CA9 on Indonesia, Changed Conditions: Salim v. Lynch

Salim v. Lynch, Aug. 1, 2016- "Kurniawan Salim (“Salim”), a native and citizen of Indonesia, petitions for review from the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) denial of his motion to reopen his asylum and withholding of removal proceedings. Salim is a practicing Catholic, and brings his motion to reopen due to changes in country conditions for Christians in Indonesia since his initial hearing before an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) in 2006. We conclude that the BIA abused its discretion when it denied Salim’s motion to reopen as untimely. Substantial evidence supports his claim of changed country conditions, and he has presented sufficient evidence of individualized risk to establish a prima facie case for the relief sought. We therefore grant the petition for review and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion."  [Hats off to David M. Haghighi!]

"As an Iranian Jew I came to the United States in 1979 when I was only 7 years old fleeing persecution. My parents left everything behind and we had to start anew. My family and I filed for and were granted asylum status giving us an opportunity to stay safely in the United States and obtain all the benefits this country has to offer. I still remember the last day when my mother and I were sitting at the attorney's office while he was preparing our case so we could legitimize our status. Although on that particular day I didn't realize it, it left an everlasting impression on me - how one individual could have such a profound meaning on our lives for years to come. The day I was sworn in as an American citizen, I promised myself to give back to others the wonderful opportunity my family and I were fortunate enough to receive. In this regard, I have dedicated my life to helping others from all walks of life who are fleeing persecution, want a new start in this country, or have come to this land seeking the American dream." - David M. Haghighi