Case ID: f-appx_374/html/0106-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ZU YING LI, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 09-3061-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    March 29, 2010.
    
      Henry Zhang, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division; Cindy S. Ferrier, Senior Litigation Counsel; Nairi M. Simonian, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: B.D. PARKER, RICHARD C. WESLEY, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Zu Ying Li, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a June 18, 2009, order of the BIA, affirming the September 6, 2007, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Thomas Mulligan that denied his application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Zu Ying Li, a.ka. Li Zuying, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. June 18, 2009), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Sept. 6, 2007). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review both the BIA’s and the IJ’s decisions. See Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Corovic v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 90, 95 (2d Cir.2008).

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See id. at 95. That determination was based on: (1) Li’s demeanor; (2) inconsistencies between Li’s testimony and the documents in the record regarding the date on which he was allegedly divorced from his wife; (3) inconsistencies between Li’s testimony and an affidavit purportedly from his ex-wife regarding the number of times they were fined for their violation of the family planning policy and the amount of those fines; and (4) a lack of record support for Li’s assertion that the Chinese government continues to look for him. See Secaida-Rosales v. INS, 331 F.3d 297, 307 (2d Cir.2003), superseded by statute, Section 101(a)(3) of the REAL ID Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii), as recognized in Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165 (2d Cir.2008). The agency did not err in declining to credit the explanations Li offered for these discrepancies. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 (2d Cir.2005).

Because the only evidence of a threat to Li’s life or freedom depended on his credibility, the agency’s adverse credibility determination was fatal to his application for withholding of removal and CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (2d Cir.2006). Having found no error in the agency’s credibility determination, we need not reach its alternative burden of proof finding.

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).