Immigration Judge refuses to allow relevant evidence
Valian v. INS, No. 01-70586

The Immigration Judge made an adverse credibility finding against Ms. Valian because she did not have documents to prove she was a member of the Baha'i religion, the cause of persecution she suffered in Armenia. The Immigration Judge gave no warning that he expected further documentation, and never indicated he did not believe Ms. Valian's truthful statements. Currently pending before the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, soon to be scheduled for Oral Argument.

UPDATE: The Ninth Circuit granted Ms. Valian's appeal, found her testimony credible, and remanded her case to the Board of Immigration Appeals, where she was granted asylum in September, 2004.