Sheya Mandebvu v. Eric Holder, Jr. , 755 F.3d 417 ( 2014 )

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)
File Name: 14a0126p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
_________________
SHEYA MANDEBVU; MTANDAZO MANDEBVU; ┐
TINOTENDA MANDEBVU; TATENDA MANDEBVU, │
Petitioners, │
│ No. 11-3969
│
v. >
│
│
ERIC H. HOLDER, JR., Attorney General, │
Respondent. │
┘
On Petition for Review of a Final Order
of the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Nos. A088 187 411; A088 187 412;
A088 187 413; A099 786 848;
Argued: October 4, 2012
Decided and Filed: June 18, 2014
Before: MERRITT, MOORE, and McKEAGUE, Circuit Judges.
_________________
COUNSEL
ARGUED: Scott E. Bratton, MARGARET WONG & ASSOCIATES CO., LPA, Cleveland,
Ohio, for Petitioners. Daniel I. Smulow, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, D.C., for Respondent. ON BRIEF: Margaret Wong, MARGARET WONG &
ASSOCIATES CO., LPA, Cleveland, Ohio, for Petitioners. Daniel I. Smulow, UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
MOORE, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which MERRITT, J., joined.
MERRITT, J. (pg. 21), delivered a separate concurring opinion. McKEAGUE, J. (pp. 22B27),
delivered a separate dissenting opinion.
1
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_________________
OPINION
_________________
KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. For more than two decades, Robert Mugabe
has exercised power as the repressive head of state of Zimbabwe. Although he has permitted
official national elections in recent years, Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic
Front (“ZANU-PF”) party has maintained control of the political process through violence and
corruption, specifically targeting members of the opposition for killings, abductions, and other
forms of abuse. Sheya and Mtandazo Mandebvu are two individuals who spoke out in criticism
of ZANU-PF and Mugabe’s government. After traveling to the United States with their two
children, Tinotenda and Tatenda,1 the Mandebvus eventually sought asylum and withholding of
removal because they fear that they will be persecuted for their opposition to ZANU-PF if they
are forced to return to Zimbabwe.
The Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) affirmed the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”)
denial of the Mandebvus’ applications for asylum and withholding of removal. Because the IJ’s
decision that the asylum applications were untimely was infected by legal error, we GRANT the
Mandebvus’ petition with respect to their asylum claims and REMAND the case to the BIA for
reconsideration. With respect to the claims for withholding of removal, we likewise GRANT the
Mandebvus’ petition because the record evidence compels the conclusion that it is more likely
than not that the Mandebvus will be persecuted on the basis of their political opinion or tortured
if forced to return to Zimbabwe.
I. BACKGROUND
In 1999, Sheya and Mtandazo Mandebvu married in Zimbabwe. A.R. 168 (Hr’g Tr. at
51). They were both schoolteachers. Neither Sheya nor Mtandazo were official members of any
political party in Zimbabwe, but both were openly critical of ZANU-PF and the Mugabe
government. Sheya criticized the government to his students and his fellow teachers, prompting
1
The Mandebvus have a third child who was born in the United States and is therefore not subject to
removal.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 3
several reprimands from the headmaster of his school. Id. at 172, 174–75 (Hr’g Tr. at 55, 57–
58). He was also forced to attend several political rallies in support of ZANU-PF. Id. at 171
(Hr’g Tr. at 54). On July 2, 1999, Sheya left Zimbabwe and entered the United States on a
student visa. Id. at 169 (Hr’g Tr. at 52). From 1999 to 2006, he attended two universities in
Ohio, earning a Masters in Marketing and Communication and an MBA in Entrepreneurship. Id.
at 170 (Hr’g Tr. at 53). He has never returned to Zimbabwe. Id.
When Sheya immigrated to the United States, Mtandazo stayed in Zimbabwe with their
children and continued teaching. Like Sheya, she was openly critical of the government and was
forced to attend ZANU-PF rallies. Id. at 274–76 (Hr’g Tr. at 157–59). After Mtandazo refused
to attend one rally in August 2000, ZANU-PF Youth Brigade (“Youth Brigade”) members came
looking for her on suspicion that she supported the Movement for Democratic Change (“MDC”)
party, an opposition party. Id. at 286–87 (Hr’g Tr. at 169–70). Mtandazo feared that she would
be killed because at that time newspapers were reporting that ZANU-PF members had begun
visiting schools and rounding up teachers suspected of opposing ZANU-PF. Id. at 285 (Hr’g Tr.
at 168). Mtandazo and her children went into hiding for several days before Mtandazo would
return to her job. Id.; see also id. at 180–81 (Hr’g Tr. at 63–64).
The confrontation over the political rally was not Mtandazo’s last encounter with ZANU-
PF. A week later, the Youth Brigade erected a road block and stopped the car in which
Mtandazo and two other teachers were passengers. They questioned Mtandazo about her
political activities and accused her of working for MDC. They also confiscated her cell phone
on the suspicion that she was using it to communicate with MDC members. Id. at 183, 289
(Hr’g Tr. at 66, 172). Although the Youth Brigade allowed Mtandazo to leave unharmed, they
took the other two teachers to a camp, where they were beaten and forced to repeat ZANU-PF
slogans. Id. at 184, 291 (Hr’g Tr. at 67, 174). Fearing for her life, in September 2000 Mtandazo
took her children and joined Sheya in the United States. Id. at 185 (Hr’g Tr. at 68).
The Mandebvus’ family members also drew the attention of ZANU-PF. All five of
Sheya’s brothers were confronted by ZANU-PF members regarding their suspected support of
MDC. Thomas participated in demonstrations against the government and organized community
activities to encourage support for MDC. Id. at 187–88 (Hr’g Tr. at 70–71). ZANU-PF
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 4
members beat him and confiscated his truck because they believed he was “being used by white
farmers.” Id. at 188–89, 321 (Hr’g Tr. at 71–72, 204). Efraim also recruited for MDC. ZANU-
PF members threatened to kill him and took him to a “reeducation” camp, where he was beaten
and treated “in a degrading way.” Id. at 197 (Hr’g Tr. at 80). Enywear organized rallies and
recruited members for MDC. Youth Brigade members beat him and forced him to recite ZANU-
PF slogans. Id. at 209 (Hr’g Tr. at 92). Kennedy also organized rallies for MDC. ZANU-PF
members warned him to stop supporting MDC, but it is not clear whether they physically harmed
him. Id. at 211, 326 (Hr’g Tr. at 94, 209). Onward was monitored by government agents
because they believed that he was using his position at the University to influence students
against ZANU-PF. Id. at 201 (Hr’g Tr. at 84). All of Sheya’s brothers and sisters, except for
Kennedy, have since fled the country or gone into hiding. Id. at 189, 198, 201, 206, 209 (Hr’g
Tr. at 72, 81, 84, 89, 92).
