Case ID: f-appx_397/html/0722-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

A HU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 09-3647-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Oct. 26, 2010.
    
      Henry Zhang, Zhang & Associates, P.C., New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Terri J. Scadron, Assistant Director; Heller R. Smith, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: REENA RAGGI, PETER W. HALL, and GERARD E. LYNCH, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner A Hu, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a July 31, 2009 order of the BIA affirming the April 1, 2008 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Barbara A. Nelson denying petitioner’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re A Hu, No. [ A XXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. July 31, 2009), aff'g No. [ A XXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Apr. 1, 2008). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review the decisions of both the IJ and the BIA. See Jigme Wangchuck v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir.2006). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008).

On appeal, Hu challenges the agency’s finding that his testimony was not credible. In making its finding, the agency observed that: (1) Hu’s testimony regarding the dates and length of his and his father’s detention were contradicted by a letter submitted by his father; (2) Hu offered vague testimony regarding the nature of the stomach illness that led him to begin practicing Falun Gong; and (3) Hu failed to provide sufficient corroboration for his claim that he practiced Falun Gong.

Hu submits that these reasons do not constitute substantial evidence that he was not credible. He asserts that his father confused the dates and length of his detention because he was trying to recall “something that happened a long time ago,” Pet’r’s Br. at 9, and that Hu offered only vague testimony regarding his stomach illness because he was unable to obtain a medical report from his doctor in China.

Even if these explanations were plausible, a reasonable factfinder would not have been compelled to credit them. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005). In evaluating credibility, an IJ may rely on “all relevant factors” including “the consistency of [the applicant’s] statements with other evidence of record ... without regard to whether an inconsistency ... goes to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). Further, contrary to Hu’s assertion, the IJ properly relied on his failure to submit corroborating evidence sufficient to rehabilitate the testimony the IJ had called into question. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007).

Accordingly, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination and, therefore, that Hu did not carry his burden of demonstrating eligibility for asylum. Even if Hu has sufficiently raised his withholding of removal claim on appeal, cf. Yueqing Zhang v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 540, 541 n. 1, 545 n. 7 (2d Cir.2005), we would conclude that such relief was also reasonably denied because that claim was based on the same testimony found not credible, see Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).

To the extent Hu challenges the agency’s denial of CAT relief, we lack jurisdiction to review that argument because Hu did not exhaust it before the BIA. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir.2006).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED, in part, and DISMISSED, in part. As we have completed our review, 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).