Case ID: f-appx_552/html/0034-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WEN ZHENG, aka Zheng Wen, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-4528.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Jan. 16, 2014.
    
      Adedayo O. Idowu, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General; Linda S. Wernery, Assistant Director; Kerry A. Monaco, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, DENNY CHIN, SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Wen Zheng, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of an October 26, 2012, decision of the BIA affirming the February 7, 2011, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Alan Yomacka, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Wen Zheng, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (BIA Oct. 26, 2012), affg No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig.Ct.N.Y. City Feb. 7, 2011). 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 IJ’s and the BIA’s opinions “for the sake of completeness.” See 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); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).

We conclude that the adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. For applications such as Zheng’s, governed by the REAL ID Act of 2005, the agency may, “[considering the totality of the circumstances,” base a credibility finding on the plausibility of an applicant’s account and inconsistencies in his statements, without regard to whether they go “to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii), 1281(b)(8)(C); see Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam). 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 167.

The agency reasonably based its adverse credibility determination on the inconsistency between Zheng’s written statement and testimony regarding when he began practicing Falun Gong in the United States, as the inconsistency called into question the truthfulness of his asylum application. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167 (noting that, post-REAL ID Act, “an IJ may rely on any inconsistency or omission in making an adverse credibility determination as long as the ‘totality of the circumstances’ establishes that an asylum applicant is not credible” (emphasis in original)); Xian Tuan Ye v. DHS, 446 F.3d 289, 295-96 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam) (holding that a material inconsistency regarding the alleged persecution at the basis of the claim constitutes substantial evidence). Moreover, the agency reasonably declined to credit Zheng’s explanation for the inconsistency given the explicit statements in his application that he both practiced and supported Falun Gong. See Matter of D-R-, 25 I & N Dec. 445, 455 (BIA 2011); Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005).

The agency also reasonably relied on the implausibility of Zheng’s claim that he was unaware of the risks associated with posting Falun Gong content on the Internet, given his testimony that his business was managing the website and he posted the information on a hidden page of the website to avoid discovery. See Wensheng Yan v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 63, 66 (2d Cir.2007); Siewe v. Gonzales, 480 F.3d 160, 168-69 (2d Cir.2007). Given Zheng’s questionable testimony, the agency reasonably relied on his failure to provide adequate corroborating evidence in support of his claims. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007). The agency was not required to credit letters from Zheng’s father and friend, as they were not subject to cross-examination. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir.2006) (explaining that the weight afforded to the applicant’s evidence lies largely within the discretion of the agency); In re H-L-H & Z-Y-Z- 25 I. & N. Dec. 209, 215 (BIA 2010) (finding that unsworn letters from the alien’s friends and family were insufficient to provide substantial support for the alien’s claims because they were interested witnesses not subject to cross-examination (citations omitted)), ovenmled on other grounds by Hui Lin Huang v. Holder, 677 F.3d 130, 133-38 (2d Cir.2012).

Given the inconsistencies and implausibility and corroboration findings, the totality of the circumstances supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii), 1231(b)(3)(C); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Because the only evidence of a threat to Zheng’s life or freedom depended upon his credibility, the adverse credibility determination necessarily precludes a grant of asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT relief. 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 DENIED 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 84.1(b).