Case ID: f-appx_481/html/0022-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Fousseyni BALAYABA, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 11-4985.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Sept. 26, 2012.
    
      Gary J. Yerman, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; John S. Hogan, Senior Litigation Counsel; Michael C. Heyse, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    
      PRESENT: RALPH K. WINTER, Joseph m. McLaughlin, and PETER W. HALL, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Fousseyni Balayaba, a native and citizen of Mauritania, seeks review of a November 4, 2011, order of the BIA affirming the October 26, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Patricia A. Rohan, which prefer mitted his application for asylum as untimely, and denied his applications for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Fousseyni Balayaba, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Nov. 4, 2011), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Oct. 26, 2009). 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 modified by the BIA decision. See Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 522 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Shi Jie Ge v. Holder, 588 F.3d 90, 93-94 (2d Cir.2009).

I. Asylum

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(3), no court shall have jurisdiction to review the agency’s finding that an asylum application was untimely under 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B). Although we retain jurisdiction to review constitutional claims and questions of law, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D), a question of law is not implicated “when the petition for review essentially disputes the correctness of an IJ’s fact-finding or the wisdom of his exercise of discretion,” Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 329 (2d Cir.2006). Here, Balaya-ba challenges the agency’s factual determination and exercise of discretion that he did not arrive in the United States in September 2001; thus, this Court lacks jurisdiction to review that determination. Id. at 329.

II. Withholding of Removal

Balayaba challenges the agency’s denial of withholding of removal based on an adverse credibility determination, including the finding that he failed to corroborate his claim. The IJ determined that Balayaba failed to provide credible testimony based on inconsistencies between his testimony and his asylum application regarding his departure from Senegal and the manner of his arrival in the United States, an omission in his original asylum application regarding his alleged mistreatment in Mauritania, and his failure to provide reasonably available corroboration. The BIA modified the IJ’s decision, however, finding only that “the weaknesses in [Balayabais case gave the [IJ] a legitimate reason to require corroborating evidence.”

Contrary to Balayaba’s contention, the agency’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence because Balayaba failed to provide testimony or a statement from his cousin, who was available and had the unique opportunity to corroborate each component of his testimony that had been called into question. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007) (“the absence of corroboration in general makes an applicant unable to rehabilitate testimony that has already been called into question”).

To the extent the BIA concluded that Balayaba failed to meet his burden of proof for withholding of removal based on a.lack of corroboration, that conclusion is also supported by substantial evidence because the IJ confirmed that the testimony or statement from Balayaba’s cousin was reasonably available, provided Balayaba an opportunity to explain his failure to produce that evidence, and reasonably found Balayaba’s explanation that his cousin simply “couldn’t come” to be inadequate to compel a contrary conclusion. See Jin Shui Qiu v. Ashcroft, 329 F.3d 140, 153 (2d Cir.2003), overruled on other grounds by Shi Liang Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 494 F.3d 296 (2d Cir.2007); Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 288-90 (2d Cir.2000).

III. CAT Relief

Finally, because Balayaba did not raise his CAT claim before the BIA, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider the claim. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); see also Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir.2006).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DISMISSED in part and DENIED in part. 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).