Akm Haque v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAR 14 2012 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT AKM SHAMSUL HAQUE, No. 08-71422 Petitioner, Agency No. A095-629-961 v. MEMORANDUM * ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted March 6, 2012 ** Before: B. FLETCHER, REINHARDT, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges. Akm Shamsul Haque, a native and citizen of Bangladesh, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ 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 * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). the agency’s factual findings and review de novo its legal conclusions. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009). We grant the petition for review and we remand. Substantial evidence does not support the agency’s nexus determination because Haque’s testimony established that he articulated his political opposition to rival party members and that the subsequent attacks and extortion were motivated, at least in part, on account of his political opinion. See Borja v. INS, 175 F.3d 732, 735-37 (9th Cir. 1999) (en banc). Because the agency erred in its nexus determination, it did not fully consider Haque’s claim of past persecution and whether Haque has a presumption of future persecution. See Recinos de Leon v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 1185, 1191-92 (9th Cir. 2005). Accordingly, we grant the petition as to Haque’s withholding of removal claim and remand for further proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18 (2002) (per curiam). PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; REMANDED. 2 08-71422