The Mandebvus’ parents have also been harassed by ZANU-PF members. In 2008, the
Youth Brigade stopped a bus on which Sheya’s mother, Edith, was a passenger. They demanded
that the passengers produce ZANU-PF membership cards, and passengers who could not do so
were taken away to “reeducation” camps. Edith did not have a membership card. Youth Brigade
members took her to a camp where she was beaten so severely with iron rods and sticks that she
later died from her injuries. Id. at 202–05, 327–28 (Hr’g Tr. at 85–88, 210–11). Mtandazo heard
that her mother was also beaten to death after she complained to ZANU-PF war veterans about
being removed from food distribution lists. Id. at 216, 299–300 (Hr’g Tr. at 99, 182–83).
ZANU-PF members have been monitoring the Mandebvus and encouraging their return
since they fled to the United States. Beginning in 2000, the Youth Brigade started harassing
Mtandazo’s mother, Edna, asking where Mtandazo was living and instructing Edna to encourage
Mtandazo to return to Zimbabwe. Id. at 295 (Hr’g Tr. at 178). In December 2005, Sheya’s
father, Samuel, visited Sheya to celebrate his graduation. Id. at 191–92 (Hr’g Tr. at 74–75).
When Samuel returned to Zimbabwe in April 2006, he was detained and questioned by
government officers, who wanted to know Sheya’s address in the United States. Id. at 192 (Hr’g
Tr. at 75). ZANU-PF officers removed Samuel from his position as head of the village and
confiscated his cattle. Id. at 193–95 (Hr’g Tr. at 76–78). Mtandazo’s father was similarly
questioned regarding her whereabouts and activities when he returned to Zimbabwe from visiting
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 5
her in the United States. Id. at 220, 305 (Hr’g Tr. at 103, 188). During this encounter, ZANU-
PF members beat Mtandazo’s father. Id. at 307 (Hr’g Tr. at 190). As late as the summer of
2009, Mtandazo’s father reported that government agents continued to search for her. Id. at 304–
06 (Hr’g Tr. at 187–89).
As they grew more concerned with deteriorating conditions in Zimbabwe, Sheya and
Mtandazo became active with an arm of MDC in the United States. Id. at 212–13 (Hr’g Tr. at
95–96). Eventually, both Sheya and Mtandazo became official members2 and began recruiting
other new members and organizing meetings. Id. at 213 (Hr’g Tr. at 96). In 2004 or 2005,
concluding that conditions in Zimbabwe were not improving, the Mandebvus decided that they
would seek asylum. Id. at 220–21, 331 (Hr’g Tr. at 103–04, 214). They attempted to file for
asylum in 2005 but, through no fault of their own, the applications were never filed. Id. at 221–
27 (Hr’g Tr. at 104–10). They did not make another attempt to file their applications at that
time.
The Mandebvus were served with notices that they were subject to removal for
overstaying their visas in August 2007. They filed applications for asylum and withholding of
removal on September 12, 2008. At a hearing regarding their applications, both Sheya and
Mtandazo testified about the abuses perpetrated against family members who had remained in
Zimbabwe. Sheya explained that he feared for his own safety and for that of his family if he
were to be forced to return to Zimbabwe after so many years:
I fear that I would be picked up right at the airport. I fear that I would
disappear or be imprisoned without trial. I fear that I return to a country that is
still under Mugabe’s regime. I fear that Mugabe’s agents will come after me. I
even fear that they might kill me.
...
. . . [T]hey don’t view people that come back from America as people that
would be for the government and so I fear that I would . . . [be] picked up and
interrogated and . . . even be killed.
2
Sheya testified that he became an official member of MDC in 2005, A.R. 212 (Hr’g Tr. at 95), but his
membership card shows that he did not join until October 2007. Id. at 244 (Hr’g Tr. at 127). He also had difficulty
recalling the full name of the MDC party. Id. at 178, 249 (Hr’g Tr. at 61, 132). Mtandazo explained that both she
and Sheya had “minimal” involvement with the party as early as 2003, but did not officially join until 2007. Id. at
311–12 (Hr’g Tr. at 194–95).
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 6
...
I fear for my family. I fear for my children. I fear that [Mugabe’s people]
might kill them.
Id. at 230–31 (Hr’g Tr. at 113–14). Mtandazo also explained that she fears being killed if she
returns to Zimbabwe “[s]ince they were looking for [her] this whole time.” Id. at 344 (Hr’g Tr.
at 227).
Both Sheya and Mtandazo referred to events surrounding the 2008 elections when
describing their fear of returning to Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF political party has
dominated the country’s government since 1987, largely through intimidation and violence.
However, during the 2008 elections, MDC gained a parliamentary majority for the first time.
The 2008 presidential election went to a run-off, which Mugabe won only after his challenger
withdrew in protest against the violence perpetrated by ZANU-PF. See id. at 635 (2008 Country
Report at 1). During the 2008 elections, ZANU-PF supporters engaged in widespread violence
and intimidation, including abductions, torture, and killings, in an effort to discourage opponents
from voting. It is this increase in violence directed against individuals opposed to ZANU-PF that
convinced the Mandebvus that it was even more likely in 2008 than when they first fled
Zimbabwe that they would face persecution from the government upon their return. Id. at 231–
32, 345–46 (Hr’g Tr. at 114–15, 228–29).
At the removal hearing, Dr. Wenceslous Koswoswe also testified on the Mandebvus’
behalf. Dr. Koswoswe is a member of the MDC and has conducted research on speech and
broadcasting restrictions in Zimbabwe. During a 2003 research trip to Zimbabwe, Dr.
Koswoswe obtained his MDC membership card and interviewed several MDC members in their
headquarters. Id. at 370–71 (Hr’g Tr. at 253–54). As he left MDC headquarters, several
government officials stopped him for questioning and searched his belongings. He was not
physically harmed during this encounter, and his research was not confiscated or destroyed. Id.
at 387 (Hr’g Tr. at 270).
After the hearing, the IJ issued an oral decision. Id. at 84–109 (IJ Dec.). The IJ found the
Mandebvus and their witnesses highly credible, although he expressed skepticism about the
sincerity of their support for MDC. He concluded that the asylum application was time-barred
and that country conditions had not materially changed in a manner sufficient to excuse late
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 7
filing. He also concluded that it was not probable that the Mandebvus would be persecuted or
tortured if forced to return to Zimbabwe. The Mandebvus appealed to the BIA, which issued a
decision affirming the IJ. Id. at 3–4 (BIA Dec.). This timely appeal followed.
On October 4, 2012, after we heard oral argument, we encouraged the parties to explore
whether there was some means by which the Mandebvus could remain in the United States
legally. We held the case in abeyance. By April 10, 2013, both of the Mandebvus’ daughters
had been granted prosecutorial discretion, and they are thus no longer subject to removal. On
January 7, 2014, the government offered a grant of prosecutorial discretion, subject to certain
employment restrictions, to the Mandebvus. Sheya and Mtandazo declined the offer and
indicated that they wished this case to proceed. Accordingly, we now adjudicate the
Mandebvus’ petition for review.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
When “the BIA adopts and affirms the IJ’s opinion, but provides additional reasons for
its ruling, we review the IJ’s opinion as well as the BIA’s additional reasons.” Zoarab v.
