Sarhan v. Holder, No. 10-2899 (7th Cir. 2011)
Annotate this CaseCitizens of Jordan received visitor visas and came to the U.S. in the 1990s. The family stayed beyond the expiration of the visas because a child born in the U.S. had health problems. Wife was told that, because of rumors of adultery spread by her sister-in-law, wife's brother planned to kill her when she returned to Jordan in order to restore the family's honor. An immigration judge denied asylum and other relief and the BIA affirmed. The Seventh Circuit reversed. Withholding of removal is mandatory if an applicant establishes that it is more likely than not that she would be persecuted in the country of removal because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3). To obtain protection under the Convention Against Torture, one must show that it is more likely than not that one would be tortured if removed. Wife is a member of the group of women in Jordan who have, allegedly, flouted moral norms, and who face a high risk of honor killing. It is more likely than not that brother will severely harm or murder wife if she is returned. The agency ignored strong evidence of governmental toleration of, or indifference to, honor crimes.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.