United States Ninth Circuit

IJ did not err in holding that past hardships inflicted on Ukrainian aliens on the basis of their religion did not rise to the level of persecution. The Lautenberg Amendment, which lowers the burden of proof for certain categories of aliens applying for refugee status, does not apply to INA section 208 cases, and its inapplicability does not violate equal protection.

Appellate Information

• Argued 12/05/2003
• Decided 02/18/2004
• Published 02/18/2004

Judges

• GRABER, Circuit Judge:, Before:  BRUNETTI, T.G. NELSON, and GRABER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Rocco N. Treppiedi, Spokane, WA, for the petitioners.


• For Appellees:
  
• Robert M. Loeb, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for the respondent.