Rumicha v. Atty Gen USA , 69 F. App'x 560 ( 2003 )

Opinions of the United
2003 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
7-14-2003
Rumicha v. Atty Gen USA
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 02-2525
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
No. 02-2525
DEMISSEW L. RUMICHA,
Petitioner
v.
JOHN ASHCROFT,
ATTORNEY GENERAL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent
Petition for Review of an Order
of the Board of Immigration Appeals
(A-72-370-698)
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
June 26, 2003
Before: SLOVITER, AMBRO, Circuit Judges, and TUCKER,* District Judge
(Filed: July 14, 2003 )
OPINION OF THE COURT
________________
*Hon. Petrese B. Tucker, United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
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SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.
Demissew Rumicha petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration
Appeals (“BIA”) affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of Rumicha’s motion to
reopen the record in order to seek relief under the United Nations Convention Against
Torture (“CAT”). We will deny the petition for review.
I.
BACKGROUND
Rumicha is a native and citizen of Ethiopia and is of Oromo ethnicity, the largest
ethnic group in Ethiopia. He entered the United States in 1989 on a student visa. The
Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”) began deportation proceedings in 1993
because Rumicha did not comply with the conditions of his visa. Rumicha filed
applications for asylum and withholding of deportation. In 1995, he withdrew his
applications and was granted voluntary departure until July 17, 1996 pursuant to an
agreement with the INS. An alternate order of deportation was entered. Rumicha then
filed a motion to reopen the proceedings to suspend deportation. The IJ reopened the
hearing but denied Rumicha’s application to suspend deportation. Rumicha’s request to
reinstate his voluntary departure until February 25, 1998 was granted.
In October 1997, Rumicha and the INS filed a joint motion to reopen stating that
the law had changed with respect to Rumicha’s prior application to suspend deportation.
The IJ granted the motion and Rumicha filed new applications for asylum, withholding of
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deportation and suspension of deportation. In April 1998, Rumicha again withdrew his
applications in exchange for an extended period of voluntary departure until April 15,
1999 pursuant to an agreement with the INS. Rumicha remained in the United States and
on June 18, 1999, he filed a motion to reopen the proceedings to seek relief under the
CAT.
In his motion to reopen, Rumicha stated that, while living in Ethiopia, he was a
member of the Oromo Liberation Front (“OLF”), a group working to ensure human rights
for the Oromo people. Ethiopian authorities arrested and detained Rumicha in September
1987 after he distributed pamphlets about the OLF. While detained, he was beaten and
his foot was broken. He did not receive medical treatment. He was released six months
later. Rumicha returned to work as a school teacher and had no further contact with the
OLF. In June 1989, he arrived in the United States.
The government in Ethiopa was overturned in 1991. A transitional government
ultimately led by Meles Zenawi was in place until 1995. The current government,
established in 1995, is also headed by Meles Zenawi, now the Prime M inister. While in
the United States, Rumicha has protested against the current government and has
supported the OLF North American Group. The 1998 Department of State country report
reflects that the government has detained OLF members, in particular those accused of
participating in armed action against the government. A 1999 Amnesty International
Report reflects that the OLF and the government have engaged in war in part of the
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country. Based on his affiliation with the OLF, Rumicha believes that he will be tortured
or killed if he returns to Ethiopia.
In 1991, after the change in government, Rumicha’s brother, an OLF member, was
killed. A second brother was imprisoned in 1991 and 1992. He escaped and Rumicha
does not know if he is alive. A third brother was shot and imprisoned in 1992 and
escaped to the Sudan. Rumicha’s two other siblings, who were also imprisoned for four
months in 1991 for supporting the OLF, and his parents still live in Ethiopia.
In denying Rumicha’s motion to reopen, the IJ concluded that he did not establish
a prima facie case for relief under the CAT. The IJ explained that there is no evidence
that Rumicha’s relatives who remained in Ethiopia after 1992 have been tortured or
persecuted or that the Ethiopian government has noticed Rumicha’s political activities in
the United States. In addition, Rumicha does not hold a leadership position in the OLF.
The IJ also stated that although there are reports that security officials mistreat detainees
and arbitrarily arrest and detain prisoners, Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia
and the isolated incidents of mistreatment do not establish the probability of torture for
Rumicha based upon his ethnicity or his ties with the OLF. Finally, the IJ noted that the
basis of Rumicha’s application under the CAT is indistinguishable from the asylum
applications that he twice withdrew, and that Rumicha did not attempt to explain why he
withdrew his prior applications.
The BIA affirmed the decision of the IJ without opinion pursuant to 8 C.F.R. §
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3.1(a)(7). This petition for review followed.
II.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The BIA had jurisdiction under 8 C.F.R. § 3.1(b). We have jurisdiction to review
the BIA’s final order pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1). See also Sevoian v. Ashcroft,
290 F.3d 166, 169 (3d Cir. 2002) (reviewing BIA’s denial of motion to reopen). When
the BIA affirms the decision of the IJ without opinion pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 3.1(a)(7),
the IJ’s decision is the final agency determination. 8 C.F.R. § 3.1(a)(7)(iii). Thus, we
must review the decision of the IJ.
