Case ID: f-appx_455/html/0119-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

FANG XIN HE, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 11-809-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Jan. 24, 2012.
    
      Lee Ratner, Law Offices of Michael Brown, PC, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; Cindy S. Ferrier, Senior Litigation Counsel; Nairi S. Gruzenski, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: ROGER J. MINER, ROBERTA. KATZMANN and B.D. PARKER, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Fang Xin He, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a February 15, 2011, order of the BIA, affirming the February 11, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) William Van Wyke, which denied He’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Fang Xin He, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Feb. 15, 2011), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immigr. Ct. N.Y. City Feb. 11, 2009). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review both the IJ’s and the BIA’s opinions “for the sake of completeness.” Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B) (2006); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir.2009).

For asylum applications, such as this one, governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may, considering the totality of the circumstances, base a credibility finding on an asylum applicant’s demeanor, 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) (2006). Analyzed under the REAL ID Act, substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination.

In finding He not credible, the agency reasonably relied in part on his demeanor, finding that He’s testimony was often evasive, incoherent, vague, and non-responsive. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005). The IJ’s adverse credibility determination was supported further by specific examples of He’s contradictory testimony and written submissions, particularly with respect to the date and length of his detention following his arrest in China for distributing flyers promoting Falun Gong. See Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam). A reasonable fact finder would not be compelled to credit He’s explanations for these inconsistencies. Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80-81.

Furthermore, contrary to He’s argument that the agency failed properly to consider a hospital report that allegedly corroborates his testimony, both the IJ and the BIA expressly acknowledged the medical evidence in their decisions and did not err in finding that this single unauthenticated document did not eliminate the various defects in He’s testimony and written submissions. See Siewe v. Gonzales, 480 F.3d 160, 170 (2d Cir.2007) (“[A] single false document or a single instance of false testimony may (if attributable to the petitioner) infect the balance of the alien’s uncorroborated or unauthenticated evidence”); see also Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir.2006) (finding that the weight afforded to the applicant’s evidence in immigration proceedings lies largely within the discretion of the agency).

Ultimately, because a reasonable fact-finder would not be compelled to conclude to the contrary, the adverse credibility determination was supported by substantial evidence. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66. The agency’s denial of He’s application for asylum and withholding of removal was not in error as both claims share the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 155-56 (2d Cir.2006) (withholding of removal).

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 34.1(b).