-Immigration Law-
Petitioner was threatened,
harassed, fined, detained, and beaten because he opposed systemic government corruption. This included the extortion of bribes.
The Board of Immigration Appeals erred in concluding that he was ineligible for asylum. They claimed that he failed to establish a nexus between his mistreatment and a protected ground under 8 U.S.C.
Section 1101(a)(42)(A). Petitioner’s whistleblowing activity included filing a complaint with a judge and organizing fellow business owners to fight extortion. His actions were because of his whistleblowing activity. He also held several rallies and strikes to publicize the corruption.
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) erred in concluding that“criminal misconduct,”
rather than foreign government,
Petitioner’s mistreatment where evidence existed. National security service officers need to establish a new determination whether he was eligible for asylum.
Baghdasaryan v. Holder – filed January 13, 2010
Cite as 05-72416