We review for abuse of discretion an IJ’s decision denying a motion to reopen for
failure to establish a prima facie case for relief under the CAT and we review findings of
fact for substantial evidence. Sevoian, 290 F.3d at 174-75. Under the abuse of discretion
standard, the decision must be reversed if it is arbitrary, irrational or contrary to law. Id.III.
DISCUSSION
An alien whose deportation order became final before March 22, 1999 may move
to reopen the proceedings to seek protection under the CAT. 8 C.F.R. § 208.18(b)(2).
The motion to reopen must have been filed by June 21, 1999, and the evidence must
establish a prima facie case that the removal must be withheld or deferred under the CAT.
Id. At issue is whether Rumicha established a prima facie case for relief under the CAT.
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An applicant seeking relief on the merits under the CAT must establish “‘that it is
more likely than not that he or she would be tortured if removed to the proposed country
of removal.’” Sevoian, 290 F.3d at 175 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(2)). The prima
facie case standard for a motion to reopen requires the applicant to produce objective
evidence showing a reasonable likelihood that s/he can establish that s/he is more likely
than not to be tortured. Sevoian, 290 F.3d at 175.
Torture is defined “as acts done ‘by or at the instigation of or with the consent or
acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity’ by means
of which ‘severe pain and suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted’
for purposes such as obtaining confessions, punishment, intimidation or coercion.” Id.(quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.18(a)(1)). “‘Torture is an extreme form of cruel and inhuman
treatment and does not include lesser forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment that do not amount to torture.’” Id. (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.18(a)(2)). All
evidence relevant to the possibility of future torture is considered, including evidence of
past torture, evidence as to whether the applicant could relocate to another part of the
country and evidence of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights within the
country of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c)(3).
Rumicha argues that he established a prima facie case for withholding or deferring
his removal under the CAT by providing evidence demonstrating a reasonable likelihood
that he will be tortured if he returns to Ethiopia. He points to his affidavit which
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describes the torture the Ethiopian government inflicted upon him in the past, a letter
from his brother describing the harassment that he has endured, a letter from the North
American office of the OLF describing Rumicha’s role with the OLF, and articles issued
by the Department of State, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch describing
the torture of political detainees who are members of the OLF or who oppose the
Ethiopian government.
We believe that the evidence that Rumicha produced has not established that the IJ
abused his discretion in denying Rumicha’s motion to reopen. That evidence does not
show a reasonable likelihood that he will be tortured if he returns to Ethiopia. Rumicha’s
1987 detention occurred under a different government and it therefore does not support a
reasonable likelihood of torture by the current government. His brother’s letter is focused
on the problems his brother has encountered in Sudan. Rumicha also supports his motion
to reopen the record with a letter from the OLF representative in the United States that
states that Rumicha took an active and visible role in supporting the OLF, describes the
political developments in Ethiopia since the change in government in 1991 and opines
that Rumicha may become a target of persecution if he returns to Ethiopia. In addition,
the latest Department of State and Amnesty International reports reflect problems in the
government’s human rights practices, including detention of OLF activists, but the
Department of State report states that simple membership in the OLF is not necessarily
cause for arrest, and that the Ethiopian government distinguishes between OLF members
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and leaders.
In his appeal, Rumicha argues that the IJ applied an improper standard in denying
his motion to reopen and that the IJ decided the merits of his claim under the CAT rather
than deciding whether there was a reasonable likelihood that he would succeed on the
merits. The IJ, however, stated in his decision that Rumicha did not establish a prima
facie case for withholding under the CAT and that he “failed to meet his burden of
demonstrating a reasonable likelihood that relief under [the CAT] might be forthcoming.”
App. at 61. The IJ did not err in applying the standard he did. Rumicha further argues
that the BIA abused its discretion because it failed to exercise its plenary power to reverse
the IJ’s decision for application of an improper standard. However, because the IJ
applied the proper standard, this argument lacks merit.
Finally, Rumicha argues that the IJ erroneously required him to explain why he
withdrew his applications for asylum. Although the IJ noted that Rumicha did not
provide an explanation for the withdrawals, he also thoroughly reviewed the evidence
submitted in support of the motion to reopen and denied the motion based upon the
evidence. The IJ noted, inter alia, that after Rumicha was released from detention, he
returned to work as a teacher for the Ministry of Education and continued to work there
for 15 months without incident, he was issued a passport and visa, and he was able to
leave Ethiopia. His brother and sister are employed as teachers in Ethiopia, his parents
are presently living there, and there is no evidence that any members of his family
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remaining in Ethiopia after 1992 were tortured or persecuted.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, we will deny the petition for review.
_____________________
TO THE CLERK:
Please file the foregoing opinion
/s/Dolores K. Sloviter
Circuit Judge
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