United States Seventh Circuit

The BIA did not abuse its discretion by refusing to reopen the asylum proceedings for an Albanian family. The evidence does not establish a prima facie case for future persecution; political turmoil does not permit the judiciary to stretch the definition of "refugee" to cover sympathetic, yet statutorily ineligible, asylum applicants.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/10/2004
• Published 03/10/2004

Judges

• TERENCE T. EVANS, Circuit Judge., Before EASTERBROOK, DIANE P. WOOD, and EVANS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Mary L. Sfasciotti (argued), Chicago, IL, for Petitioners.


• For Appellees:
  
• George P. Katsivalis, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the District Counsel, Chicago, IL, Michele Y.F. Sarko, William C. Peachey (argued), Department of Justice, Civil Division, Immigration Litigation, John D. Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Washington, DC, for Respondent.