Second Circuit Reiterates Political-Opinion Nexus Requirement in Asylum Law
Commentary on Calle-Durazno v. Bondi, No. 23-6076 (2d Cir. Mar. 28, 2025)

Introduction

Calle-Durazno v. Bondi is a 2025 summary order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirming the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) refusal to grant asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”) to an Ecuadorian national, Ruben Efrain Calle-Durazno. The decision, although disposed of by unpublished “summary order,” is important because it collects recent circuit authority and restates—forcefully and concisely—the “nexus requirement”: an asylum (or withholding) applicant must establish that the persecution was “on account of” one of the five protected grounds, and a bare refusal to cooperate with a political organization is not, without more, sufficient to satisfy that test.

The dispute revolved around whether attacks by members of Ecuador’s indigenous left-leaning Pachakutik Party were motivated by any actual or imputed political opinion of Calle-Durazno, or merely by a non-political desire to obtain customer identification numbers for recruitment purposes. The Immigration Judge (“IJ”) concluded that the applicant had not met the statutory burden; the BIA affirmed; and the Second Circuit declined review.

Summary of the Judgment

• Asylum & Withholding – Petition denied because Calle-Durazno failed to establish that his mistreatment was, even in part, “on account of” a political opinion.
• Convention Against Torture – Claim rejected for lack of non-speculative evidence that he would “more likely than not” be tortured with government acquiescence if returned to Ecuador.
• Scope of Review – The Circuit reviewed the IJ decision only as modified by the BIA, expressly setting aside credibility and corroboration findings the BIA did not reach.
• Result – Petition for review denied; all interim motions and stays vacated.

In-Depth Analysis

A. Precedents Cited and Their Influence

1. INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478 (1992)
   

   The Supreme Court’s seminal ruling that the mere refusal to assist a guerrilla group (out of fear of reprisal rather than ideological disagreement) does not, standing alone, create a political-opinion nexus. The Second Circuit used this case as the central comparator: Calle-Durazno’s refusal to supply customer data, motivated by a desire to keep his job, mirrored Mr. Elias-Zacarias’s non-political refusal to join guerrillas.

2. Zelaya-Moreno v. Wilkinson, 989 F.3d 190 (2d Cir. 2021)
   

   Reaffirmed that hostility toward gangs—without articulated ideological disagreement—does not convert self-protective resistance into political expression. The panel drew a direct analogy: a dislike for the Pachakutik Party’s aggressiveness does not establish the protected ground.

3. Yueqing Zhang v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 540 (2d Cir. 2005)
   

   Cited for the proposition that an applicant must prove that a persecutor’s motive “arises from” the applicant’s political belief, not the persecutor’s goals.

4. Hernandez-Chacon v. Barr, 948 F.3d 94 (2d Cir. 2020)
   

   Clarified that persecution on account of an imputed political opinion may also qualify, but evidence of the persecutor’s imputation is required. No such evidence existed here.

5. Other supporting authorities: Quituizaca v. Garland, 52 F.4th 103 (2d Cir. 2022); Xue Hong Yang, Yan Chen, Hongsheng Leng (standards of review); Jian Xing Huang, Mu-Xing Wang (CAT probability); and INS v. Bagamasbad (unnecessary findings principle).

B. The Court’s Legal Reasoning

1. Nexus Analysis
   The panel reiterated that the statute requires a protected ground to be “at least one central reason” for persecution (8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(i), 1231(b)(3)(A)). Calle-Durazno’s own testimony revealed:
   • He refused the Party’s request solely to avoid losing employment.
   • He never expressed political dissent to Party members.
   • No evidence that attackers believed he opposed them politically.
   Therefore, any harm arose from the attackers’ recruitment objective, not his political stance.
2. Standard of Proof
   Under Elias-Zacarias, an applicant must provide evidence from which a reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude the persecution was on account of political opinion. The Second Circuit held that no reasonable fact-finder would be so compelled on this record.
3. CAT Claim
   For CAT relief the absence of a nexus is irrelevant, but the applicant must show torture is “more likely than not.” Evidence was “speculative”: only a vague statement that a wife’s cousin (friendly with an attacker) “asked after him.” Further, no proof the Pachakutik Party tortures perceived opponents, nor that officials would acquiesce. The IJ’s finding that Petitioner failed to meet the >50 % threshold was upheld.

C. Impact of the Decision

Although non-precedential, the summary order has practical value:

• Trial-level guidance – Immigration Judges can cite the reasoning when evaluating political-opinion nexus where refusal to cooperate is motivated by personal or economic concerns.
• Litigation strategy – Applicants’ counsel are reminded to elicit record-evidence that persecutors attribute a political belief to the applicant (e.g., slogans shouted, political debates, public statements).
• Policy consistency – The opinion fits a national pattern limiting the expansion of “political opinion” to cover generalized antipathy toward non-state actors (e.g., gangs, criminal militias, or—as here—a mainstream party seeking data).
• Future CAT claims – The decision underscores that mere speculation, even when fear is subjectively genuine, fails the “more-likely-than-not” standard.

Complex Concepts Simplified

Nexus Requirement

In asylum law, it is not enough to show you were harmed; you must prove the harm was because of (i.e., “on account of”) one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Imputed Political Opinion

Even if the applicant has no political views, persecution can still qualify if the attacker believes the applicant holds a disfavored political stance. Evidence of that belief must appear in the record.

CAT – “More Likely Than Not”

To win relief under the Convention Against Torture, an applicant must show at least a 51 % likelihood of torture if removed, and that such torture would be carried out or tacitly allowed by the government.

Summary Order

An unpublished disposition that lacks formal precedential authority under Second Circuit Local Rule 32.1.1, yet may be cited for its persuasive value.

Conclusion

Calle-Durazno v. Bondi does not forge new doctrinal ground, but it crisply consolidates Supreme Court and Second Circuit caselaw on the political-opinion nexus. The core message: a personal, non-ideological refusal to assist a political organization—without evidence the persecutor interpreted the act politically—does not meet the statutory threshold for asylum or withholding. In tandem, the court reiterates that speculative fears are inadequate for CAT protection. Practitioners should treat Calle-Durazno as a cautionary signpost: successful claims require concrete proof of motive, imputation, or governmental involvement, not mere opposition or conjecture.