Mukasey, 524 F.3d 777, 780 (6th Cir. 2008); see also Haider v. Holder, 595 F.3d 276, 281 (6th
Cir. 2010). All legal determinations made by the IJ or BIA are reviewed de novo. Zoarab, 524
F.3d at 780. Factual findings are reviewed deferentially under a substantial-evidence standard:
they are upheld if they are “supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the
record considered as a whole,” Ramaj v. Gonzales, 466 F.3d 520, 527 (6th Cir. 2006) (quoting
INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 (1992)), and may be reversed only if the evidence “not
only supports a contrary conclusion, but indeed compels it.” Yu v. Ashcroft, 364 F.3d 700, 702–
03 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Ouda v. INS, 324 F.3d 445, 451 (6th Cir. 2003)). That is, we uphold
the BIA’s determinations unless they are “manifestly contrary to law.” 8 U.S.C.
§ 1252(b)(4)(C). Because the IJ found the Mandebvus credible, we accept their factual
statements as true. Zoarab, 524 F.3d at 780.
III. ASYLUM
The Mandebvus argue that the BIA erred by dismissing their applications for asylum as
untimely and failing to consider the merits of their asylum claims. An asylum applicant must
“demonstrate[] by clear and convincing evidence that the application has been filed within 1 year
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 8
after the date of the alien’s arrival in the United States.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B). If an
applicant does not file within the one-year time limit, his application nonetheless may be
considered if he “demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General either the existence of
changed circumstances which materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum or
extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing an application.” Id. at
§ 1158(a)(2)(D). The Mandebvus concede that there are no “extraordinary circumstances” to
justify the delay in filing, but they argue that the uptick in violence during the 2008 Zimbabwean
elections constitutes “changed circumstances” that excuse non-compliance with the one-year
deadline.
The immigration judge explained his finding that the Mandebvus failed to demonstrate
changed country conditions adequate to satisfy § 1158(a)(2)(D) as follows:
[T]he respondents argue that the 2008 elections [in Zimbabwe] constitute
changed circumstances. Changed circumstances have to be a change in
circumstance that materially affects the asylum eligibility of the individuals
involved. Now the respondents’ basis for their asylum claim is a fear of
persecution which they assert they had starting at the latest in 2004, or as early as
2000 according to Mrs. Mandebvu. They then made an attempt to file for asylum.
The events following the 2000 [sic] elections, while they did result in an
incremental change in the conditions in Zimbabwe, certainly, in the judgment of
the Court, are not a change that materially affects the eligibility of these two
individuals for asylum. They claim, and their attorney claims, that they were
eligible before 2008, and they claim that they are eligible after the events in 2008.
They also claim that their election to join the MDC organization in the
U.S. will somehow materially affect their eligibility for asylum and if they were
eligible before, it may be another piece of evidence to help their case for asylum.
But it certainly does not, in the judgment of the Court, materially affect their
eligibility for asylum. Such an event would be more in the line of a change of
government in Zimbabwe, whether respondents would suddenly be subject to
persecution where they would not have been before or changes in their personal
circumstances that materially affect their eligibility for asylum, and the Court just
does not see that the incremental change was not that Zimbabwe changed from a
nice place to an awful place in 2008; it is that Zimbabwe changed from a not very
nice place to an even not very nicer place. It got worse incrementally. But the
Court does not see that as a change in country conditions that materially affects
the eligibility of these respondents for asylum.
A.R. 100–01 (IJ Dec. at 17–18) (emphasis added). The BIA echoed the IJ’s assumption that an
“incremental change” was insufficient to support a finding of changed country conditions:
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 9
“While the respondent claims conditions in Zimbabwe changed with the elections of 2008, the
Immigration Judge found only an incremental change. Before and after the 2008 elections, the
Country Reports state that the government engaged in pervasive and systematic abuse of human
rights.” Id. at 4 (BIA Dec. at 2) (citation omitted). Thus, the IJ and the BIA both construed the
statute as requiring that applicants asserting an exemption from the asylum filing deadline
because of “changed conditions” be ineligible for asylum before the asserted change.
Federal courts ordinarily lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s determination that an
asylum application was not timely filed. Id. at § 1158(a)(3). However, under the REAL ID Act
of 2005, we retain our jurisdiction to review applications that were denied for untimeliness if the
applicant “seeks review of constitutional claims or matters of statutory construction.”
Khozhaynova v. Holder, 641 F.3d 187, 191 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Shkulaku-Purballori v.
Mukasey, 514 F.3d 499, 502 (6th Cir. 2007)). The Mandebvus argue that the IJ erred in
interpreting the statute when he determined that an “incremental change” in conditions in
Zimbabwe was categorically insufficient to constitute a change that would materially affect an
applicant’s eligibility for asylum. See § 1158(a)(2)(D).
Challenges to the denial of an asylum application as untimely are often dismissed for lack
of jurisdiction because they ask the court to reweigh the evidence in the petitioner’s favor. See
Khozhaynova, 641 F.3d at 191 (challenging the district court’s factual determination that the
petitioner’s responsibility to care for her son did not prevent her from filing for asylum);
Almuhtaseb v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 743, 748 (6th Cir. 2006). For example, in Almuhtaseb, we
considered the asylum claim of a Palestinian woman who argued that she would be persecuted if
she were forced to return to the West Bank, where violence had escalated in the period of time
before she filed her application. In determining that we lacked jurisdiction to entertain
Almuhtaseb’s appeal, we reasoned that “an assessment of Almuhtaseb’s argument regarding
changed circumstances would require us to consider evidence regarding the nature of the
violence in the West Bank to determine whether, as a matter of fact, Palestinians had become
targets of violence on the basis of their nationality and political views.” Id. at 748.
Unlike the claim presented in Almuhtaseb’s petition, the Mandebvus’ appeal does not
require this court to revisit the evidence submitted in support of their claim. We accept (1) the
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 10
IJ’s factual conclusion that there was only an “incremental change” in conditions that “changed
[Zimbabwe] from a not very nice place to an even not very nicer place” and (2) his
characterization that the Mandebvus argued they were eligible for asylum both before and after
the events of 2008. A.R. 100–01 (IJ Dec. at 17–18). We may do so because, even if we accept
all of the IJ’s factual conclusions regarding country conditions as true, we may still determine
that the IJ erred as a legal matter. The Mandebvus’ appeal asks us to determine as a matter of
law whether the IJ improperly required that they prove something not required by the statute.
Therefore, the Mandebvus’ challenge relates to the construction of the relevant statutory
language, and we have jurisdiction to review it.
