Case ID: f-appx_637/html/0030-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JIAN WU LIU, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 14-3205.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    March 1, 2016.
    Mona Liza F. Lao, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Benjamin. C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Greg D. Mack, Senior Litigation Counsel; Aaron D. Nelson, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    
      PRESENT: B.D. PARKER, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR. and SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Jian Wu Liu, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of an August 7, 2014, decision of the BIA, affirming a December 10, 2012, decision of an Immigration Judge (“U”) denying Liu’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Jian Wu Liu, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (BIA Aug. 7, 2014), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig.Ct.N.Y.City Dec. 10, 2012). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, the Court has reviewed both the IJ’s and the BIA’s decisions “for the sake of completeness.” Wangchuck v. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir.2006). The applicable standards of review are well established. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008). The agency may, “[considering the totality of the circumstances,” base a credibility finding on inconsistencies in an asylum applicant’s statements and other record evidence “without regard to whether” they go “to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Liu was not credible.

The agency reasonably relied on record inconsistencies regarding when Liu began distributing Falun Gong flyers, whether he was attacked by police with a stick, and what injuries he suffered. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 166-67. Liu’s testimony was also inconsistent with his credible fear interview regarding whether he is a Falun Gong practitioner. See id.; see also Ming Zhang v. Holder, 585 F.3d 715, 725 (2d Cir.2009). When questioned about these discrepancies, Liu’s answers were nonre-sponsive. The agency was therefore not compelled to credit them. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80 (2d Cir.2005).

Having questioned Liu’s credibility, the agency reasonably relied further on his failure to provide sufficient corroborating evidence as to his alleged practice of Falun Gong in the United States. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007). The agency did not err in declining to credit an affidavit from Liu’s cousin stating that she had seen him practice Falun Gong because she failed to appear as a witness when scheduled and thus was not available for cross-examination. See Y.C. v. Holder, 741 F.3d 324, 334 (2d Cir.2013); Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir.2006).

Given the inconsistency and corroboration findings, substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66. That finding is dispositive of asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief because all three claims are based on the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (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 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).