Case ID: f-appx_356/html/0468-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WEI SHANG CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., U.S. Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 09-1290-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Dec. 14, 2009.
    
      Michael Brown, New York, New York, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, David V. Bernal, Assistant Director, Lauren E. Fascett, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: ROGER J. MINER, JOSÉ A. CABRANES, ROBERT D. SACK, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Wei Shang Chen, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a March 10, 2009 order of the BIA affirming the July 11, 2007 decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Noel Brennan, denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Wei Shang Chen, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Mar. 10, 2009), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City July 11, 2007). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.

When the BIA issues an opinion that fully adopts the IJ’s decision, this Court reviews the IJ’s decision. See Mei Chai Ye v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 489 F.3d 517, 523 (2d Cir.2007). We review the agency’s factual findings, including adverse credibility determinations, under the substantial evidence standard. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Corovic v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 90, 95 (2d Cir.2008). We review de novo questions of law and the application of law to undisputed fact. See Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008).

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. The IJ reasonably relied on Chen’s demeanor, which she found to be “particularly telling.” This Court ordinarily affords particular deference to the IJ’s assessment of demeanor, see Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005); Zhou Yun Zhang v. INS, 386 F.3d 66, 73-74 (2d Cir.2004), and Chen advances no argument suggesting that we should not do so here, particularly when the IJ offered additional inconsistency findings. See Li Hua Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 453 F.3d 99, 109 (2d Cir.2006) (“We can be ... more confident in our review of observations about an applicant’s demeanor where ... they are supported by specific examples of inconsistent testimony.”).

Furthermore, there is no merit to Chen’s argument that his inconsistent testimony did not justify an adverse credibility finding. The IJ found that: (1) although Chen initially testified that he was detained at 8:00 a.m., he later stated that he was detained at 10:00 a.m.; (2) although Chen submitted evidence stating that he hid at his aunt’s house following his detention, he testified that he left his aunt’s house to stay with a friend; and (3) although a letter from his father states that Chen was also detained in July 1999, Chen testified that the incident occurred in September 1999. Although minor and isolated discrepancies may be insufficient to support an adverse credibility finding, see Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 288 (2d Cir.2000), the multiple discrepancies here were not minor, and they relate to events that go to the heart of Chen’s claim — his prior detentions and beatings by government officials. Thus, the IJ reasonably relied on their cumulative effect to call into question Chen’s credibility. See Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 402 (2d Cir.2006).

There is also no merit to Chen’s assertion that the IJ’s finding regarding the sufficiency of the corroborating evidence he submitted was erroneous. An IJ need not first identify the particular pieces of missing, relevant evidence, and show that this evidence was reasonably available to the applicant before relying on a lack of corroboration to support an adverse credibility finding. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 341 (2d Cir.2006). As the IJ did not find Chen’s testimony credible, she properly noted the absence of documentary evidence that may have corroborated his claim. See id.

These proper findings notwithstanding, as Chen asserts, the agency erred in finding that he provided inconsistent testimony as to his beating by Village Committee members during his 2004 detention. Indeed, the record reveals that prior to his merits hearing, Chen submitted a corrected asylum application stating that he was beaten in the course of that detention. However, remand would be futile in this case because the IJ’s broader credibility determination is amply supported by the record and it can be confidently predicted based on the IJ’s non-erroneous findings that the agency would reach the same credibility determination absent this error. See id. at 335.

Accordingly, substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii). Because the only evidence of a threat to Chen’s life or freedom depended upon his credibility, the adverse credibility determination in this case necessarily precludes success on his claim for withholding of removal and CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Wu Biao Chen v. INS, 344 F.3d 272, 275 (2d Cir.2003).

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(b). 
      
      . Because Chen filed his asylum application before May 11, 2005, the amendments made to the Immigration and Nationality Act by the REAL ID Act of 2005 do not apply to his asylum application. See Pub.L. No. 109-13, § 101(h)(2), 119 Stat. 231, 305 (2005).