Turning to the merits of the Mandebvus’ claim, we conclude that the IJ’s construction of
the statute was impermissibly narrow. The IJ concluded that an “incremental change” from poor
country conditions to worse country conditions was insufficient to constitute “changed
circumstances which materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum,” § 1158(a)(2)(D),
because it did not tip the scale such that “respondents would suddenly be subject to persecution
where they would not have been before.” A.R. 101 (IJ Dec. at 18). That is, the IJ interpreted the
statutory language to require that an asylum applicant, in order to excuse a delay in filing beyond
the one-year deadline, demonstrate that he would not have been eligible for asylum had he
applied before the change in country conditions. The Mandebvus argue that they are eligible for
the changed-circumstances filing extension even if they would have been eligible for asylum
before the events that changed their circumstances.
As “[i]n all cases of statutory construction, the starting point is the language employed by
Congress. Where the statute’s language is plain, the sole function of the courts is to enforce it
according to its terms.” Tran v. Gonzales, 447 F.3d 937, 940 (6th Cir. 2006) (quoting Vergos v.
Gregg’s Enters., Inc., 159 F.3d 989, 990 (6th Cir. 1998)). There is nothing in the plain language
of the statute that requires an applicant to show that he was ineligible for asylum when he arrived
in the United States before he can take advantage of “changed circumstances” to extend the
deadline for filing an application. The changed circumstances must “materially affect the
applicant’s eligibility for asylum,” but it is not evident that a changed condition that strengthens
an applicant’s already existing claim for asylum categorically fails to have such a material effect.
In reaching our conclusion, we find persuasive a series of cases from the Ninth Circuit rejecting
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 11
the IJ’s interpretation of the statute as unduly narrow. See Singh v. Holder, 656 F.3d 1047 (9th
Cir. 2011); Vahora v. Holder, 641 F.3d 1038 (9th Cir. 2011); Fakhry v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1057(9th Cir. 2008).
In Fakhry, a Senegalese man who had joined a democratic resistance group before fleeing
to the United States applied for asylum. He did not apply within one year of arriving in the
United States, even though he was afraid to return to Senegal from the moment he entered this
country, and he always intended to seek asylum. Fakhry, 524 F.3d at 1060. Fakhry eventually
applied for asylum after the U.S. government began removal proceedings against him, arguing
that his opposition group was still being persecuted by the Senegalese government and that
conditions had worsened. The IJ concluded that Fakhry could not assert “changed
circumstances” to excuse his delay in filing for asylum because there was never a drastic change
that altered Fakhry’s “constant interest in remaining in the United States.” Id. at 1061. On
appeal, the court concluded “that there is no support in the statute, case law, or purposes of the
statute for the IJ’s holding that Fakhry did not qualify for the changed circumstances exception
solely because his subjective intent to apply for asylum—and subjective fear—existed before the
expiration of the one-year asylum application period.” Id. at 1064. The court reasoned that the
standard applied by the IJ was contrary to the statute because it would contradict the purpose of
the changed-circumstances exception “to excuse late applications when an alien previously had a
weak or nonexistent case for asylum.” Id. at 1063.
In Vahora, the court elaborated on its conclusion in Fakhry, explaining that a rule
requiring asylum applicants to show that they did not fear persecution before the purported
changed circumstances would be at odds with Congress’s intent in enacting the changed-
circumstances exception:
Our law does not require that ‘changed circumstances’ constitute an
entirely new conflict in an asylum applicant’s country of origin, nor does it
preclude an individual who has always feared persecution from seeking asylum
because the risk of that persecution increases. . . . An applicant is not required to
file for asylum when his claim appears to him to be weak; rather he may wait until
circumstances change and the new facts make it substantially more likely that his
claim will entitle him to relief. In such cases, we may recognize changed
circumstances.
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Vahora, 641 F.3d at 1044 (internal citations omitted). The court relied heavily on statements
made by members of Congress during debate, which demonstrate that the purpose of the
changed-circumstances exception is broad and encompasses most situations that would provide
“good cause” for failing to apply within one year of arrival. Id. at 1045. Indeed, Senator Orrin
Hatch, a major proponent of the one-year deadline, emphasized that the changed-circumstances
exception would permit an applicant to apply for asylum if he “obtains more information about
likely retribution he or she might face if the applicant returned home.” Id. (quoting 142 Cong.
Rec. S11839–40) (emphasis added). Notably, the applicant need not obtain information that a
new threat of persecution exists after a change in circumstances; rather, he may claim the
changed-circumstances exception if he obtains “more information” that strengthens his fear of
persecution, a fear that may already have existed. See Singh, 656 F.3d at 1053 (“[A] petitioner
might still qualify for the changed circumstances exception even if the relevant circumstances do
not create a new basis of persecution but simply provide further evidence of the type of
persecution already suffered.”) (emphasis added). We find the Ninth Circuit’s reasoning
persuasive, and we adopt its construction of the changed-circumstances provision.
The IJ and the BIA determined that the Mandebvus’ asylum applications were untimely
because they provided evidence of only “incremental change”—that is, change that strengthened
the fear of persecution that already existed—which they deemed categorically insufficient to
demonstrate “the existence of changed circumstances which materially affect the applicant[s’]
eligibility for asylum.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). In doing so, they misconstrued the statutory
language and applied an unduly narrow legal standard. Accordingly, we grant the Mandebvus’
petition with regard to their asylum claim and remand to the BIA to consider, utilizing the
correct legal standard, whether the Mandebvus have demonstrated changed circumstances that
materially affect their eligibility for asylum. If the BIA determines on remand that the
Mandebvus have timely filed their applications for asylum, it may then address the asylum
claims on their merits and grant the applications for asylum if appropriate.
IV. WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL UNDER THE INA
The Mandebvus also argue that, even if they did not timely apply for asylum, they are
entitled to withholding of removal. An alien seeking withholding of removal under the INA
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must demonstrate that “it is more likely than not that his ‘life or freedom would be threatened in
that country [of removal] because of the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a
particular social group, or political opinion.’” Haider, 595 F.3d at 283 (quoting 8 U.S.C.
§ 1231(b)(3)(A)). Thus, the court must find both (1) that the petitioner faces abuse on account of
a protected ground and (2) that the abuse rises to the level of persecution.
The IJ acknowledged that the Mandebvus were “perceived as anti-government” because
they were teachers who made statements that were critical of ZANU-PF to their students. A.R.
102 (IJ Dec. at 19). However, he concluded that the Mandebvus could not show that they would
be persecuted in the future on the basis of political opinion because they had not shown that they
were high-level members of MDC who would be targeted by the government. First, the IJ found
the Mandebvus’ claims of membership in the MDC “highly questionable” because they officially
joined the party only after removal proceedings had been initiated against them. Id. at 105 (IJ
Dec. at 22). Even if they were legitimately members of the MDC, the IJ reasoned that members
of the MDC were not necessarily targeted for persecution:
If the membership in the MDC makes a person such a magnet for abuse by
the government, one would have expected that the doctor [who was carrying on
research critical of the government] would have been a prime candidate when he
was confronted by police in 2003. At least he would have been a candidate to
have his research product confiscated and destroyed, arrested for some period of
time. But none of those things happened, and he was not even threatened on
account of his membership in the MDC.
