Leandro Spindola v. Todd Blanche

Summary

The Sixth Circuit denied Spindola's petition for review of the BIA's decision barring him from asylum and withholding of removal under the serious-nonpolitical-crime bar and denying CAT deferral of removal. The court adopted, as a matter of first impression, that the statutory 'serious reasons for believing' standard requires no more than probable cause, and held substantial evidence supported the finding that Spindola committed attempted murder in Brazil. It also held substantial evidence supported the BIA's finding that Spindola failed to show a likelihood of torture with official consent or acquiescence.