Case ID: f-appx_470/html/0018-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Gursharn KAUR, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    Nos. 10-963-ag (L), 10-4036-ag (Con).
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    March 27, 2012.
    
      Gursharn Kaur, pro se, Syosset, NY, for petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; David V. Bernal, Assistant Director; Lauren E. Fascett, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
    PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, ROBERT D. SACK, REENA RAGGI, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Gursharn Kaur, a native and citizen of India, seeks review of a February 25, 2010, order of the BIA affirming the March 20, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Gabriel C. Videla, which denied her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”); and review of a September 20, 2010, decision of the BIA denying her motion to reopen. In re Kaur, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Feb. 25, 2010), affg No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Mar. 20, 2008); In re Kaur, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Sept. 20, 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

I. Adverse Credibility Determination

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed the decision of the IJ as supplemented by the BIA. See Yan Chen v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 268, 271 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008); Shu Wen Sun v. BIA, 510 F.3d 377, 379 (2d Cir.2007).

The agency’s adverse credibility finding was based on an accumulation of factors, including the inconsistencies [i] between Kaur’s testimony and her asylum application as to what occurred on the occasions she allegedly interacted with Indian police, and [ii] among her airport interview, asylum application, and testimony as to whether the Indian government had caused the disappearance of her siblings due to their support of the Khalistan movement, or indeed as to whether or not she had any siblings. The cumulative effect of these numerous inconsistencies is substantial when measured against the record as a whole. See Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 402 (2d Cir.2006).

Given the inconsistencies and lack of corroboration, the agency’s adverse credibility finding is supported by substantial evidence. See Secaida-Rosales v. INS, 331 F.3d 297, 308-09 (2d Cir.2003). As the only bases for relief depended upon Kaur’s credibility, the adverse credibility determination in this case necessarily precludes asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir.2005).

II. Motion to Reopen

The BIA did not abuse its discretion by denying Kaur’s timely motion to reopen. See Ali v. Gonzales, 448 F.3d 515, 517 (2d Cir.2006). Kaur moved the BIA to reopen her proceedings on the ground that her application for adjustment of status was pending before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). As Kaur acknowledged, because she is an arriving alien, USCIS has the sole authority to adjudicate her adjustment application. See Sheng Gao Ni v. BIA, 520 F.3d 125, 129 (2d Cir.2008). Although an outstanding removal order does not bar adjustment for an arriving alien, see Matter of Yauri, 25 I. & N. Dec. 103, 107 (B.I.A. 2009), execution of that order does bar adjustment, see 8 C.F.R. § 245.2(a) (4)(ii) (A); Sheng Gao Ni, 520 F.3d at 131. Accordingly, as Kaur has acknowledged, a motion to reopen with the BIA in this situation is simply a means of requesting a stay of removal. See Yauri, 25 I. & N. Dec. at 108-09.

Consequently, the BIA reasonably construed Kaur’s motion as one to stay the execution of her removal order, and then gave a rational explanation as to why it declined to grant the request, that: (1) the only relief it could provide to Kaur would be a stay of removal; (2) Kaur had not demonstrated or asserted that the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) was seeking to effectuate her removal while her application was pending; and (3) if DHS should seek to effectuate her removal, she could address a request for a stay of removal to DHS. Because the BIA provided this explanation, which was responsive to the relief Kaur sought, it did not abuse its discretion by denying Kaur’s motion to reopen. Cf. Sheng Gao Ni, 520 F.3d at 129-30.

For the foregoing reasons, the petitions for review are DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in these petitions is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in these petitions is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in these petitions is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b). 
      
       Kaur asserts that the BIA's denial of her motion to reopen was contrary to this Court’s decision in Freire v. Holder, 647 F.3d 67 (2d Cir.2011). However, the petitioner in Freire was seeking continuance of an ongoing proceeding, not reopening after a final order of removal had been entered. 647 F.3d at 70.