Id. at 106 (IJ Dec. at 23). The IJ ultimately concluded that, because “neither respondent in this
case has ever held any sort of a leadership position or a high-profile role in the MDC either in
Zimbabwe or in the United States,” the evidence was not sufficient to show that it is more likely
than not that they would be persecuted upon their return to Zimbabwe. Id. at 107 (IJ Dec. at 24).
The BIA accepted the IJ’s reasoning, noting that “a generalized or random possibility of
persecution is generally insufficient to establish persecution.” Id. at 4 (BIA Dec. at 2). Thus,
both the IJ and the BIA denied withholding of removal because they concluded that the
Mandebvus failed to show that any abuse leveled against them in the future would be because of
political opinion.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 14
A. Protected Ground: Political Opinion
The Mandebvus argue that ZANU-PF targeted them for abuse because they were
perceived as anti-government. See Haider, 595 F.3d at 284 (holding that imputed political
opinion is a protected ground). The IJ found that the Mandebvus, because of their profession and
their specific conduct (e.g., refusing to attend ZANU-PF rallies, criticizing the government to
students and fellow teachers) would be “perceived as being both political and opposition political
by those in power.” Id. at 102 (IJ Dec. at 19). Furthermore, the IJ explicitly acknowledged that
“persons perceived as being in opposition to the government have been subjected to physical
abuse by Z[ANU]-PF, by the police and by others in government. They have been beaten. Some
have been killed.” Id. at 107 (IJ Dec. at 24). Yet, the IJ concluded that the Mandebvus could not
show they would likely be persecuted because of political opinion unless they manifested that
opinion through affirmative conduct, namely by joining and becoming leaders of MDC. By
requiring a specific form of affirmative political conduct as proof of political opinion, the IJ
erred.
A petitioner claiming protected status based on political opinion does not need to show
that he took the affirmative action of joining a political party. Rather, the petitioner needs to
show only that he expressed political opinion, which may include affirmative or negative
conduct:
A political opinion can be expressed negatively as well as affirmatively.
A refusal to support a cause—by staying home on election day, by refusing to
take an oath of allegiance, or by refusing to step forward at an induction center—
can express a political opinion as effectively as an affirmative statement or
affirmative conduct.
INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 486 (1992) (Stevens, J., dissenting); see also Yidong Bu v.
Gonzales, 490 F.3d 424, 431 (6th Cir. 2007) (holding that opposition to government corruption
may constitute political opinion). Opposition to a political party is a means of expressing
political opinion as surely as is support of a different party, and either may be the basis of a claim
for withholding of removal.
To be sure, it may sometimes be difficult to determine whether a petitioner’s criticism of
his persecutor is true political opposition or whether it is born from personal conflict. See Marku
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 15
v. Ashcroft, 380 F.3d 982, 987 (6th Cir. 2004). However, when there is no evident basis for
personal conflict and the abusive conduct follows a confrontation charged with political
meaning, the only fair inference is that the abuse was a result of political opinion. This is
especially true when the opposition conduct is “relatively public.” Zoarab, 524 F.3d at 782
(finding no evidence that a petitioner who called the prince of the United Arab Emirates corrupt
was expressing opposition to the government, as opposed to confronting the prince over a
business deal gone sour, because the petitioner did not make any public statements of political
opposition).
The Mandebvus have provided overwhelming evidence that individuals who expressed
opposition to ZANU-PF were targeted for abuse. For example, Sheya’s mother was riding a bus
that was stopped by ZANU-PF members, who demanded that she produce a membership card
showing her support for and affiliation with the party. When she failed to produce the
membership card—a demonstration that she was not affiliated with ZANU-PF—she was beaten
so badly that she later died from her injuries. The passengers who were able to produce
membership cards were not beaten or otherwise abused. The evidence in the record reveals that
the ZANU-PF members who singled out Sheya’s mother for physical abuse knew only one fact
about her: that she did not support their political party. Thus, the sole conclusion that we can
draw is that they beat and killed her because of her political opposition. As another example, all
of Sheya’s brothers were targeted for abuse, even though not all of them publicly supported
MDC, because they were each perceived as opposing ZANU-PF and the Mugabe government.
It is clear from the IJ’s factual findings that the Mandebvus themselves made many
public statements critical of ZANU-PF, even before they began to support MDC. Both Sheya
and Mtandazo expressed criticism of ZANU-PF to students and fellow teachers. This public
expression of political opposition was not without consequence. ZANU-PF members regularly
forced teachers to attend party rallies and killed or injured the teachers who refused to do so.
Indeed, Mtandazo was forced into hiding when she refused to attend a rally and was warned that
ZANU-PF members were looking for her. There can be no doubt that the teachers who refused
to attend ZANU-PF’s political rallies were targeted for harassment because of their political
views. On another occasion, Mtandazo’s cell phone was confiscated because Youth Brigade
members suspected that she was an MDC supporter and that she used the phone for MDC
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 16
business. The IJ determined that it was “really not clear from the evidence” why the ZANU-PF
members thought that Mtandazo was an organizer for the MDC, and thus the IJ appeared to
discount the incident. A.R. 103 (IJ Dec. at 20). But it is not relevant why members of ZANU-PF
concluded that Mtandazo had joined an opposition party; the relevant point is that they did in fact
perceive her as opposed to ZANU-PF, and that they confiscated her property because of her
perceived political affiliation.
These incidents exemplify the abuses suffered by individuals who oppose ZANU-PF:
party members target not only individuals who take affirmative action by joining MDC, but also
individuals, such as Sheya’s mother, who take negative action by failing to support ZANU-PF.
Therefore, the IJ erred by requiring the Mandebvus to demonstrate affirmative political action—
specifically, conspicuous involvement in the MDC—as proof of political opinion. It is simply
not relevant that the Mandebvus never held a high-profile role in the MDC. The proper inquiry
is whether it is more likely than not that the Mandebvus will be persecuted for their conduct in
opposition to ZANU-PF, including their general statements critical of the government and its
policies, their failure to join ZANU-PF, and their involvement with MDC in the United States.
In addition to discounting improperly the Mandebvus’ opposition conduct that did not
take the form of formal support of MDC, the IJ ignored certain critical pieces of evidence that
strongly indicate that the Mandebvus will be targeted by ZANU-PF. The Mandebvus presented
credible evidence that ZANU-PF members have been searching specifically for them since they
fled Zimbabwe. Beginning in 2000, ZANU-PF members repeatedly contacted Mtandazo’s
mother to ask where Mtandazo had gone and to encourage her return. When Sheya’s father
returned to Zimbabwe after visiting the United States, several government agents interrogated
him regarding Sheya’s address and activities. Mtandazo’s father was also questioned regarding
her activities and whereabouts when he returned to Zimbabwe after visiting the Mandebvus in
the United States. Only a month before the hearing in this case, Mtandazo’s father told her that
the government was still searching for her. This evidence strongly shows that the Mandebvus
are not subject to merely a “generalized or random possibility of persecution,” see A.R. 4 (BIA
Dec. at 2), but rather are the specific targets of the ZANU-PF. This questioning appears to be
part of ZANU-PF’s pattern of monitoring the activities of individuals who publicly voice
opposition to its policies. The record evidence reveals only one reason that the Zimbabwean
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 17
government would want to find the Mandebvus: their perceived political opposition to the
ZANU-PF party, the government, and its policies. The evidence demonstrates that, not only are
the Mandebvus likely targets for persecution in a generic sense by virtue of their past political
opposition, but also that they are likely targets in a very specific sense.
