Cela Ruiz-Briceno v. Immigration and Naturalization Service

77 F.3d 490 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. Cela RUIZ-BRICENO, Petitioner, v. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, Respondent. No. 94-70859. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Feb. 6, 1996. * Decided Feb. 8, 1996. Before: WRIGHT, HALL, and TROTT, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM ** I. 2 Persecution "involves the infliction of suffering or harm upon those who differ (in race, religion or political opinion) in a way regarded as offensive." Desir v. Ilchert, 840 F.2d 723, 727 (9th Cir.1988) (quoting Kovac v. INS, 407 F.2d 102, 107 (9th Cir.1969)). Here, petitioner testified she suffered from past persecution and feared future persecution as a result of her involvement in the January 22nd Movement, a group working on behalf of political prisoners. As evidence of past persecution, petitioner points to her participation in approximately 15 demonstrations that took place between 1985 and 1989. Some of these protests were permitted by the…