Immigration – Asylum – Indonesia

U.S. Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit

Civil

Immigration – Asylum – Indonesia

Chinese Christians in Indonesia do not suffer persecution sufficient to justify asylum.

“Though religious conflict persists in Indonesia, its government has notably taken steps to protect its citizens and promote religious tolerance. Respect for religious freedom in Indonesia appears to have improved since 2004 when the Fifth Circuit held that there was clear evidence that the Christian petitioners had an objective fear of future persecution based on their faith under the present conditions of civil unrest. Eduard v. Ashcroft, 379 F.3d 182, 191 (5th Cir. 2004) (reversed and remanded because ‘[a] review of the record indicate[d] that Petitioners’ fears of persecution were based on their Christian faith in particular, and Indonesian civil strife in general.’). In
this case, the evidence indicates that the Indonesian government neither implemented nor permitted others to systematically and pervasively persecute Christians. To the contrary, the evidence shows that local and national government took actions to improve religious freedoms for Christians and other faiths. Therefore, substantial evidence in the record supported the IJ’s and BIA’s determinations that the Indonesian government does not allow a pattern or practice of persecuting Christians.”

Petition Denied.

14-1024 Halim v. Holder

Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals, Bauer, J.

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