Latoya Aris v. Merrick Garland


NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS AUG 26 2021 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT LATOYA SHERINA ARIS, AKA Jeans No. 20-71032 Blair, Agency No. A079-407-252 Petitioner, v. MEMORANDUM* MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted August 17, 2021** Before: SILVERMAN, CHRISTEN, and LEE, Circuit Judges. Latoya Sherina Aris, a native and citizen of Jamaica, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We review de novo * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). legal conclusions and review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Bringas-Rodriguez v. Sessions, 850 F.3d 1051, 1059 (9th Cir. 2017). We grant the petition for review, and we remand. In denying withholding of removal and CAT relief, the agency relied on determinations that Aris’ fears were speculative. However, in making these determinations, the agency did not address the evidence of death threats that were made in 2017 on account of Aris’ perceived sexuality. See Cole v. Holder, 659 F.3d 762, 771-72 (9th Cir. 2011) (CAT claim remanded, in part, on account of the agency’s failure to properly consider all relevant evidence, where indications of that failure “include misstating the record”); Bromfield v. Mukasey, 543 F.3d 1071, 1076-79 (9th Cir. 2008) (withholding of removal claim remanded, in part, due to the IJ’s misinterpretation of record evidence); Sagaydak v. Gonzales, 405 F.3d 1035, 1040 (9th Cir. 2005) (the agency is “not free to ignore arguments raised by a petitioner.”). Thus, we grant the petition for review and remand to the agency for further proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18 (2002) (per curiam). Aris’ removal is stayed pending a decision by the BIA. The government must bear the costs for this petition for review. PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED. 2 20-71032 20-71032 Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ca9 9th Cir. Latoya Aris v. Merrick Garland 26 August 2021 Agency Unpublished d7f09ad063536978cd03aa0a5996fb7b72cbfa9b

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