What does it mean if the adjudicator finds a fact to be more likely than not true?

When an adjudicator finds a fact to be more likely than not true, it signifies that the standard of proof has been met, establishing that the claim or assertion has a greater than 50% likelihood of being true. This threshold is fundamental in the context of evidentiary standards in asylum cases and legal proceedings in general. The conclusion that a fact is established means that the adjudicator can rely on this fact to make decisions regarding the case, including whether the applicant meets the criteria for asylum.

In contrast, the other options reflect different interpretations of the evidentiary threshold. Considering a fact as unproven means it hasn’t met the necessary standard to be accepted; requiring further investigation implies that the fact is not yet clear or accepted and cannot be relied upon at that moment; deeming a fact irrelevant suggests it bears no significance to the case at all, which doesn't align with the understanding that the fact is now established by the adjudicator's finding. Therefore, the correct understanding reinforces how factual determinations impact the decision-making process in asylum cases.