Case ID: f-appx_535/html/0001-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CHANG MING JIANG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-686.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Aug. 8, 2013.
    Zhong Yue Zhang, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Alison Marie Igoe, Senior Counsel; Lyle D. Jentzer, Senior Counsel; Kathleen E. Imbriglia, Legal Intern, National Security Unit, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, JOHN M. WALKER, JR., and CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Chang Ming Jiang, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a January 30, 2012, decision of the BIA affirming the April 29, 2010, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Mary M. Cheng, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Chang Ming Jiang, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Jan. 30, 2012), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Apr. 29, 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed the IJ’s decision as supplemented by the BIA. See Yan 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 Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).

For asylum applications, like Jiang’s, governed by the amendments made to the Immigration and Nationality Act by the REAL ID Act of 2005, the agency may, considering the totality of the circumstances, base a credibility finding on an asylum applicant’s “demeanor, candor, or responsiveness,” the plausibility of his 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); see Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008). Furthermore, for purposes of a credibility determination, “[a]n inconsistency and an omission are ... functionally equivalent.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 166. 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 a ruling. Id. at 167. In this case, the agency reasonably based its adverse credibility determination on Jiang’s omissions and demean- or.

In his sworn border patrol interview, Jiang did not mention that he left China, or feared returning to China, because of his Christian faith or membership in an underground church, despite being asked why he came to the United States, whether he feared returning to China, and why he feared returning to China. It was not until his credible fear interview, two weeks later, that he stated that he left China to “avoid persecution” by the Chinese government “[bjecause [he was] Christian and [] belonged to an underground church.” When discrepancies arise from an applicant’s statements in a border or credible fear interview, we closely examine the record of the interview to ensure that it represents a “sufficiently accurate record” of the applicant’s statements to merit consideration in determining whether the applicant is credible. Ming Zhang v. Holder, 585 F.3d 715, 723-25 (2d Cir.2009); Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 179 (2d Cir.2004). Here, the record of the border interview bears considerable indicia of reliability, as it provides a verbatim account of Jiang’s statements, the questions regarding his fear of return were clearly designed to elicit the details of an asylum claim, the interview was translated by a Chinese interpreter, and Jiang stated at the beginning of the interview that he understood what the border patrol officer was saying, and gave no later indication that he could not understand or was confused. See Ramsameachire, 357 F.3d at 179-80.

When asked during his testimony why he omitted any mention of his Christian faith during the border patrol interview, Jiang stated that it was “because the first time I went in there, I did not know” and because the border agent “said he w[ould] not send me back.” The agency reasonably declined to credit this explanation as not “plausible ... or reasonable.” See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005). In Jiang’s brief to the BIA he argued that his response to the question regarding why he feared returning to China was “reasonable under the circumstances” because he left China illegally as a result of his participation in an underground Christian church. While the BIA may have erred in not addressing or considering this explanation, remand would be futile because those statements were made by Jiang’s attorney, and are not supported by an affidavit or any other evidence from Jiang. See Cao He Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 428 F.3d 391, 395 (2d Cir.2005); INS v. Phinpathya, 464 U.S. 183, 188-89 n. 6, 104 S.Ct. 584, 78 L.Ed.2d 401 (1984); see also Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80-81.

Because the REAL ID Act permits the agency to base a credibility finding on any inconsistency, without regard to whether it goes “to the heart of the applicant’s claim,” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii), Jiang’s omission from his border patrol interview provides substantial evidence supporting the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 166, 167. The adverse credibility determination is further supported by the IJ’s demeanor finding. The IJ noted that Jiang’s responses to questions were “non-responsive, evasive and rehearsed” and that additionally Jiang was “very hesitant” in answering questions. Because the IJ was in the best position to observe Jiang’s manner while testifying, we afford the demeanor finding particular deference. See Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 400 (2d Cir.2006).

Given these findings, we conclude that the totality of the circumstances supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Because the only evidence of a threat to Jiang’s life or freedom depended upon his credibility, the adverse credibility finding necessarily precludes success on his claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief, and we need not reach the agency’s alternative conclusion that Jiang failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir.2005).

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).