Matter of RODRIGUEZ-COTO

Interim Decision #2985 MATTER OF RODRIGUEZ-COTO In Exclusion Proceedings A-23221132 Decided by Board February 21, 1985 (1) The phrases "particularly serious crime" and "serious non-political crime" in sec- tions 243(hX2)(B) and (C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §§1253(hX2)(13) and (C) (1982), respectively, cannot be interpreted in a manner that would vary dependent on the nature of the evidence of persecution an alien introduces. (2) The modifiers "particularly serious" and "serious" in sections 248(hX2XB) and (C) of the Act relate only to the nature of the crime itself. EXCLUDABLE: Act of 1952—Sec. 212(aX9) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(aX9)]—Crime involving moral turpitude grant visa Sec. 212(aX20) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(aX20)]—No valid immi- ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT: ON BEHALF OF SERVICE: Pro se David M. Dixon Appellate Counsel BY: Milhollan, Chairman; Maniatis, Dunne, Morris, and Vacca, Board Members In a decision dated May 7, 1984, we dismissed the applicant's appeal from a decision of an immigration judge, which found him excludable from the United States and denied his applications for asylum and withholding of deportation under sections 208(a) and 243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(a) and 1253(h) (1982). In that decision, we found that the applicant had been convicted of a "particularly serious crime" representing criminal behavior that "constituted a danger to the community of the United States." See section 243(hX2)(B) of the Act.' By form motion, the applicant now moves this Board to reopen exclusion proceedings to consider additional evidence regarding his applica- I The applicant was convicted of armed robbery in the State of California.

208 (cid:9) (cid:9) Interim Decision #2985 dons for asylum and withholding of deportation. The motion will be denied. The basis of the applicant's present motion is that new and mate- rial evidence is available to support his claim for asylum and with- holding of deportation based on his claimed fear of persecution arising from his membership in the "Freedom Flotilla as a particu- lar social group." It is submitted that he is not barred from eligibil- ity for the relief sought under the provisions of section 242(h)(2) of the Act and 8 C.F.R. § 208.8(f) (1985) under the rationale set forth in Matter of Rodriguez Palma, 17 I&N Dec. 465 (BIA 1980), and Matter of Ballester -Garcia, 17 I&N Dec.

592 (BIA 1980). It is stated that "[w]hen any crime I have committed in either Cuba or the United States is balanced against the degree of persecution I fear, it is clear that I am not ineligible for the relief requested." The motion will be denied_ First, in Matter of Leon-Orosco and Rodriguez-Colas, 19 I&N Dec. 136 (BIA 1983; A.G. 1984), we con- cluded that the evidence of persecution on which this applicant principally relies does not support reopening of these proceedings. Moreover, the intervening event of the December 14, 1984, agree- ment with Cuba regarding the return of 2,746 Cubans significantly detracts from the evidence offered by the applicants therein and previously considered by this Board.

We do not find the December 14, 1984, speech by Fidel Castro referenced in the motion papers to warrant a contrary conclusion. Secondly, even were we to balance this applicant's crime against the nature of the persecution that he claims he would face, we would find his crime to render him statutorily ineligible for with- holding of deportation under the provisions of section 243(h)(2)(B) of the Act and to be one which supports the denial of asylum in the United States. Finally, however, we reject any interpretation of the phrases "particularly serious crime" and "serious nonpolitical crime" in sections 243(h)(2)(B) and (C), respectively, which would vary with the nature of evidence of persecution. 2 We cannot find that the language and framework of section 243(h) supports such an ap- proach, which would in effect transform a statutory exclusionary clause into a discretionary consideration.

Moreover, it is presup- posed that all persons barred from relief by the provisions of sec- tion 243(11)(2) can demonstrate a clear probability that their life or freedom would be threatened. on account of their race, religion, na- 2 We did not find it necessary to resolve this issue in Matter of Rodriguez Palma, supra, and Matter of Ballester-Garcia, supra, but do so here in view of the manner in which these motions are framed. 209 Interim Decision #2985 tionality, membership in a particular social group, or political opin- ion- We find that the modifiers "particularly serious" and "serious" in sections 243(h)(2)(3) and (C) relate only to the nature of the crime itself. In this case, we have previously found that the applicant has been convicted of a "particularly serious crime" and "constitutes a danger to the United States." No new evidence relevant to this finding has been offered. This finding renders the applicant statu- torily ineligible for relief under section 243(h) and supports the pre- vious denial of asylum.

Accordingly, the motion will be denied_ ORDER: The motion to reopen is denied. 210 (cid:127)