The immigration courts’ decisions are entitled to deference only if they are “supported by
reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole.” Ramaj,
466 F.3d at 527 (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Because the
IJ failed to consider several critical pieces of evidence and improperly required the Mandebvus
to provide certain other evidence, his decision was not supported by substantial evidence. The
record evidence compels us to conclude that ZANU-PF was motivated by the Mandebvus’
opposition to the government—that is, their political opinion—to target them for abuse.
B. Future Persecution
Because we conclude that ZANU-PF will target the Mandebvus because of their political
opinion, we also consider whether the abuse directed at individuals who oppose ZANU-PF rises
to the level of persecution. The Mandebvus have conceded that they are not claiming past
persecution, and thus they cannot rely on the presumption that they will face persecution in the
future if returned to Zimbabwe. See 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b)(1)(i). Therefore, the Mandebvus bear
the burden of demonstrating that “it is more likely than not” that they will be targeted for
persecution on the basis of a protected characteristic. Id. at § 208.16(b)(2).
The INA does not contain a definition of the word “persecution.” Mikhailevitch v. INS,
146 F.3d 384, 389 (6th Cir. 1998). However, we have imbued the term with meaning in past
cases: “[P]ersecution requires more than a few isolated incidents of verbal harassment or
intimidation, unaccompanied by any physical punishment, infliction of harm, or significant
deprivation of liberty. . . . [T]he types of actions that might cross the line from harassment to
persecution include: detention, arrest, interrogation, prosecution, imprisonment, illegal searches,
confiscation of property, surveillance, beatings, or torture.” Stserba v. Holder, 646 F.3d 964,
972 (6th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). It is evident from this list
that physical “harm need not be life threatening to constitute persecution, . . . [and i]n some
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 18
cases, an applicant need not prove physical harm at all.” Haider, 595 F.3d at 286 (internal
citations omitted).
The Mandebvus have provided ample evidence that individuals who oppose ZANU-PF
are subjected to persecution, not merely occasional verbal reprimands. The Mandebvus have
identified many individuals who opposed ZANU-PF and consequently suffered beatings,
abductions, and confiscation of their property. As we discussed above, ZANU-PF members
forcibly took teachers who opposed the party to camps for “reeducation,” which frequently
involved beatings and killings. The Mandebvus’ family members offer proof that such
persecution was directed against identifiable individuals who opposed ZANU-PF: Sheya’s
mother was taken to a camp and beaten so severely that she later died. At least three of Sheya’s
brothers, Thomas, Efraim, and Enywear, were also beaten for acting as community organizers
and recruiters on behalf of MDC. Another of Sheya’s brothers, Onward, was threatened and
placed under surveillance when the government suspected him of using his position as a
university professor to criticize the government and influence students. Onward fled the country
before he was subject to any physical attacks. Sheya’s father was also persecuted by ZANU-PF
after he opposed their policies regarding food distribution: he was relieved of his duties as head
of the village and his cattle were confiscated. And ZANU-PF members confiscated property
from Mtandazo because they suspected her of supporting MDC. Although not all of the
Mandebvus’ family members were physically harmed—some were “merely” threatened, had
their activities monitored, or had valuable property taken by ZANU-PF members—as a matter of
law, persecution is not limited to only physical abuses or imprisonment. See Stserba, 646 F.3d at
972. Nearly every individual identified by the Mandebvus as opposed to ZANU-PF has suffered
at least one form of persecution.
To be sure, there is evidence that at least one supporter of MDC, Dr. Kaswoswe, was not
persecuted. When Dr. Kaswoswe traveled to Zimbabwe in 2003 to conduct research with
opposition leaders in the MDC, he was briefly detained by government officials for questioning,
but he was not harmed. He was also permitted to keep his research material, which was highly
critical of the government. But there could be any number of reasons that ZANU-PF might show
restraint in its interactions with a highly educated doctoral candidate, in a position to expose their
abuses to a broad global audience. That one known MDC member was not abused does not
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 19
make it improbable that the Mandebvus would be persecuted if forced to return to Zimbabwe.
We do not require a petitioner to show that every single person who could claim protected status
has been and will be persecuted before we will grant relief.
Furthermore, in the wake of the 2008 elections, it is even more likely that individuals
opposed to ZANU-PF will be targeted for persecution. The U.S. Department of State’s Country
Report for Zimbabwe describes worsening conditions during the elections, as ZANU-PF
struggled to retain control of the government: “The ruling party’s dominant control and
manipulation of the political process through violence, intimidation, and corruption effectively
negated the right of citizens to change their government. Unlawful killings and politically
motivated abductions increased. State-sanctioned use of excessive force increased, and security
forces tortured members of the opposition, student leaders, and civil society activists with
impunity.” A.R. 635 (2008 Country Report at 1). Even if Dr. Kaswoswe’s treatment is evidence
that it was not probable in 2003 that that the Mandebvus would have been persecuted, it is not
persuasive evidence that the Mandebvus will not be probable targets for persecution in light of
the increased violence surrounding the 2008 elections.
Under these circumstances, we can “state with conviction” that ZANU-PF was motivated
to persecute the Mandebvus because of their political opinion. Zoarab, 524 F.3d at 780 (quoting
Marquez v. INS, 105 F.3d 374, 381 (7th Cir. 1997)). Accordingly, we grant the Mandebvus’
petition with respect to their claims for withholding of removal. We remand to the BIA with
instructions to grant withholding of removal if it determines that the Mandebvus are not entitled
to asylum.
V. WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL UNDER THE CAT
The Mandebvus also argue that they are eligible for withholding of removal under the
Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). An alien qualifies for withholding of removal under the
CAT if he demonstrates that “‘it is more likely than not that [he] would be tortured if removed to
the proposed country of removal.’” Haider, 595 F.3d at 289 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2)).
Torture is an extreme form of abuse, “by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or
mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person . . . at the instigation of or with the consent or
acquiescence of a public official.” 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1). During the 2008 elections, ZANU-
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 20
PF members increased their use of torture against political opponents: “[ZANU-PF] set up
numerous torture camps throughout the country . . . . One NGO report stated that at least
6,300 victims of torture and assault received medical treatment during the year, nearly double the
3,463 victims recorded in 2007. Torture and other assault methods commonly reported included
beating victims with sticks, whips and cables; suspension; burning; electric shock; and falanga
(beating the soles of the feet).” A.R. 638–39 (2008 Country Report at 4–5). Thus, it is quite
possible that the Mandebvus would be subject to torture upon their return. See Mushayahama v.
