Andrew Wijaya v. U.S. Attorney General

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: January 26, 2021
• Docket: 20-10258
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 1 of 10

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________

No. 20-10258 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________

Agency No. A098-869-151

ANDREW WIJAYA, STEFFANY MEILAN,

Petitioners,

versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

Respondent.

________________________

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

(January 26, 2021)

Before MARTIN, ROSENBAUM, and BRANCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM: USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 2 of 10

Andrew Wijaya and his wife Steffany Meilan, both natives and citizens of

Indonesia, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”)

summary affirmance of the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying Wijaya’s

motion to reopen his removal proceedings. 1 Wijaya argues that the IJ did not give

reasoned consideration to his evidence and that the BIA and IJ violated due process

by ignoring the persuasive authority that he relied on in his motion to reopen and his

appeal. After careful review, we deny the petition for review.

I.

Wijaya and Meilan entered the United States in August 2004 on nonimmigrant

visas, which permitted them to remain in the United States as visitors until July 13,

2005. In September 2005, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued

them notices to appear, charging them as removable because they were admitted to

the United States as nonimmigrants and remained in the United States for a time

longer than permitted.

Wijaya applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the

United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or

Degrading Treatment or Punishment, on the grounds that he and his wife had been

1 Meilan was considered a “rider” on Wijaya’s original asylum application, and she filed a motion to reopen that was consolidated with his. For ease of reference, we refer to the petitioners collectively as Wijaya. 2 USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 3 of 10

persecuted due to their Chinese ethnicity and Christian religion. See 8 U.S.C.

§§ 1158(b)(1)(A), 1101(a)(42)(A).

In November 2006, Wijaya entered into an agreement with DHS in which he

conceded removability and agreed to withdraw his application, waive any appeal,

and voluntarily depart within 120 days. An IJ issued an order granting voluntary

departure in lieu of removal and noting that Wijaya’s asylum application had been

withdrawn with prejudice.

In March 2019, Wijaya moved to reopen his removal proceedings based on

the deterioration of conditions in Indonesia for evangelical Christians. Based on a

multi-page block quote from Sihotang v. Sessions, 900 F.3d 46 (1st Cir. 2018), he

appeared to argue that the conditions had deteriorated due to the growth of Sharia

law and Muslim extremist activities against Christian groups. His quotation from

Sihotang made passing references to Indonesia’s proselytizing ban and blasphemy

law. He also noted that, in Sihotang, the First Circuit distinguished the petitioner’s

case from others due to his public religious displays, based on his evangelicalism.

Wijaya argued that anti-Christian violence and religious intolerance had surged in

Indonesia. Based on Sihotang, he asserted that there was a fundamental change in

circumstances for Chinese Christians who proselytized.

Wijaya provided an affidavit, in which he stated the following. He and his

wife applied for asylum because they had been threatened, harassed, and physically

3 USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 4 of 10

harmed in Indonesia due to their Chinese ethnicity and evangelical Christian

religion. Their attorney told them to sign a piece of paper, which he did not know

until later was an agreement to withdraw his application for asylum and leave the

United States voluntarily. He did not leave the United States because he had medical

conditions that made him unfit for flying, and DHS had deferred his deportation

based on that condition. However, it had denied his latest request for a stay of

removal. He feared returning to Indonesia because, since the removal proceedings

in 2006, there had been a drastic increase in religious intolerance against Christians

and proselytizing, a core tenet of his belief, was criminalized.

Wijaya attached to his motion several post-2007 news articles recounting

incidents of harassment or violence against Christian groups and the conviction of

Christians or others who “insult[ed]” Islam under Indonesia’s blasphemy law. He

also attached the 2017 and 2007 International Religious Freedom Reports for

Indonesia. The 2017 report indicated that Christianity was not an identified religion

for purposes of the country’s blasphemy law and referenced a conviction of a

Christian for blasphemy. However, it also identified the president’s support for

religious tolerance and steps taken by the government to resolve longstanding

religious disputes. The report referenced a “proselytizing ban,” but only in the

context of a Muslim sect’s practices.

