Case ID: f-appx_364/html/0712-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

QIAO YAN ZOU, Petitioner, v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Attorney General & Immigration and Naturalization Services, Respondents.
    
      No. 08-4240-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Feb. 9, 2010.
    Qiao Yan Zou, Brooklyn, N.Y., pro se.
    Michael F. Hertz, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Anthony W. Norwood, Senior Litigation Counsel; Shahrzad Ba-ghai, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondents.
    PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       In her brief, the Petitioner indicates that the proper spelling of her name is "Qiao Yan Zou.” The clerk's office is directed to make this change on the official caption.
    
    
      
       The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, originally a member of the panel, was elevated to the Supreme Court on August 8, 2009. The two remaining members of the panel, who are in agreement, have determined the matter. See 28 U.S.C. § 46(d); Local Rule 0.14(2); United States v. Desimone, 140 F.3d 457 (2d Cir.1998).
    
   SUMMARY ORDER

Qiao Yan Zou, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of an August 8, 2008 order of the BIA affirming the August 22, 2006 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Sandy Horn, which denied her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Qiao Yang Zhou, No. [ AXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Aug. 8, 2008), aff'g No. [ AXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Aug. 22, 2006). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

We need not reach the merits of the agency’s adverse credibility determination because Zou waived any challenge to that determination. In her brief to this Court, Zou states that she disagrees with the IJ’s and BIA’s decisions, but does not acknowledge that the agency rendered an adverse credibility determination, much less argue that such determination was in error. Although we liberally construe the papers filed by pro se litigants, see Marmolejo v. United States, 196 F.3d 377, 378 (2d Cir.1999), we “need not manufacture claims of error for an appellant proceeding pro se,” LoSacco v. City of Middletown, 71 F.3d 88, 93 (2d Cir.1995); see also Fed. R.App. P. 28(a)(9)(A) (noting that an appellant’s brief must contain “appellant’s contentions and the reasons for them, with citations to the authorities and parts of the record on which the appellant relies”). Accordingly, any challenge to the agency’s adverse credibility determination is deemed waived. See Yueqing Zhang v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 540, 541 n. 1, 545 n. 7 (2d Cir.2005)

Because Zou waived any challenge to the agency’s adverse credibility determination, and because that finding was disposi-tive of each of her applications for relief, we deny the petition for review. 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, the pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. 
      
       We note that even if we were to review the credibility determination, it was supported by substantial evidence where it was properly based on: (1) inconsistencies regarding Zou’s claim that she was arrested for participating in an underground Christian church; (2) inconsistencies regarding her claim that she was beaten while detained; (3) lack of corroboration; and (4) the IJ's finding that her demeanor indicated that she was not testifying credibly. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 79-81 (2d Cir.2005).