Holder, 469 F. App’x 443, 459–60 (6th Cir. 2012) (discussing the many kinds of torture
prevalent in Zimbabwe).
In spite of the Country Report documenting the deplorable conditions in Zimbabwe,
neither the IJ nor the BIA discussed these conditions before summarily concluding that “the
evidence does not show that it is more likely than not that either respondent . . . will be tortured
for any reason if they are returned to Zimbabwe.” A.R. 108 (IJ Dec. at 25). Because the
decision does not indicate that the BIA considered “all evidence relevant to the possibility of
future torture,” and because it “might have adjudicated [the] claim differently” if it had done so,
see Mostafa v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 622, 626 (6th Cir. 2005) (quotation marks and citations
omitted), we remand the claim for withholding of removal under the CAT to the BIA with
instructions to consider the CAT claim in light of the relevant country conditions.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we GRANT the Mandebvus’ petition and REMAND for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 21
_________________
CONCURRENCE
_________________
MERRITT, Circuit Judge, concurring. I join Judge Moore’s opinion sending this case
back to the BIA for reconsideration. In addition to the reasons she gives based on asylum, the
most recent State Department Country Report for 2013 for Zimbabwe states that President
Robert Mugabe was reelected on July 31, 2013, in an election that “was neither fair nor
credible,” using “a process effectively negating the right of citizens to choose their government.”
The 2013 Report describes the current situation in the country as follows:
The most important human rights problems remained the government’s targeting
for torture, abuse, arrest, and harassment members of non-ZANU-PF parties and
civil society activists; partisan application of the rule of law by security forces and
the judiciary; the government’s compulsory acquisition of private property and
restrictions on civil liberties.
A 21-page Report follows this language. It describes in detail human rights violations
that run the gamut from widespread rape to widespread slavery. This is certainly no place for the
United States to send this family of five, who are non-ZANU-PF with a history of political
activism. The Report describes violations of the Convention Against Torture that this family
could probably not escape. The BIA should reconsider its former position when it took no
action. The 2013 Country Report would be a good place for the BIA to start its reconsideration.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 22
_________________
DISSENT
_________________
DAVID W. McKEAGUE, Circuit Judge, dissenting. I respectfully dissent. Unlike the
majority, I believe that we lack jurisdiction to review the Board’s denial of the Mandebvus’
asylum applications. And while I do not make light of the Mandebvus’ situation, I also believe,
given the deferential standard of review, that the Mandebvus have failed to qualify for
withholding of removal under the INA as well as relief under the CAT.
I.
First the Mandebvus contest the denial of their asylum applications. Our jurisdiction to
review untimely asylum applications like the Mandebvus’ is statutorily limited. See 8 U.S.C.
§ 1158(a)(3). We only have jurisdiction to review such applications “when the appeal seeks
review of constitutional claims or matters of statutory construction, not when the question is
discretionary or factual.” Khozhaynova v. Holder, 641 F.3d 187, 191 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting
Shkulaku–Purballori v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 499, 502 (6th Cir. 2007)). The Mandebvus argued
that “changed circumstances” in Zimbabwe excused their late filing, but the IJ and the Board
disagreed. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D). Notably, “‘the existence of ‘changed circumstances’
that materially affect eligibility for asylum is a predominantly factual determination, which will
invariably turn on the facts of a given case.’” Almuhtaseb v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 743, 748 (6th
Cir. 2006) (quoting Ramadan v. Gonzales, 427 F.3d 1218, 1221–22 (9th Cir. 2005)).
Applying that standard here, it is clear that the IJ’s “incremental change” determination is
a factual finding that this court lacks jurisdiction to review. See Khozhaynova, 641 F.3d at 191.
The IJ did not state that an incremental change in country conditions could never constitute
changed circumstances within the meaning of the statute; the IJ simply noted that “[c]hanged
circumstances have to be a change in circumstance that materially affects the asylum eligibility
of the individuals involved.” A.R. at 100 (emphasis added). This is squarely in line with the
statute, which excuses late filing when an applicant can demonstrate “changed circumstances
which materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum[.]” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(D)
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 23
(emphasis added). Assessing the facts of this case, the IJ determined that the “events following
the 2000 elections, while they did result in an incremental change in the conditions in Zimbabwe,
certainly, in the judgment of the Court, are not a change that materially affects the eligibility of
these two individuals for asylum.” A.R. at 100 (emphasis added). The Mandebvus’ argument is
not one involving an issue of statutory construction—it is a direct challenge to the IJ and Board’s
factual determinations that the changed conditions in Zimbabwe did not materially affect the
Mandebvus’ eligibility for asylum.
I do not agree with the majority that either the IJ or the Board assumed that an
incremental change was categorically insufficient to support a finding of changed country
conditions. The IJ considered the factual evidence presented by the Mandebvus, yet “d[id] not
see that as a change in country conditions that materially affects the eligibility of these
respondents for asylum.” A.R. at 100–01 (emphasis added). Similarly, the Board examined the
facts presented in the Zimbabwe Country Report and also found that the Mandebvus did not
establish “a change in circumstances . . . [that justified] the delayed filing.” A.R. at 4. The issue
here is not whether incremental changes in a country could ever constitute changed
circumstances, but whether conditions in Zimbabwe deteriorated to the point where they had a
material effect on the Mandebvus’ eligibility for asylum. Both the IJ and the Board found that
they did not. This is a contested factual determination about the nature of ongoing violence that
we are without jurisdiction to review. See Almuhtaseb, 453 F.3d at 748. (“Because [the
applicant’s] claim relies on contesting . . . factual determinations rather than on statutory
construction or a constitutional claim, we are without jurisdiction to review the Board’s
determination denying her asylum.”). I would therefore dismiss this part of their petition.
II.
The Mandebvus next contest the IJ and Board’s denial of withholding of removal under
the INA. The Mandebvus bore the burden of demonstrating that it was “more likely than not”
that they would be persecuted on the basis of their political opinions if they returned to
Zimbabwe. See 8 U.S.C. § 1208.16(b)(2); Khozhaynova, 641 F.3d at 192–93 (discussing the
clear probability standard). We review a denial of withholding of removal for substantial
evidence, meaning we afford deference to the IJ and Board’s decisions and must affirm unless
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 24
any reasonable adjudicator would be “compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8 U.S.C.
§ 1252(b)(4)(B) (emphasis added); see also Stserba, 646 F.3d at 971–72 (observing that reversal
is only appropriate if the decision was manifestly contrary to law). Because I believe that
substantial evidence supports the IJ and Board’s findings, I would affirm.
