Worku v. Mukasey

268 F. App'x 523

Opinions

MEMORANDUM

Footnotes

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Seble Worku petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order summarily affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying Worku asylum.¹ The IJ found Worku statutorily eligible for asylum, however, the IJ denied Worku asylum on discretionary grounds because of Worku’s membership in the political organization, Oromo Liberation Front (“OLF”).

This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b). We hold that the IJ abused its discretion in failing to balance all relevant factors in favor of and against granting asylum and therefore VACATE the judgment of the BIA and REMAND for further consideration.

I

Worku is a native and citizen of Ethiopia.² She is of Oromo ethnicity and while in Ethiopia belonged to the OLF, a political organization which defends the rights of and works to establish an independent nation for the Oromo people. Security agents arrested Worku several times because of her work for the OLF. After learning from her family that she would be arrested and killed if security-agents found Worku, she fled the country and entered the United States using a fake passport.

On May 29, 2001, Worku filed her request for asylum with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”). The INS served Worku with a Notice to Appear. Worku petitioned the IJ for asylum, withholding from removal, and for relief under CAT. After a hearing lasting several days, the IJ held Worku ineligible for asylum as a matter of discretion. The IJ also denied Worku relief under CAT but granted her withholding from removal.³

II

When the BIA affirms the IJ’s judgment without opinion, this Court reviews the IJ’s decision as it would that of the BIA. Gulla v. Gonzales, 498 F.3d 911, 915 (9th Cir.2007); Mamouzian v. Ashcroft, 390 F.3d 1129 (9th Cir.2004). We review the Attorney General’s decision to grant or deny asylum to an eligible applicant for abuse of discretion. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(D); Gulla, 498 F.3d at 915.

III

The Attorney General has discretion to grant asylum to an alien who has applied for asylum. 8 U.S.C. § 1158; Kalubi v. Ashcroft, 364 F.3d 1134, 1137 (9th Cir. 2004). The grant of asylum is a two-step process: First, the applicant must establish eligibility for asylum by demonstrating that she meets the statutory definition of a “refugee,” and second, the applicant must show entitlement to asylum as a matter of discretion. Kalubi, 364 F.3d at 1137. The IJ may deny asylum as a matter of discretion notwithstanding the IJ’s determination that the applicant is statutorily eligible for asylum.

This Court has repeatedly held that in exercising its discretion the IJ must consider and weigh all relevant favorable and adverse factors. Kalubi, 364 F.3d at 1139; Mamouzian, 390 F.3d at 1138 (reversing IJ discretionary denial of asylum because the IJ failed to balance all favorable and adverse factors). Conclusory statements simply denying asylum as a matter of discretion are inappropriate, “the IJ must explain sufficiently how each factor figures in the balance so the court can determine that the factor has been heard, considered, and decided.” Gulla, 498 F.3d at 916.

While there is no definitive list of factors which the IJ must consider, this Court has held that the IJ should consider the context in which the applicant sought asylum, evidence of past persecution, and humanitarian reasons for granting asylum. See Gulla, 498 F.3d at 919 (holding that the IJ should have considered the fact that the applicant had been beaten and tortured before entering the United States, and that if ordered to return to Iraq, the applicant testified he would instead seek a way to end his life rather than face the torture and death which awaited him in Iraq); Rodriguez-Matamoros v. INS, 86 F.3d 158, 161 (9th Cir.1996) (“[Humanitarian reasons may also influence the favorable exercise of discretion in some cases.”); Kalubi, 364 F.3d at 1139 (holding that the applicant’s mere membership in SNIP, a terrorist organization, insufficient to render him statutorily ineligible for refugee status, but relevant to the IJ’s discretionary determination).

Here, in denying asylum as a matter of discretion, the IJ considered one factor — -the OLF’s suspected use of landmines, which according to the State Department’s Report caused civilian deaths and injuries.⁴ The IJ did not give any consideration whatsoever to other relevant factors such as Worku’s past persecution.⁵ We therefore conclude that the IJ abused its discretion in denying Worku asylum because the IJ did not properly consider all relevant factors weighing in favor of and against granting asylum. See Gulla 498 F.3d at 919 (determining the IJ abused its discretion in failing to balance all factors in favor of a discretionary grant of asylum against those factors which weighed against a discretionary grant); Mamouzian, 390 F.3d at 1138 (same).

IV

Because we determine that the IJ abused its discretion in failing to balance all relevant factors, we VACATE the judgment of the BIA and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this order.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

1

. In its opposition papers, the Government argued that Worku failed to raise an objection to the IJ’s discretionary ruling in her opening brief and therefore waived the right to appeal the issue. At oral argument, however, the Government conceded that Worku raised this issue. We agree. The issue therefore is properly before us.

2

. Because the IJ found Worku credible, we accept as true the testimony given by Worku at the immigration hearing. Mamouzian v. Ashcroft, 390 F.3d 1129, 1133 (9th Cir.2004).

3

. Worku does not challenge the IJ’s ruling denying her relief under CAT.

4

. While the report may contain relevant and helpful information about the OLF's activities, it is not conclusive. Indeed, the IJ’s reliance on the report is puzzling because the IJ expressed concerns about the report’s usefulness at the hearing. Furthermore, Worku testified that she did not know of or participate in the OLF’s alleged use of landmines and the IJ found her credible.

5

. Because Worku was granted withholding of removal, future persecution was irrelevant to the IJ's inquiry. Kalubi, 364 F.3d at 1141.