Situmeang v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Situmeang v. Holder, 397 F. App'x 373 (9th Cir. 2010)

Situmeang v. Holder

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Nanser Silaban, a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, and we review de novo the agency’s legal determinations. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009). We grant the petition for review and remand.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Silaban did not suffer past persecution because the incidents he suffered in Indonesia, including threats, discrimination, and minor physical harm, did not rise to the level of persecution. See Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1181-82 (9th Cir. 2003).

The BIA concluded that Silaban could not demonstrate a clear probability *375 of future persecution in part because his remaining family members continued to practice their Christian religion without difficulty. This finding is not supported by substantial evidence, because as a religious leader who received individualized threats, Silaban was not similarly situated to his remaining family members. See Lim v. INS, 224 F.3d 929, 935 (9th Cir. 2000). The BIA also concluded that as an Indonesian Christian, Silaban was not a member of a disfavored group. In light of our recent intervening decision in Tampubolon v. Holder, 610 F.3d 1056 (9th Cir. 2010), we remand for the BIA to assess Silaban’s withholding of removal claim under the disfavored group analysis in the first instance. See Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1067, see also INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18, 123 S.Ct. 353, 154 L.Ed.2d 272 (2002) (per curiam).

PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED.

**

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

Reference

Full Case Name
Nanser SILABAN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished