Case ID: f-appx_699/html/0032-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

HUI LI, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    16-2362
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    October 16, 2017
    FOR PETITIONER: Wei Gu, Albert-son, NY.
    FOR RESPONDENT: Chad A. Readier, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Derek C. Julius, Assistant Director; W. Daniel Shieh, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, DENNY CHIN, SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Hui Li, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, Seeks review of a June 10, 2016, decision of the BIA affirming a June 10, 2015, decision of an Immigration Judge (“U”) denying Li’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Hui Li, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. June 10, 2016), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City June 10, 2015). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review both the IJ’s and the BIA’s opinions “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. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir. 2008)(per curiam). “Considering the totality of the circumstances, and all relevant factors, a trier of fact may base a credibility determination on ... the consistency between the applicant’s ... written and oral statements ..., the internal consistency of each such statement, [and] the consistency of such statements with other evidence of record ... without regard to whether an inconsistency, inaccuracy, or falsehood goes to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); see Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Li was not credible as to his claim that the Chinese government detained and beat him for protesting the expropriation of his family’s land without just compensation.

The agency reasonably relied on the inconsistency between Li’s statement at an asylum interview that he was detained for 1 week and his hearing testimony that he was detained for 18 days. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); see also Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-67. The agency did not err in finding the record of Li’s asylum interview reliable because it included a typewritten transcript of the interview and reflected that Li understood the interpreter and was asked questions designed to elicit details of his claim. See Diallo v. Gonzales, 445 F.3d 624, 632 (2d Cir. 2006) (providing that “asylum interviews do not call for special scrutiny, as airport interviews do,” and finding reliable for credibility purposes an interview record that “contain[ed] a meaningful, clear, and reliable summary of the statements made by [petitioner]” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)); Ming Zhang v. Holder, 585 F.3d 715, 721-22 (2d Cir. 2009) (recognizing that interview record “bears hallmarks of accuracy and reliability” when it contains “a verbatim account or transcript[,] ... was conducted in a manner designed to elicit the details of an asylum claim[,] ... and ... contains no indication that the alien was reluctant to reveal information or did not understand English or the translations provided by the interpreter.” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)). Furthermore, the interview record does not support Li’s argument that his statement may have been inaccurately recorded because he verified his' answer later in the interview.

The agency also reasonably relied on inconsistencies in Li’s evidence regarding whether he had signed a land expropriation agreement, which member of his family had received compensation for his family’s land, and how soon after being injured he received medical care. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-67 & n.3. Li did not provide compelling explanations for these inconsistencies. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80 (2d Cir. 2005) (“A petitioner must do more than offer a plausible explanation for his inconsistent statements to secure relief; he must demonstrate that a reasonable fact-finder would be compelled to credit his testimony.” (internal quotation marks omitted)).

In addition, the agency reasonably relied on Li’s failure to rehabilitate his credibility with reliable corroborating evidence. “An applicant’s failure to corroborate his or her testimony may bear on credibility, because the absence of corroboration in general makes an applicant unable to rehabilitate testimony that has already been called into question.” Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir. 2007)(per curiam). The agency did not err in affording limited weight to unsworn letters from Li’s father, sister, and neighbor in China, as they were interested witnesses. See Y.C. v. Holder, 741 F.3d 324, 334 (2d Cir. 2013). The agency also did not err in finding a bail notice and a land expropriation agreement insufficient to rehabilitate Li’s inconsistent statements: the notice and agreement, which were both generic forms with Li’s personal information handwritten into the blank spaces, were not authenticated by any means. See Siewe v. Gonzales, 480 F.3d 160, 170 (2d Cir. 2007) (“An IJ may, either expressly or impliedly, rely on fal-sus in uno to discredit evidence that does not benefit from corroboration or authentication independent of the petitioner’s own credibility.”).

In light of the inconsistencies and lack of independent and reliable corroboration, we concluded that the agency’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. That determination is dispositive of Li’s claims for 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.