Case ID: f-appx_431/html/0059-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MAN LI CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 10-2711-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Sept. 9, 2011.
    Adedayo O. Idowu, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Thomas B. Fatouros, Senior Litigation Counsel; Kathryn M. McKinney, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: RALPH K. WINTER, JOSÉ A. CABRANES and ROBERT D. SACK, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Man Li Chen, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of the June 9, 2010, decision of the BIA affirming the June 25, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Philip Morace denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Man Li Chen, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. June 9, 2010), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City June 25, 2008). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case.

We have reviewed the IJ’s decision. See Mei Chai Ye v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 489 F.3d 517, 523 (2d Cir.2007). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008); Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008). We “defer to an IJ’s credibility determination unless, from the totality of the circumstances, it is plain that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66. For asylum applications governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may, “[c]onsidering the totality of the circumstances, ... base a credibility determination on the demeanor, candor, or responsiveness of the applicant ..., the consistency between the applicant’s or witness’s written and oral statements ... without regard to whether an inconsistency goes 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.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. In finding Chen not credible, the IJ reasonably relied in part on Chen’s confused demean- or while testifying during cross-examination. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); see also Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005). The IJ’s demeanor finding was further supported by specific examples of contradictory testimony. See Li Hua Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 453 F.3d 99, 109 (2d Cir.2006). Indeed, as the IJ found, Chen testified inconsistently regarding the length of time he remained in hiding following his release from detention. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); see also Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 166-67. Moreover, a reasonable fact finder would not be compelled to credit Chen’s explanations for his inconsistent statements. See Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80-81. Thus, we find no error in the IJ’s denial of Chen’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief on credibility grounds. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).

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).