslims subjected him to

racial and religious discrimination in Indonesia. In particular, he asserted three Muslim

men attempted to rape his sister, stoned his house and later set his house ablaze. Although

Indonesian authorities prosecuted and imprisoned the men, Sutrisno maintains he is

afraid they will retaliate against him should he return to his homeland.

       At his appearance before Immigration Judge Donald V. Ferlise, Sutrisno testified

and submitted documentary evidence that indicated his father died from a stroke induced

by the attacks against the family. The IJ found Sutrisno’s application for asylum untimely

and concluded Sutrisno failed to establish changed or extraordinary circumstances

excused the delayed filing. The IJ also found Sutrisno “generally” not credible and

surmised that, even if credible, Sutrisno failed to produce substantial evidence of past

persecution or a reasonable fear of future persecution. The IJ ultimately denied Sutrisno’s

1. In his petition for review by this Court, Sutrisno does not contest the BIA’s subsequent denial
of his CAT claim.

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applications for asylum, withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture relief,

but granted permission to depart voluntarily. The Board of Immigration Appeals

affirmed, adopted the IJ’s findings and denied Sutrisno’s appeal. We will deny review.

                                             II.

                                             A.

       Even if an alien fails to meet the one-year filing deadline, he may still apply for

asylum if he demonstrates, “to the satisfaction of the Attorney General,” the existence of:

1) changed circumstances which materially affect his eligibility; or 2) extraordinary

circumstances relating to his delay in filing. 8 U.S.C. §1158(a)(2)(D) (2006).

       The IJ found Sutrisno failed to establish “changed” or “extraordinary

circumstances” which might justify his failure to file his application in a timely manner.

Despite the changes implemented by the REAL ID Act, 8 U.S.C. §1158(a)(3) deprives us

of jurisdiction to review the IJ’s determination. Sukwanputra v. Gonzales, 434 F.3d 627,

635 (3d Cir. 2006).

                                             B.

       Next, we review adverse credibility determinations for substantial evidence.

Sukwanputra, 434 F.3d at 636 (citing Gao v. Ashcroft, 299 F.3d 266, 272 (3d Cir. 2002)).

Substantial evidence is relevant evidence a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to

support a conclusion. Ezeagwuna v. Ashcroft, 301 F.3d 116, 126 (3d Cir. 2002). We defer

                                              3
to the IJ’s credibility determination, unless his findings are not reasonably grounded in

the record. Dia v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 228, 249 (3d Cir. 2003).

       The IJ did not base his adverse credibility determination upon “mere conjecture.”

Sukwanputra, 434 F.3d at 637. Rather, the IJ found material discrepancies between

Sutrisno’s affidavit and testimony, as well as between statements he made during the

hearing. Xie v. Ashcroft, 359 F.3d 239, 246 (3d Cir. 2004). Sutrisno gave inconsistent

accounts of the alleged targeting of his family and presented little or no other evidence to

substantiate his claims. The IJ reasonably concluded Sutrisno fabricated his story.

                                             C.

       “The Attorney General may not remove an alien to a country if the Attorney

General decides the alien’s life or freedom would be threatened in that country because

of the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or

political opinion.” 8 U.S.C. §1231(b)(3)(A)(2006). To obtain relief under this section, an

alien must demonstrate that it is more likely than not – that there is a “clear probability” –

his life or freedom would be threatened in the country of deportation. Zubeda v. Ashcroft,

333 F.3d 463, 470 (3d Cir. 2003).

       The IJ properly refused to grant Sutrisno withholding of removal. Sutrisno failed

to establish a “clear probability” his life or freedom would be jeopardized for racial,

religious or other reasons should he return to Indonesia. In fact, the record indicates his

family was targeted by vindictive criminals, and that the government duly responded by

                                              4
prosecuting and punishing them. He has provided no evidence the attackers pose a

continuing threat to him or his family.

                                            D.

       Finally, Sutrisno contends the Immigration Judge erred by refusing to grant

discretionary relief pursuant to 8 C.F.R. §208.14(a). “Unless otherwise prohibited in

§208.13(c), an immigration judge may grant or deny asylum in the exercise of discretion

to an applicant who qualifies as a refugee under section 101(a)(42) of the Act.” 8 C.F.R.

§208.14(a) (2006). An applicant qualifies as a refugee if he demonstrates he has suffered

past persecution or has a well-founded fear of future persecution. 8 C.F.R. §208.13(b)

(2006).

       Sutrisno argues “many equities” favor discretionary relief in his case. He posits he

has already resided in the U.S. for a significant period of time, obeys U.S. laws, possesses

good moral character and has a “well-founded fear of persecution.”

       If Sutrisno could demonstrate past persecution, he would be entitled to a

presumption that his alleged fear of future persecution is well-founded. 8 C.F.R.

§208.13(b)(1) (2006). As explained supra, Sutrisno has not established he was persecuted

on account of his race, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political

opinion. Sutrisno must therefore demonstrate a subjective fear of future persecution

through credible testimony that his fear is genuine. Sukwanputra, 434 F.3d at 637 (citing

Zubeda v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 463, 469 (3d Cir. 2003)). Sutrisno failed to meet this first,

                                             5
subjective prong, because the IJ deemed his testimony not credible. As a result, we need

not consider whether he has met the second, objective prong of the refugee standard.

Sutrisno has failed to establish he is a qualified “refugee,” and therefore cannot be

granted discretionary relief.

                                            III.

       The IJ’s determination that Sutrisno failed to justify delay in filing his asylum

application is not subject to review. After reviewing the IJ’s other determinations, we

conclude Sutrisno is not eligible for withholding of removal or discretionary relief.

Accordingly, we deny Sutrisno’s petition for review.

                                             6