Arman Arakelyan v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Arman Arakelyan v. Eric H. Holder Jr., 471 F. App'x 708 (9th Cir. 2012)

Arman Arakelyan v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Arman Arakelyan, a native and citizen of Armenia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s findings of fact, including credibility findings. Tekle v. Mukasey, 533 F.3d 1044, 1051 (9th Cir. 2008). We grant the petition for review and we remand.

Substantial evidence does not support the BIA’s adverse credibility finding because the inconsistencies the BIA identified between Arakelyan’s testimony and his documentary evidence regarding the closure of his business and the year his nonprofit joined an opposition alliance do not go to the heart of his claim. See Singh v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 1100, 1106, 1108-09 (9th Cir. 2006) (inconsistencies in who paid bribe to secure petitioner’s release and number of times petitioner transported protesters did not support adverse credibility finding). Accordingly, we remand Arakelyan’s asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT claims on an open record for further proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18, 123 S.Ct. 353, 154 L.Ed.2d 272 (2002) (per curiam); Soto-Olarte v. Holder, 555 F.3d 1089, 1095-96 (9th Cir. 2009).

We grant Arakelyan’s counsel’s motion to withdraw as attorney of record. The Clerk shall amend the docket to reflect that Arakelyan is proceeding pro se. The Clerk shall serve this order on Arakelyan at the address provided in counsel’s motion to withdraw: 1011 Palmer Ave. # 23, Glendale, CA 91205.

PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED.

**

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

Reference

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Unpublished