22-6084 Singh Kaur v. Garland BIA Palmer, IJ A202 130 011
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER RULINGS BY SUMMARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A SUMMARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERMITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING A SUMMARY ORDER IN A DOCUMENT FILED WITH THIS COURT, A PARTY MUST CITE EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (WITH THE NOTATION “SUMMARY ORDER”). A PARTY CITING A SUMMARY ORDER MUST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 1st day of October, two thousand twenty-four.
PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, JOSEPH F. BIANCO, ALISON J. NATHAN, Circuit Judges. _____________________________________
SARABJIT SINGH KAUR, Petitioner,
v. 22-6084 NAC
MERRICK B. GARLAND, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. _____________________________________ FOR PETITIONER: Jaspreet Singh, Law Office of Jaspreet Singh, Richmond Hill, NY.
FOR RESPONDENT: Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Anthony C. Payne, Assistant Director; Abigail E. Leach, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of this petition for review of a Board of
Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND
DECREED that the petition for review is DENIED.
Petitioner Sarabjit Singh Kaur (“Singh”), a native and citizen of India, seeks
review of a January 25, 2022 decision of the BIA, affirming a March 14, 2019
decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”), which denied his application for asylum,
withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture
(“CAT”). In re Sarabjit Singh Kaur, No. A202 130 011 (B.I.A. Jan. 25, 2022), aff’g No.
A202 130 011 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Mar. 14, 2019). We assume the parties’
familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history.
Under the circumstances, we have reviewed both the BIA’s and the IJ’s
decisions “for the sake of completeness.” See Wangchuck v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec.,
448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir. 2006). We review factual findings for substantial
evidence and questions of law de novo. See Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 2 513 (2d Cir. 2009). “[T]he administrative findings of fact are conclusive unless
any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8
U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B).
I. Due Process
“To establish a violation of due process, [a petitioner] must show that []he
was denied a full and fair opportunity to present h[is] claims or that the IJ or BIA
otherwise deprived h[im] of fundamental fairness.” Burger v. Gonzales, 498 F.3d
131, 134 (2d Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “Parties
claiming denial of due process in immigration cases must, in order to prevail,
allege some cognizable prejudice fairly attributable to the challenged process.”
Garcia-Villeda v. Mukasey, 531 F.3d 141, 149 (2d Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks
and citation omitted).
Singh alleges that he was deprived of due process when the IJ allowed the
Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to file a 2018 report from the Law
Library of Congress at the merits hearing. “The Immigration Judge may set and
extend time limits for the filing of applications and related documents and
responses thereto, if any.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.31(h). “For individual calendar
hearings involving represented, non-detained respondents, amendments to
applications for relief, additional supporting documents, updates to witness lists, 3 and other such documents must be submitted at least fifteen (15) days in advance
of the individual calendar hearing.” Immigr. Court Practice Manual, Chap.
3.1(b)(2)(B). “This provision does not apply to exhibits of witnesses offered solely
to rebut and/or impeach.” Id. Accordingly, because DHS submitted the report
as rebuttal evidence, it was not subject to the 15-day deadline. Moreover, IJs have
discretion to accept untimely filings. See Immigr. Court Practice Manual, Chap.
3.1(d)(2) (“The immigration judge retains the authority to determine how to treat
an untimely filing.”); see also Dedji v. Mukasey, 525 F.3d 187, 192 (2d Cir. 2008)
(concluding that IJs have “inherent discretion to depart from the letter of the Local
Rules in certain circumstances where fairness demands that noncompliance be
excused”).
Further, contrary to Singh’s arguments that he was denied an opportunity
to respond, his counsel objected to the admission of the report as untimely and
containing dated information. And Singh has also failed to show what evidence
he could or would have presented to undercut the report if given more time to
respond. Accordingly, Singh has not demonstrated that he was denied an
opportunity to present his claim or shown prejudice, and his due process claim
therefore fails. See Garcia-Villeda, 531 F.3d at 149; Burger, 498 F.3d at 134.
II. Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Relief 4 An applicant for asylum and withholding of removal has the burden to
establish past persecution or a fear of future persecution. See 8 U.S.C.
§§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(i), 1231(b)(3)(A); 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(a)–(b), 1208.16(b). A CAT
applicant must establish that it is “more likely than not that he . . . would be
tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.” 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2).
An applicant who has suffered past persecution is presumed to have the
well-founded fear of future persecution required for asylum and withholding of
removal. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(1), 1208.16(b)(1)(i). 1 The presumption may be
rebutted where a preponderance of the evidence establishes that “[t]he applicant
could avoid future persecution by relocating to another part of the applicant’s
country . . . and under all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to expect the
applicant to do so.” Id. § 1208.13(b)(1)(i)(B); see also id. § 1208.16(b)(1)(i)(B). DHS
has the burden to rebut the presumption of future persecution.
1 Citations are to the regulations prior to 2021 amendments. The amendments include a presumption that internal relocation is reasonable when the past persecution was by a private actor, and the amended regulations place the burden on the applicant to prove otherwise. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(1)(ii), (3)(iii) (2021).
