Teka

MEMORANDUM **

Petitioner Abebe Teka petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeal’s (“BIA”) final order rejecting his request for asylum and withholding of removal. Substantial evidence supports the immigration judge’s (“IJ”) determination that Teka was not credible, and that Teka has not shown that he suffered past persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution.

Abebe Teka is a 34 year-old Ethiopian native and citizen. As a professional singer and songwriter, he uses his songs to plead for peace and cooperation. He states that his songs express support for the All Amhara People’s Organization (“AAPO”), a recognized opposition group. He also contends that because of his support for the AAPO, Ethiopian officials imprisoned him, once for four months in 1992 and once for nine months in 1997. He alleges that prison officials tortured him and that the government shut down the nightclub he owned during both periods of imprisonment. After recording a new album in 1997, Teka claims to have left Ethiopia to escape further persecution. Teka arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport on January 25, 1998. During his airport interview with INS officials, he presented a…