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The 2007 report indicated that the Indonesian government generally respected

the freedom of religion and generally contributed to the free practice of religion but

noted the government’s tolerance of extremist groups that used violence and

intimidation against religious groups. It reported a few incidents of abuse of

religious freedom against Christians, such as the arrest of eight people for

disseminating a Christian “prayer training” video, the 2005 arrest of a Christian

engaged in proselytizing, and the 2005 arrest of individuals for attempting to convert

children. The report stated that “notable efforts” had been made to build interfaith

relations but indicated that there were abuses and discrimination against individuals

and groups based on their religious beliefs or practices.

The IJ denied Wijaya’s motion to reopen, finding that the motion was

untimely and that Wijaya had not demonstrated materially changed country

conditions such that the time bar would not apply. With regard to Sihotang, the IJ

noted the motion’s reliance on the case but stated that the First Circuit case was not

binding on its decision. The IJ noted Wijaya’s argument that escalated violence

against evangelical Christians constituted a material change in country conditions.

However, the IJ found that the evidence of violence against Christians reflected

country conditions substantially similar to those at the time of Wijaya’s original

removal proceedings, noting reports of abuse of religious freedom across Indonesia

prior to 2007. The IJ stated that a comparison of Wijaya’s evidence to evidence

5 USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 6 of 10

from around the time of his removal proceedings showed that the violence and

harassment that Christians were subjected to had not changed materially. It found

that the evidence of specific instances of violence and targeting of Christians showed

an increase in the prevalence of religious intolerance but that this change was only

“incremental or incidental” and, therefore, was not substantial enough to constitute

a change in conditions.

Wijaya appealed to the BIA, arguing that the IJ’s decision was legally

erroneous and an abuse of discretion. He argued that the IJ had a duty to consider

precedent from other circuits, and he repeated his argument based on Sihotang and

Liem v. Att’y Gen., 921 F.3d 388 (3d Cir. 2019), which interpreted Sihotang’s

reasoning as applying to all Christians. He asserted that these cases should be

reviewed when addressing an issue of first impression and that there was no

indication that the IJ even considered Sihotang.

Next, Wijaya argued that the IJ erred in failing to consider the arguments and

evidence support of his motion. He argued that “the IJ wholly failed to evaluate

whether and to what extent there [was] a meaningful distinction between Christians

who practice their faith in private and evangelical Christians (such as the

petitioner).”

The BIA summarily affirmed. Wijaya now petitions this Court for review of

the denial of reopening of his removal proceedings.

6 USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 7 of 10

II.

Wijaya argues, first, that the BIA and IJ violated due process by disregarding

the persuasive authority in Sihotang and Liem. He argues that, because this Court

has not published any cases regarding the conditions faced by evangelical Christians

in Indonesia, the agency was required to look to—and follow—other circuits’

opinions. Next, he argues that the IJ failed to give reasoned consideration to his

arguments and evidence showing that country conditions were deteriorating in

particular for evangelical Christians due to Indonesia’s increased enforcement of its

blasphemy laws.2 We address these arguments in turn.

A.

An individual subject to a removal order may move to reopen his removal

proceedings but must do so within 90 days of the date of the BIA’s final

administrative removal order. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(7)(C)(i). However, the 90-

day deadline does not apply if the motion is based on evidence of changed country

conditions in the movant’s home country that could not have been produced at the

previous hearing. Id. §1229a(c)(7)(C)(ii).

