Gwangsu Yun v. Lynch

SUMMARY ORDER Petitioner Gwangsu Yun, a native of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“North Korea”) and citizen of the Republic of Korea (“South Korea”), seeks review of a June 9, 2014 decision of the BIA affirming a November 14, 2012 decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denying Yun’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case. The issue is whether substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Yun firmly resettled in South Korea following his escape from North Korea (and before his arrival in the United States). See Sall v. Gonzales, 437 F.3d 229, 232 (2d Cir.2006). “When the BIA briefly affirms the decision of an IJ and adopts the IJ’s reasoning in doing so, we review the IJ’s and the BIA’s decisions together.” Wangchuck v. Dep’t of Home *30 land Sec., 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted). An alien who “was firmly resettled in another country prior to arriving in the United States” is ineligible for asylum. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(2)(A)(vi). “The government bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of firm resettlement by a totality of the circumstances.” Tchitchui v. Holder, 657 F.3d 132, 135 (2d Cir.2011). “Once the government has established a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the applicant to show that he or she qualifies for one of the two enumerated exceptions.” Id. Here, the government established a prima facie case of firm resettlement because Yun was in South Korea for two years, during which time he was offered (and accepted) South Korean citizenship. See 8 C.F.R. § 208.15. The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 does not decide the issue to the contrary. 1 Yun argues that he nevertheless qualifies for one of the exceptions to the prima facie rule because (1) his entry into South Korea “was a necessary consequence of his ... flight from persecution,” (2) he “remained in that country only as long as was necessary to arrange onward travel,” and (3) he “did not establish significant ties in that country.” 8 C.F.R. § 208.15(a); see also Jin Yi Liao v. Holder, 558 F.3d 152, 158 (2d Cir.2009); Tchitchui, 657 F.3d at 137. The BIA (and IJ) rejected this argument on the grounds that Yun (1) stayed in South Korea for two years and (2) held a South Korean passport (and therefore could travel freely). We conclude that the BIA failed to adequately explain its determination that Yun had not satisfied the 8 C.F.R. § 208.15(a) exception, and therefore remand. 1. The length of Yun’s stay in South, Korea cannot defeat his claim under 8 C.F.R. § 208.15(a) unless there is substantial evidence that two years was longer than “necessary to arrange onward travel.” Cf. Sall, 437 F.3d at 235 (“[T]he mere passage of four years, standing alone, does not constitute firm resettlement.”). Neither the BIA nor the IJ explained why the two-year stay was longer than necessary or addressed Yun’s contention that he spent the entire period trying to obtain passage to the United States. Yun asserted that the length of his stay was attributable to his time at a South Korean reeducation camp, as well as the process of obtaining a South Korean passport and U.S. visa. The BIA and IJ decisions lack any citation to the administrative record that would support or undermine Yun’s contention. 2. The BIA also does not state a policy or specify evidence to establish why Yun’s possession of a South Korean passport would categorically defeat his claim. Presumably, a South Korean passport is “necessary to arrange onward travel” from South Korea to the United States. 8 C.F.R. § 208.15. It is unclear whether, in the view of the BIA, a North Korean national’s acquisition of South Korean citizenship is a per se indicator of “substantial ties” to South Korea under 8 C.F.R. § 208.15(a). *31 There is some record evidence that Yun was employed while in South Korea, although the BIA and IJ decisions do not elaborate on the nature of that employment. Employment is one of the circumstances that bear on whether an alien has established significant ties in a country; but not all employment shows such ties. Compare Sall, 437 F.3d at 231 (petitioner performed “odd jobs”), with Tchitchui, 657 F.3d at 134 (petitioner owned and sold two businesses). On remand, the BIA (or IJ) may wish to consider how Yun’s' employment bear's on the “significant ties” analysis and, if necessary, make findings or supplement the record as to the nature of that employment. Since we conclude that the BIA and IJ decisions are inadequately reasoned, we remand to the BIA for further explanation. See Poradisova v. Gonzales, 420 F.3d 70, 77 (2d Cir.2005). On remand, the BIA may wish to: (1) express a view or policy that decides this case; (2) explain its reasoning based on the existing administrative record; or (3) remand the case to the IJ for additional factfinding or supplementation of the record. For the foregoing reasons, we hereby GRANT the petition for review, VACATE the BIA decision, and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this summary order. Footnotes [1] That statute clarifies that "North Koreans are not barred from eligibility for refugee status or asylum in the United States on account of any legal right to citizenship they may enjoy under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea,” but does not "apply to former North Korean nationals who have availed. themselves of those rights.” 22 U.S.C. § 7842(a) (emphases added).