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22-6084 Singh Kaur v. Garland BIA Palmer, IJ A202 130 011
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER RULINGS BY SUMMARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A SUMMARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERMITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING A SUMMARY ORDER IN A DOCUMENT FILED WITH THIS COURT, A PARTY MUST CITE EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (WITH THE NOTATION “SUMMARY ORDER”). A PARTY CITING A SUMMARY ORDER MUST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 1st day of October, two thousand twenty-four.
PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, JOSEPH F. BIANCO, ALISON J. NATHAN, Circuit Judges. _____________________________________
SARABJIT SINGH KAUR, Petitioner,
v. 22-6084 NAC
MERRICK B. GARLAND, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. _____________________________________ FOR PETITIONER: Jaspreet Singh, Law Office of Jaspreet Singh, Richmond Hill, NY.
FOR RESPONDENT: Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Anthony C. Payne, Assistant Director; Abigail E. Leach, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of this petition for review of a Board of
Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND
DECREED that the petition for review is DENIED.
Petitioner Sarabjit Singh Kaur (“Singh”), a native and citizen of India, seeks
review of a January 25, 2022 decision of the BIA, affirming a March 14, 2019
decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”), which denied his application for asylum,
withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture
(“CAT”). In re Sarabjit Singh Kaur, No. A202 130 011 (B.I.A. Jan. 25, 2022), aff’g No.
A202 130 011 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Mar. 14, 2019). We assume the parties’
familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history.
Under the circumstances, we have reviewed both the BIA’s and the IJ’s
decisions “for the sake of completeness.” See Wangchuck v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec.,
448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir. 2006). We review factual findings for substantial
evidence and questions of law de novo. See Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 2 513 (2d Cir. 2009). “[T]he administrative findings of fact are conclusive unless
any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8
U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B).
I. Due Process
“To establish a violation of due process, [a petitioner] must show that []he
was denied a full and fair opportunity to present h[is] claims or that the IJ or BIA
otherwise deprived h[im] of fundamental fairness.” Burger v. Gonzales, 498 F.3d
131, 134 (2d Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “Parties
claiming denial of due process in immigration cases must, in order to prevail,
allege some cognizable prejudice fairly attributable to the challenged process.”
Garcia-Villeda v. Mukasey, 531 F.3d 141, 149 (2d Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks
and citation omitted).
Singh alleges that he was deprived of due process when the IJ allowed the
Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to file a 2018 report from the Law
Library of Congress at the merits hearing. “The Immigration Judge may set and
extend time limits for the filing of applications and related documents and
responses thereto, if any.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.31(h). “For individual calendar
hearings involving represented, non-detained respondents, amendments to
applications for relief, additional supporting documents, updates to witness lists, 3 and other such documents must be submitted at least fifteen (15) days in advance
of the individual calendar hearing.” Immigr. Court Practice Manual, Chap.
3.1(b)(2)(B). “This provision does not apply to exhibits of witnesses offered solely
to rebut and/or impeach.” Id. Accordingly, because DHS submitted the report
as rebuttal evidence, it was not subject to the 15-day deadline. Moreover, IJs have
discretion to accept untimely filings. See Immigr. Court Practice Manual, Chap.
3.1(d)(2) (“The immigration judge retains the authority to determine how to treat
an untimely filing.”); see also Dedji v. Mukasey, 525 F.3d 187, 192 (2d Cir. 2008)
(concluding that IJs have “inherent discretion to depart from the letter of the Local
Rules in certain circumstances where fairness demands that noncompliance be
excused”).
Further, contrary to Singh’s arguments that he was denied an opportunity
to respond, his counsel objected to the admission of the report as untimely and
containing dated information. And Singh has also failed to show what evidence
he could or would have presented to undercut the report if given more time to
respond. Accordingly, Singh has not demonstrated that he was denied an
opportunity to present his claim or shown prejudice, and his due process claim
therefore fails. See Garcia-Villeda, 531 F.3d at 149; Burger, 498 F.3d at 134.
II. Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Relief 4 An applicant for asylum and withholding of removal has the burden to
establish past persecution or a fear of future persecution. See 8 U.S.C.
§§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(i), 1231(b)(3)(A); 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(a)–(b), 1208.16(b). A CAT
applicant must establish that it is “more likely than not that he . . . would be
tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.” 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2).
An applicant who has suffered past persecution is presumed to have the
well-founded fear of future persecution required for asylum and withholding of
removal. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(1), 1208.16(b)(1)(i). 1 The presumption may be
rebutted where a preponderance of the evidence establishes that “[t]he applicant
could avoid future persecution by relocating to another part of the applicant’s
country . . . and under all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to expect the
applicant to do so.” Id. § 1208.13(b)(1)(i)(B); see also id. § 1208.16(b)(1)(i)(B). DHS
has the burden to rebut the presumption of future persecution.