2 The government argues that we do not have jurisdiction to consider this argument because Wijaya did not exhaust it before the agency. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1). However, Wijaya was not required to exhaust his reasoned consideration argument before the IJ, as it did not exist until the IJ rendered its decision, and Wijaya did raise the argument in his appeal to the BIA. See Indrawati v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 779 F.3d 1284, 1299 (11th Cir. 2015); Amaya-Artunduaga v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 463 F.3d 1247, 1250 (11th Cir. 2006). Accordingly, this argument is properly exhausted and we have jurisdiction to consider it. 7 USCA11 Case: 20-10258 Date Filed: 01/26/2021 Page: 8 of 10

The Fifth Amendment entitles petitioners in removal proceedings to due

process of law, including notice and an opportunity to be heard in their removal

proceedings. See Frech v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 491 F.3d 1277, 1281 (11th Cir. 2007);

Tang v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 578 F.3d 1270, 1275 (11th Cir. 2009). However, due-

process claims must assert a deprivation of a constitutionally protected liberty or

property interest. Bing Quan Lin v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 881 F.3d 860, 868-69 (11th Cir.

2018). There is no constitutionally protected interest in purely discretionary forms

of relief, such as motions to reopen. Id.

Wijaya cannot raise a due-process claim based on the agency’s disregard of

persuasive authority because he does not have a constitutionally protected interest

in a motion-to-reopen proceeding. See id. Moreover, as the IJ noted in its order, the

agency is not bound by law from circuits other than this one when deciding cases

arising here. See Matter of Olivares-Martinez, 23 I. & N. Dec. 148, 149 (BIA 2001)

(“The Board historically follows a court’s precedent in cases arising in that circuit.”)

B.

When the BIA summarily affirms the IJ’s decision without opinion, we review

the IJ’s opinion. Ortiz-Bouchet v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 714 F.3d 1353, 1355 n.2 (11th

Cir. 2013). We review de novo whether the IJ gave reasoned consideration to an

immigration applicant’s claims. Ali v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 931 F.3d 1327, 1333 (11th

Cir. 2019).

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We may grant a petition for review, vacate an agency decision, and remand

for further proceedings if the agency’s decision is “so lacking in reasoned

consideration and explanation that meaningful review [is] impossible.” Indrawati,

779 F.3d at 1302. In a reasoned-consideration inquiry, we look to ensure that that

IJ considered the issues raised and announced its decision “in terms sufficient to

enable review.” Id. Reasoned-consideration review is not a review for whether the

agency findings have evidentiary support, but only for whether the decision is “so

fundamentally incomplete,” in light of the facts and claims presented in the case,

“that a review of legal and factual determinations would be quixotic.” Id. The IJ,

while required to consider all the evidence submitted, need not specifically address

each piece of evidence presented. Id.

The IJ gave reasoned consideration to Wijaya’s motion. As noted above, the

IJ was not bound to follow out-of-circuit precedent. And, although the IJ did not

reach the same result as the First Circuit did in Sihotang, nothing in the IJ’s decision

indicates that it did not read Wijaya’s arguments in the context of Sihotang’s

reasoning or otherwise disregarded the evidence cited in that decision. Rather, the

IJ correctly identified Wijaya’s fear as being based on escalating violence against

evangelical Christians in Indonesia. However, after reviewing the evidence, the IJ

found that Christians were being harmed “in a similar manner as they previously

were in 2007,” pointing to evidence of attacks prior to and near the time of the

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removal proceedings. While the IJ did not specifically reference a distinction

between evangelical and non-evangelical Christians, it was not required to address

every aspect of the evidence Wijaya presented. See Indrawati, 779 F.3d at 1302.

Further, although Wijaya pointed to Sihotang’s conclusion that conditions had

worsened specifically for evangelical Christians, most of his evidence did not make

such a distinction, and his arguments to the IJ did not stress the application of the

blasphemy law as he now does in his petition. The IJ’s detailed order shows that it

considered the evidence and arguments before it and came to a reasoned decision.

See Jeune v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 810 F.3d 792, 804 (11th Cir. 2016) (“That the [IJ]

reached a conclusion different from that of the Petitioner regarding the import of the

background evidence does not mean that the [IJ’s] decision was not supported by

reasoned consideration.”). Accordingly, we deny Wijaya’s petition for review of the

denial of his motion to reopen his removal proceedings.

PETITION DENIED.