Zalega v. I.N.S.

• Decision Date: 26 October 1990
• Docket Number: No. 90-1032,90-1032
• Citation: 916 F.2d 1257
• Parties: Jan ZALEGA, Petitioner, v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Respondent.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

Page 1257

916 F.2d 1257

Jan ZALEGA, Petitioner, v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Respondent.

No. 90-1032.

United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.

Argued Aug. 9, 1990.

Decided Oct. 26, 1990.

Y. Judd Azulay, Roderick F. Mollison, Azulay & Azulay, Chicago, Ill., for petitioner.

Anton R. Valukas, U.S. Atty., Chicago, Ill., Lori L. Scialabba, Lauri S. Filppu, David J. Kline, Dept. of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, D.C., A.D. Moyer, I.N.S., Chicago, Ill., for respondent.

Before COFFEY, FLAUM, Circuit Judges, and ESCHBACH, Senior Circuit Judge.

COFFEY, Circuit Judge.

Jan Zalega petitions for review of a denial by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of his applications for asylum under section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Immigration Act), 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1158(a), and withholding of deportation under section 243(h), 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1253(h). ¹

I.

Jan Zalega is a citizen of Poland. From 1974 to February 1982, Zalega worked as a manager of a livestock farm owned by the Polish government. Sometime at the end of 1981, Zalega refused to sign an oath of loyalty to party officials. Soon after his refusal, military police arrested and interrogated Zalega on three occasions. In February 1982, he was dismissed from his job. Zalega then started his own business, a fox farm. Zalega was again arrested in April of 1982 and interrogated about his association with Janusz Majewski, a Solidarity member to whom he had loaned money. ² Beginning in June of 1982 and continuing until December of 1984, the police would summon Zalega every two to three months to the police station and interrogate him over a period of three to five hours primarily about Majewski, but also about his own activities. Zalega's final detention occurred in December of 1984 while he was in Warsaw selling fox furs. Zalega was arrested and detained for thirty-six hours, but then released when the police determined that his papers were in order. There is no indication that this detention was related to Zalega's failure to sign the loyalty oath. When Zalega returned home, he found that his apartment had been searched and some money and foxes confiscated.

Zalega also asserted as evidence of persecution that the police searched his parents' home and detained them after a brother left Poland for the United States in 1983. The police also questioned Zalega's parents after he left Poland in 1984. Finally, Zalega offers as further evidence of persecution that the Polish government, which controls ownership of real property, had rejected his requests to acquire additional land to expand his fox farm. Zalega did not offer documentary evidence of the general conditions in Poland at the time of his hearing.

On December 22, 1984, Zalega entered the United States as a visitor for pleasure. Zalega overstayed his visa; consequently, on July 17, 1985, the INS issued an Order to Show Cause why he should not be deported. Zalega conceded deportability and applied for withholding of deportation and asylum, asserting political persecution. The immigration judge denied Zalega's applications, but granted him a three-month period of voluntary departure.

The BIA affirmed the decision of the immigration judge and concluded that the harassment Zalega experienced, and feared would occur again if he returned, did not rise to the level of persecution within the meaning of the Immigration Act. ³ The BIA also concluded that Zalega necessarily could not meet the stricter standard for withholding of deportation, that is, that there was a clear probability that he would be persecuted. ⁴

II.

To the extent that this case turns on the BIA's interpretation of the Immigration Act, our review is de novo; however, so long as its interpretation is reasonable, we must defer to the BIA. See Variamparambil v. INS, 831 F.2d 1362, 1366 (7th Cir.1987) (citing Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-45, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2781-83, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984)). We review the BIA's factual determination that Zalega did not experience persecution, and thus was statutorily ineligible for asylum or withholding of deportation, under a substantial evidence standard. See Perlera-Escobar v. Executive Office for Immigration, 894 F.2d 1292, 1296 (11th Cir.1990).

An "alien may be granted asylum in the discretion of the Attorney General if the Attorney General determines that such alien is a refugee within the meaning of [8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(42)(A) ]." 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1158. Section 101(a)(42)(A) of the Immigration Act defines "refugee" as any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality ... and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country 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). An alien may show either past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution if he or she were to return. See In re Chen, No. A-26219652, 1989 BIA LEXIS 10 (Interim Decision) (1989). "Persecution" is not defined in the Immigration Act, but has been defined as the infliction of suffering or harm upon those who differ (in race, religion, or political opinion) in a way regarded as offensive. Berdo v. INS, 432 F.2d 824, 847 (6th Cir.1970). " 'Persecution' or 'well-founded fear of persecution' encompass[es] more than just restrictions or threats to life and liberty." Desir v. Ilchert, 840 F.2d 723, 726 (9th Cir.1988); Blanco-Comarribas v. INS, 830 F.2d 1039, 1043 (9th Cir.1987).

The BIA concluded that Zalega's detentions and interrogations by the Polish authorities were not sufficient to show past persecution. This conclusion is supported by substantial evidence. For these detentions to be considered persecution, Zalega had to demonstrate that his detention involved more than simple incarceration. See Mendez-Efrain v. INS, 813 F.2d 279, 283 (9th Cir.1987) (although detained by military for four days, fact that alien was released without being tortured, molested or threatened constitutes substantial evidence that he would not be subject to persecution). Zalega was never formally charged or convicted of any crime, was detained for relatively short periods of time and was not mistreated while incarcerated. It was reasonable for the BIA to conclude that this was not substantial evidence of persecution.

We also note that Zalega had no trouble getting a passport and visa. He received them quickly and was able to leave Poland without any interference by the authorities. This further supports the BIA's decision.

Zalega's termination from his employment and his difficulty in obtaining additional land for his fox farm may be characterized as economic persecution. The economic persecution Zalega suffered is not, however, substantial enough to qualify him for asylum. See Desir, 840 F.2d at 727 (persecution shown where alien's ability to earn livelihood was severely impaired by Ton Ton Macoutes' threats and attempts on his life); Berdo, 432 F.2d at 847 (substantial economic detriment may be sufficient); Kovac v. INS, 407 F.2d 102, 107 (9th Cir.1969) (imposition of economic sanctions which are sufficiently harsh to constitute a threat to life or freedom because of race, religion or political opinion may support application for withholding of deportation). Cf. Youssefinia v. INS, 784 F.2d 1254 (5th Cir.1986) (alien argued that total withdrawal of economic opportunity may support well-founded fear of persecution, but did not meet burden of proof for such a showing); Minwalla v. INS, 706 F.2d 831, 835 (8th Cir.1983) (mere economic...