Case ID: f-appx_621/html/0032-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ZHEN TAO WENG, aka Weng Zhentao, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 14-2271.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Aug. 13, 2015.
    
      Michael Brown, Law Office of Michael Brown, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Benjamin C. Mizer, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Kiley Kane, Senior Litigation Counsel; Ann M. Welhaf, Civil Division, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, RICHARD C. WESLEY, GERARD E. LYNCH, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Zhen Tao Weng, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a May 28, 2014, decision of the BIA affirming an August 21, 2012, decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denying Wong’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Zhen Tao Weng, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. May 28, 2014), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Aug. 21, 2012). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

We have considered both the IJ’s and the BIA’s opinions “for the sake of completeness.” Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam). For asylum applications like Wong’s, governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may, “[cjonsidering the totality of the circumstances ... base a credibility determination on the demeanor, candor, or responsiveness of the applicant or witness, the inherent plausibility of the applicant’s or witness’s account,” and inconsistencies in an applicant’s statements and other record evidence “without regard to whether” they go “to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Here, the agency’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence.

Weng sought asylum and related relief based on his practice of Christianity. The IJ reasonably relied on discrepancies among Weng’s testimony, the testimony of his friend, Ni Sha, and Ni Sha’s affidavit in denying his claim. Ni Sha testified at a hearing on August 16, 2012, that she went to church with Weng on August 6, 2012, just nine days before. However, she signed an affidavit earlier that same day, August 6, attesting to her attendance before she ever went to church with Weng. Both Weng and Ni Sha testified that they saw each other for the first time at church, but, when confronted with Ni Sha’s affidavit, admitted that they first saw each other at Weng’s attorney’s office, earlier on August 6, where Ni Sha signed the affidavit. The IJ reasonably found that these discrepancies cast doubt on the heart of Wong’s claim — that he was a practicing Christian and also undermined his claim that he would be singled out for persecution in China on that basis. Xian Tuan Ye v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 446 F.3d 289, 295 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam). The IJ was not required to credit Weng’s explanation for these discrepancies — that he thought he was being asked about the first time he saw Ni Sha at church — because it was unpersuasive: he was asked about the first time he saw Ni Sha on August 6, not the first time he saw her at church, and the epidode occurred just nine days prior to the hearing.

The IJ also did not err in finding that Weng’s corroborating evidence was insufficient to rehabilitate his incredible testimony. Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007) (per curiam). Weng submitted a letter from his church in Michigan welcoming him after his first visit, but presented no witnesses from that church to establish that he attended more than once. He also submitted a letter from his church in Brooklyn stating that he attended since January 2011, but again presented no witnesses to corroborate that fact (Ni Sha merely testified that she attended church with him on August 6, 2012). He testified that the underground church he attended in China was raided and police were informed that he attended the church (thus leading him to apply for asylum), but submitted no statements from anyone who attended the church.

Considering the discrepancies in the record, Weng’s insufficient explanation, and his failure to submit corroborating evidence to rehabilitate his testimony, the ÍJ’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66. The agency did not err in denying asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief because those claims were based on the same factual predicate. Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (2d Cir.2006).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for' review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, the pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DENIED as moot.