Roped into this intricate web of justice, Blancas Hermosillo had sought sanctuary under the Convention Against Torture, an international covenant that safeguards individuals from being deported into torture’s grim embrace. His reasoning? The blood of his three uncles, Autodefensa loyalists, stained the hands of local cartels – a retribution for their sibling, J.V.V., spearheading the organization.
However, this testimony hit a snag when an asylum officer branded his claims as nonviable, separating the Autodefensa engagement of the uncles from the leadership of their brother. The immigration judge sealed this assessment, but the Ninth Circuit shattered the seal.
A Dissenting Voice Amidst Concurring Echoes
In a courtroom, where stories often oscillate between truth and deception, Judge Mark Bennett stood as the voice of dissent. For him, Blancas Hermosillo’s evidence was a puzzle with missing pieces, insufficient to warrant asylum assurance.
Citing a moment of ambiguity from Blancas Hermosillo’s testimony, Judge Bennett highlighted the uncertainty over an uncle’s death – whether it was the Autodefensa affiliation or a blood tie to J.V.V. that signed his death warrant.