1 Citations are to the regulations prior to 2021 amendments. The amendments include a presumption that internal relocation is reasonable when the past persecution was by a private actor, and the amended regulations place the burden on the applicant to prove otherwise. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(1)(ii), (3)(iii) (2021). But that change is not retroactively applicable to applications, like Singh’s, filed before the January 11, 2021, effective date of the new rule. See Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review, 85 Fed. Reg. 80274, 80281–80282, 80380 (Dec. 11, 2020).
5 Id. §§ 1208.13(b)(1)(ii), 1208.16(b)(1)(ii). Factors affecting the reasonableness of
relocation include, but are not limited to, “whether the applicant would face other
serious harm in the place of suggested relocation; any ongoing civil strife within
the country; administrative, economic, or judicial infrastructure; geographical
limitations; and social and cultural constraints, such as age, gender, health, and
social and familial ties.” Id. §§ 1208.13(b)(3), 1208.16(b)(3). 2 Internal relocation
is relevant to CAT relief in that the agency considers the ability to safely relocate
in determining the likelihood of torture. Id. § 1208.16(c)(3)(ii).
The agency found that Singh “could avoid persecution in India through
internal relocation.” Certified Administrative Record 48. Substantial evidence
supports the agency’s internal relocation finding. See Surinder Singh v. BIA, 435
F.3d 216, 219 (2d Cir. 2006) (reviewing relocation finding for substantial evidence).
Singh testified that Shiromani Akali Dal Badal Party (“Badal Party”) members
attacked him twice between 2013 and 2014 in his home state of Punjab, and that
2 These factors have been amended to “the size of the country of nationality or last habitual residence, the geographic locus of the alleged persecution, the size, numerosity, and reach of the alleged persecutor, and the applicant’s demonstrated ability to relocate to the United States in order to apply for asylum.” 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(3), 1208.16(b)(3) (2021). This change is also not retroactively applicable to Singh’s application. See Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review, 85 Fed. Reg. 80274, 80281, 80380 (Dec. 11, 2020). 6 the local police detained and tortured him because of his membership in the
Shiromani Akali Dal Mann Party (“Mann Party”). The IJ, relying principally on
the 2018 report from the Law Library of Congress, identified the following
evidence to support relocation: (1) there are no legal obstacles to Sikhs moving
within India so long as they are not of interest to national authorities, and they
regularly do so; (2) there are significant populations of Sikhs living in India outside
of Punjab; (3) Singh did not have national notoriety as he testified only to local
activities supporting the Mann Party, such as hanging posters, recruiting people
for rallies, and arranging tents; (4) individuals with pro-Khalistan views and Mann
Party supporters generally are not subject to persecution, especially outside of
Punjab; and (5) Singh was not so unskilled or uneducated as to prevent his
relocation because he had a seventh grade education, had worked in the United
States for several years in construction, and his language (Punjabi) was spoken in
other areas of India.
The IJ did not err in relying on the Law Library of Congress report. See
Surinder Singh, 435 F.3d at 219 (noting that “country condition reports may in some
circumstances be sufficient, in and of themselves, to support a finding of no clear
probability of persecution”). And we have upheld a relocation determination for
a Sikh Mann Party member based on similar evidence. See Jagdeep Singh v. 7 Garland, 11 F.4th 106, 117 (2d Cir. 2021) (upholding relocation finding where “[t]he
record contained evidence that there are 1.2 billion people, including 19 million
Sikhs, living in India and that Indian citizens—Sikhs in particular—do not face
difficulties relocating within the country,” that “there is no central countrywide
registration system or nationwide police database that members of the . . . Badal
[Party] could use to track rivals and that only high-profile militants—not local
party organizers . . . are of interest to national authorities,” and that “there have
been no recent reports of persecution against [Mann Party] members”). Singh
also does not identify evidence that undermines the agency’s conclusion that he
could relocate; rather, he cites the Law Library of Congress report for the
proposition that Mann party members, or Sikhs who advocate for Khalistan, have
been falsely implicated as terrorists and taken into preventative detention in
advance of demonstrations. He also cites news reports of an attack in New Delhi
by police that resulted in injuries to two dozen Sikh protesters. However, the
Law Library of Congress report also notes that Mann Party members are not
targeted by the police unless they are suspected of terrorism, i.e., not for simply
demonstrating for Khalistan. And the report of police violence in New Delhi was
from 2013, and does not establish that Singh will be persecuted, or that the Badal
Party or Hindus generally persecute those with pro-Khalistan views. As a result, 8 Singh fails to adequately challenge the IJ’s internal relocation determination.
We do not reach the agency’s alternative fundamental change finding
because the relocation finding is dispositive. 3 See INS v. Bagamasbad, 429 U.S. 24,
25 (1976) (“As a general rule courts and agencies are not required to make findings
on issues the decision of which is unnecessary to the results they reach.”).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. All pending
motions and applications are DENIED and stays VACATED.
FOR THE COURT: Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk of Court
3 The relocation finding is dispositive of all forms of relief. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.13(b)(1)(i)(B), 1208.16(b)(1)(i)(B), (c)(3)(ii); Lecaj v. Holder, 616 F.3d 111, 119– 20 (2d Cir. 2010). 9