The Region - News from Nov. 21, 1985

A refugee from El Salvador, now living in Sylmar, can apply for political asylum here because he could be persecuted if he returns to his homeland, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in ordering a new hearing for Salvador Del Valle, 27, who contends that he was tortured by Salvadoran security forces after a relative was killed by right-wing gunmen in 1980. The Board of Immigration Appeals had ruled against Del Valle, holding that he probably would not be persecuted in El Salvador since he was eventually released after interrogation. But the appellate court disagreed, saying: “We cannot permit the (board) to infer that . . . (Del Valle) is unlikely to be persecuted solely on the basis that (he) was released by his persecutors. This would lead to the absurd result of denying asylum to those who have actually experienced persecution and were fortunate enough to survive arrest or detention.”