Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit December 7, 2004, 03-2254, 03-3180 (Arben Kuqo, Mahire Kuqo, Era Kuqo, Emea Kuqo and Kejt Kuqo v. John Ashcroft)

SYKES, Circuit Judge.

Arben Kuqo, a 41-year-old Albanian citizen, entered the United States in 1997 and, at a removal hearing in 1998, applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The applications were denied by an immigration judge in 1999, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirmed in 2003.