Abdul Hakeem v. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Abdul Hakeem, a native and citizen of Pakistan, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision dismissing his appeal from the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum and withholding of removal.

I

Abdul Hakeem, a native and citizen of Pakistan, first entered the United States in 1984. In 1993, he returned to Pakistan and stayed three months before returning to the United States. Sometime in 1996, he returned to Pakistan again because his father had died. In December 1996, he reentered the United States.

On August 10, 1998, Hakeem was convicted of conspiracy to structure transactions to evade reporting requirements. On January 15, 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service served Hakeem with a notice to appear. On May 6, 1999, at the removal hearing, Hakeem admitted the relevant factual allegations and conceded deportability for overstaying his visa.

On July 22, 1999, Hakeem applied for asylum and withholding of removal. He claims that he is a member of the Ahmadi Muslim religion, and he will face persecution on account of his religion if returned to Pakistan.

According to the evidence of record, the Ahmadi believe in…