Xiaojian Zhang v. Mukasey

MEMORANDUM **

Xiaojian Zhang, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478 , 481 & n. 1, 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), and we grant the petition for review and remand.

Substantial evidence does not support the IJ’s conclusion that Zhang failed to establish past persecution on account of a protected ground. We conclude that the mistreatment Zhang suffered at the hands of the Chinese police compels a finding of past persecution. See Guo v. Ashcroft, 361 F.3d 1194, 1203 (9th Cir.2004). Further, the record compels the conclusion that Zhang suffered persecution on account of his imputed political opinion. See Zhang v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 713, 720-21 (9th Cir.2004) (concluding that persecution is on account of imputed political opinion where a petitioner is accused of participating in anti-government activity).

Because we conclude that Zhang suffered past persecution, he is entitled to a rebuttable…