Background
Petitioners, natives and citizens of Mexico, appealed a Board of Immigration Appeals decision dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.
The court’s reasoning
The court applied the substantial evidence standard, upholding the agency’s determination unless evidence compelled a contrary conclusion. It found the petitioners’ claims of past persecution insufficient as the harm was mostly verbal without serious injuries and threats were vague. Additionally, the court determined internal relocation was reasonable given the petitioners’ ability to move to a family member’s ranch and rent an apartment in their home state.
What it means going forward
The denial of the petition for review allows the removal order to proceed, as the motion for a stay of removal was also denied.