At the onset, I disagree with the majority’s characterization of the IJ’s discussion of the
Mandebvus’ political activism. The IJ acknowledged that some individuals associated with the
opposition government had been beaten or killed, but the IJ stated that “according to both
respondents, [the Mandebvus] were perceived as being both political and opposition political by
those in power.” A.R. at 102 (emphasis added); see also Maj. Op. at 18 (discussing this
statement). I would not rely on this statement as an indication that the IJ made a finding that this
was in fact true, especially because the IJ’s observation that the Mandebvus’ membership was
“highly questionable” as well as other reasoning in the decision indicates the opposite. I note
that the IJ carefully considered the Mandebvus’ specific conduct and reasoned, for example, that
it was “really not clear from the evidence” why the ZANU-PF confiscated Mrs. Mandebvu’s cell
phone at a roadblock one week after she attended a political rally, and that it could be “because
they knew her, because they knew she was a teacher, or simply because she was in possession of
a cell phone.” A.R. at 103.
While I agree with the majority that the Mandebvus presented evidence that some
individuals who expressed opposition to the ZANU-PF were targeted for abuse, I cannot ignore
that other individuals who expressed opposition to the ZANU-PF were not targeted for abuse.
As the majority notes, Dr. Kaswoswe, a witness for the Mandebvus, was not persecuted upon his
return to Zimbabwe despite the fact that he was far more politically active than the Mandebvus,
carried an opposition party card, interviewed opposition party members, conducted dissertation
research critical of the government, and admitted that he was a member of the opposition party.
Dr. Kaswoswe’s safe return to Zimbabwe, particularly in light of how he demonstrated his
political opposition to the ZANU-PF more brazenly than the Mandebvus, supports the IJ’s
conclusion that the Mandebvus failed to show that they would “more likely than not” face
persecution. It is not the only conclusion that can be derived from the evidence, but that alone
does not make this conclusion unreasonable. In light of the deferential standard of review, that is
enough to warrant affirmance.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 25
The majority seems to suggest that the IJ concluded that the evidence was insufficient
simply because the Mandebvus did not hold leadership positions in the opposition party. While
the IJ did “note” this fact, the IJ’s conclusion was clearly the product of a careful weighing of the
evidence, which is made obvious by reviewing the IJ’s reasoning in full:
If the membership in the MDC makes a person such a magnet for abuse by
the government, one would have expected that the doctor, or then doctoral
candidate would have been a prime candidate when he was confronted by police
in 2003. At least he would have been a candidate to have his research product
confiscated and destroyed, arrested for some period of time. But none of those
things happened, and he was not even threatened on account of his membership in
the MDC.
Now, the supporting documents in this case do show that MDC members
and other persons perceived as being in opposition to the government have been
subjected to physical abuse by Zanu-PF, by the police and by others in
government. They have been beaten. Some have been killed. The Court would
note, however, that neither respondent in this case has ever held any sort of a
leadership position or a high-profile role in the MDC either in Zimbabwe or in the
United States. And, again, the Court finds their election to suddenly become a
full-fledged, card-carrying member of the MDC only after being placed in
proceedings, to be suspicious to the point of being almost humorous. Certainly
either or both of the respondents could be perceived as being opposed to the
government in power in Zimbabwe at this time and certainly the possibility exists
that one or both of them would be arrested, detained, beaten or even killed.
That said, in the judgment of the Court the evidence is not sufficient in this
case to show that it is more likely than not, in other words that there is a clear
probability, a 51 percent or better chance, that the life or freedom of either
respondent would be threatened in Zimbabwe on account of their membership,
either real or perceived, their membership in the MDC and as a consequence the
perception that they are opposition, they form a part of the opposition to the
government in power.
A.R. at 106–07 (emphasis added). It is clear to me that while the IJ recognized that the
possibility of persecution on the basis of membership alone existed, the IJ concluded that the
evidence was insufficient to meet the “more likely than not” standard. I cannot say that the
evidence compels a contrary conclusion, and so I would affirm.
III.
The Mandebvus lastly contest the IJ and Board’s denial of withholding of removal under
the CAT. In order to meet their burden, the Mandebvus “must ‘establish that it is more likely
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 26
than not that [they] would be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.’” Dugboe
v. Holder, 644 F.3d 462, 472 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(a)(2)). This requires the
applicant to establish a “particularized threat of torture.” Castellano-Chacon v. INS, 341 F.3d
533, 551 (6th Cir. 2003). “Torture” means:
[A]ny act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is
intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or her
or a third person information or a confession, punishing him or her for an act he
or she or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or
intimidating or coercing him or her or a third person, or for any reason based on
discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is 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.
8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1). An act of torture “must be specifically intended to inflict severe
physical or mental pain or suffering,” 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(5), and “must be directed against a
person in the offender's custody or physical control.” Id. at § 1208.18(a)(6). We review the
finding below for substantial evidence, see Bonilla-Morales v. Holder, 607 F.3d 1132, 1139–
1140 (6th Cir. 2010), and must affirm unless any reasonable adjudicator would be “compelled to
conclude to the contrary.” 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B) (emphasis added).
The Mandebvus argue that they qualify for CAT relief because “they have relatives who
have been tortured,” “torture camps were set up in Zimbabwe,” “[t]he government engages in
torture,” and the “police and security forces engage[] in torture.” Accordingly, the Mandebvus
allege, they are more likely than not going to be tortured. In light of the record, I cannot say that
the evidence is sufficiently compelling so as to overturn the finding below. The Mandebvus
have simply not established, given the substantial evidence standard of review, that it is more
likely than not that they will be tortured if they return to Zimbabwe.1 They have not personally
been subject to torture in the past, and the evidence that other members of the Mandebvu family
1
The majority states that the Board did not discuss the conditions discussed in the Country Report before
concluding that the evidence did not show that it was more likely than not that the Mandebvus would be tortured if
they returned to Zimbabwe. But the Board reasoned as follows:
Before and after the 2008 elections, the Country Reports state that the government
engaged in pervasive and systematic abuse of human rights. We further find, as did the
Immigration Judge, that the respondent failed to establish either a change in circumstances in
Zimbabwe or extraordinary circumstances justifying the delayed filing.
A.R. at 4 (emphasis added). In light of the fact that the Board expressly considered the Country Report, I
do not agree that the Board’s decision does not indicate that it considered this evidence.
No. 11-3969 Mandebvu et al. v. Holder Page 27
have been harassed or assaulted is not sufficient to establish that the Mandebvus themselves will
more likely than not be tortured. Further, we have recognized that even if a petitioner establishes
that a particular group of which he or she is a member has suffered torture, that is not sufficient
to show it is more likely than not that the petitioner would be subject to such treatment. See
Almuhtaseb, 453 F.3d at 751 (statements that Israelis have tortured Palestinians in the past, even
if taken at face value, did not show petitioner would be subject to torture). Accordingly,
evidence that the police or security forces sometimes engage in torture, even torture of MDC
members and supporters, is not enough to show that the Mandebvus will more likely than not be
subject to torture. Because I cannot say that the evidence compels a contrary conclusion, I would
affirm.
IV.
Because I believe that we are without jurisdiction to review the denial of the Mandebvus’
asylum applications, I would DISMISS that part of their petition. Further, because the
Mandebvus failed to show that they will “more likely than not” face persecution or torture if they
return to Zimbabwe, I would AFFIRM the decision of the BIA to deny withholding of removal
under the INA and the CAT.