Jukic v. I.N.S., 94-40375

• Decision Date: 22 December 1994
• Docket Number: No. 94-40375,94-40375
• Parties: Zlatko JUKIC, Petitioner, v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Respondent. Summary Calendar.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

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40 F.3d 747

Zlatko JUKIC, Petitioner, v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Respondent.

No. 94-40375

Summary Calendar.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Dec. 22, 1994.

Lawrence B. Fabacher, II, New Orleans, LA, for petitioner.

Janet Reno, Atty. Gen., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Carl H. McIntyre, Kristin A. Cabral, David J. Kline, Asst. Dir., Robert L. Bombough, Dir., I.N.S., Washington, DC, for respondent.

John B.Z. Caplinger, DD, I.N.S., New Orleans, LA, for other interested parties.

Petition for Review of Order from the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Before JONES, BARKSDALE and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

BENAVIDES, Circuit Judge:

Zlatko Jukic (Jukic), a citizen of Croatia, petitions for review of a final order of deportation by the Board of Immigration Appeals. We deny review.

I. BACKGROUND

Jukic was born in Yugoslavia. He is a citizen of what now is known as Croatia. Jukic testified as follows at the hearing held before the immigration judge. Upon turning 18, he fulfilled compulsory military service in the Yugoslavian army for one year and was discharged in June of 1990. In the fall of 1990, Jukic entered the United States as a non-immigrant visitor for pleasure with authorization to remain until October 23, 1991. Jukic had purchased a round-trip plane ticket, intending to return home. While visiting his uncle in Chicago, his mother (who remained in Yugoslavia) informed him that she had received a notice recalling him to duty for the Yugoslavian government.

The political situation in Yugoslavia, of course, deteriorated rapidly after Jukic's departure. ¹ Jukic did not want to provide further military service to the then--communist government of Yugoslavia, and consequently, did not report after receiving the draft letter.

After hearing the evidence, the immigration judge determined that Jukic had failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution as set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed the decision of the immigration judge denying Jukic's request for asylum and withholding of deportation. Jukic now petitions this Court for review of the deportation order. He disputes neither that he remained in the United States beyond the authorized date nor that he is subject to deportation. Instead, he argues that he was entitled to asylum and withholding of deportation.

II. ANALYSIS

A. WHETHER JUKIC HAS WAIVED HIS CHALLENGE TO THE BOARD'S DECISION.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) argues that Jukic has waived his claim because he challenges the order of the immigration judge rather than the ruling of the Board of Immigration Appeals which affirmed the immigration judge's order. The INS correctly argues that this Court is authorized to review the order of the Board rather than the order of the immigration judge. Castillo-Rodriguez v. I.N.S., 929 F.2d 181, 183 (5th Cir.1991). "We refuse, however, to allow a mere technicality in pleading to result in a denial of an opportunity for petitioner to obtain a decision on the merits." Id. We decline to find that Jukic has waived his claims and thus, will review them on the merits. See id. at 184.

B. WHETHER THE BOARD ERRED IN FINDING THAT JUKIC DID NOT QUALIFY FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM.

Jukic argues that the Board erred in not granting him political asylum. The Attorney General has the discretion to grant asylum to "refugees." 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1158(a). The term "refugee" is statutorily defined as a person who is outside their country and unable or unwilling to return "because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(42)(A). To prove a "well-founded fear of persecution," Jukic must show that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would fear persecution if deported. Castillo-Rodriguez, 929 F.2d at 184.

The Board's factual finding that an alien is not eligible for consideration for asylum must be upheld if it is supported by substantial evidence. Castillo-Rodriguez, 929 F.2d at 184. To reverse the Board's decision, Jukic must "show that the evidence he presented was so compelling that no reasonable factfinder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution." I.N.S. v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, ----, 112 S.Ct. 812, 817, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We will not reverse a finding simply because we differ with the Board's evaluation of the facts. Castillo-Rodriguez, 929 F.2d at 184. Likewise, we will uphold the Attorney General's determination whether to grant asylum unless the petitioner shows that the action was arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. Id.

Jukic argues that he fears persecution in Croatia based on his political opinion and his membership in a particular social group. Specifically, he argues that he fears persecution by the Serbian army based on his political opinion because he previously served in that army and since then has ignored a draft notice sent by them. Jukic further argues that he fears persecution by his people (the Croatians) because he did not return to help defend his country during the outbreak of the war. As a result of his failure to return and fight, he contends that the Croatians consider him a traitor.

At the hearing on August 26, 1993, Jukic testified that it had been two years since he received the draft notice from the Serbian army and that he had received no...