BOJNOORDI v. HOLDER (2014)

OPINION

Petitioner Gholamreza Bojnoordi challenges a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) determination that he provided material support in the 1970s to a “Tier III”¹ terrorist organization, Mojahedin-e Khalq (“MEK”), making him statutorily ineligible for immigration relief other than deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a), and we deny the petition for review for the reasons stated below.

We review “constitutional and other questions of law de novo.” Khan v. Holder, 584 F.3d 773, 776 (9th Cir.2009). We review factual findings and mixed questions of law and fact for substantial evidence. Id.

Bojnoordi, a native and citizen of Iran, contends that the statutory terrorism bar² does not apply retroactively to his activities with MEK in the 1970s because MEK was not then officially designated as a terrorist group.³ But the plain language of the INA contradicts Bojnoordi's statutory argument. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B); Uniting and Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act) Act of 2001, Pub.L. No. 107–56, § 411(c), 155 Stat. 272 (2001). The PATRIOT Act amendments to the INA are generally retroactive. See § 411(c)(1)(A). While there is an exception to retroactivity for certain activities involving a “Tier I” or “Tier II” terrorist organization, see § 411(c)(3)(A), such an exception to the terrorism bar expressly does not apply to an alien's material support of a “Tier III” terrorist organization. See § 411(c)(3)(B)(ii); see also 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)(dd) (material support); 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi)(III) (“Tier III” terrorist organization).

We hold that the statutory terrorism bar applies retroactively to an alien's material support of a “Tier III” terrorist organization. This is a consequence of a normal reading of the INA as amended by the PATRIOT Act. As we explained in Haile v. Holder, “aliens who have engaged in terrorist activities are precluded from seeking several forms of relief from removal, including asylum, withholding, and CAT protection in the form of withholding, but remain eligible for deferral of removal under the CAT.” 658 F.3d at 1125–26. The statutory terrorism bar applies to Bojnoordi because MEK was a “Tier III” terrorist organization during the time that Bojnoordi gave it material support, including weapons training for MEK members, in the 1970s.

Bojnoordi further contends that the BIA did not give factual support for its conclusions (1) that MEK was a “Tier III” terrorist organization during the 1970s, and (2) that Bojnoordi provided material support to MEK in that period of time. We disagree.

The INA defines “terrorist organization” and “engag[ing] in terrorist activity” broadly. Annachamy v. Holder, 733 F.3d 254, 258 (9th Cir.2013); Khan, 584 F.3d at 777. Substantial evidence in the record supports the BIA's determination that MEK was a “Tier III” terrorist organization during the 1970s. The government submitted a 2001 U.S. Department of State Report on Foreign Terrorist Organizations that said MEK staged terrorist attacks inside Iran and killed United States military personnel and civilians working on defense projects. The report also said that MEK supported the takeover of the United States embassy in Tehran in 1979. The government submitted other secondary materials stating that MEK participated in terrorist activities in Iran in the late 1970s, including assassinating six United States nationals and opposing the release of United States hostages after the takeover of the United States embassy. These actions satisfy the definition of terrorist activities in the INA and constitute substantial evidence that MEK was a “Tier III” terrorist organization when Bojnoordi participated in it. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iii); Haile, 658 F.3d at 1127.

Substantial evidence also supports the BIA's determination that Bojnoordi gave material support to MEK in the 1970s. Bojnoordi contends that the BIA did not provide examination or analysis in its conclusion, but the BIA expressly relied upon the IJ's findings that Bojnoordi passed out flyers, wrote articles, and trained MEK members on the use of guns in the mountains outside Tehran, knowing that this training would further MEK's goals. These activities show substantial evidence of material support. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI); Haile, 658 F.3d at 1127.

Bojnoordi testified that MEK's goal was regime change, which could only be accomplished through violence. MEK's goal remained the same, Bojnoordi said, even after the revolution because Ayatollah Khomeini treated MEK worse than the Shah did. MEK had terrorist aims in the 1970s while Bojnoordi aided its efforts. Bojnoordi has not shown by “clear and convincing evidence that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known,” that MEK was a terrorist organization during the time in which he gave it material support. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)(dd); Khan, 584 F.3d at 785.

Because the statutory terrorism bar applies retroactively to Bojnoordi's material support of MEK through the 1970s when MEK was a “Tier III” terrorist organization, Bojnoordi is only eligible for deferral of removal under CAT, which he has received.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

FOOTNOTES

1.  The Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) divides “terrorist organization” into three categories: a “Tier I” organization is officially designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization under 8 U.S.C. § 1189; a “Tier II” organization is otherwise designated as a terrorist organization by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security; and a “Tier III” organization is “a group of two or more individuals ․ which engages in” terrorist activities as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(I)-(VI). See 8 U.S.C. § 1 182(a)(3)(B)(vi)(I)-(III).

2.  Most forms of immigration relief are barred by statute for aliens who have engaged in terrorist activities. See Haile v. Holder, 658 F.3d 1122, 1125–26 (9th Cir.2011) (listing statutory provisions).

3.  Bojnoordi's participation with MEK predated official designation of MEK as a “Tier I” terrorist organization. MEK was designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization under 8 U.S.C. § 1189 in 1997. This designation was removed in 2012.

GOULD, Circuit Judge: