Case ID: f-appx_655/html/0029-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

FNU GURBAX-SINGH, aka Gurbax Singh, Petitioner, v. Loretta E. LYNCH, United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    15-1244
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    July 14, 2016
    
      For Petitioner: Genet Getachew, Law Office of Genet Getachew, Brooklyn, New York.
    For Respondent: Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Justin Markel, Nancy E. Friedman, Senior Litigation Counsel, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
    PRESENT: ROBERT A. KATZMÁNN, Chief Judge, DENNIS JACOBS, SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner FNU Gurbax-Singh, a native and citizen of India, seeks review of a March 19, 2015, decision of the BIA affirming a January 18, 2013, decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denying Gur-bax-Singh’s application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re FNU Gurbax-Singh, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Mar. 19, 2015), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Jan. 18, 2013). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

We have reviewed both the IJ’s and the BIA’s opinions “for the sake of completeness.” Wangchuck v. DHS, 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). Asylum applications such as Gur-bax-Singh’s are governed by the REAL ID Act, which provides that the agency, “[considering the totality of the circumstances ... may base a credibility determination on” inconsistencies in an applicant’s statements and other record evidence “without regard to whether” those inconsistencies 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.

Gurbax-Singh argues that the IJ should not have relied on the record of the credible fear interview to find him not credible, and that the IJ improperly analyzed his demeanor. As the Government points out, Gurbax-Singh raised no demeanor challenge before the BIA, and thus failed to exhaust this issue. Lin Zhong v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 480 F.3d 104, 119-20 (2d Cir. 2007). In any event, the IJ did not rely on demeanor in making the adverse credibility determination. Gurbax-Singh has waived any challenge to the remainder of the IJ’s findings by failing to challenge them in his brief, and they supply sufficient basis, for the adverse credibility determination. See Shunfu Li v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 141, 146-47 (2d Cir. 2008).

We conclude that the IJ reasonably relied on the record of the credible fear interview in finding Gurbax-Singh . not credible. We require the agency to “closely examine each ... interview before concluding that it represents a sufficiently accurate record of the alien’s statements to merit consideration in determining whether the alien is credible.” Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 179 (2d Cir. 2004); Ming Zhang v. Holder, 585 F.3d 715, 725 (2d Cir. 2009). A credible fear interview is sufficiently reliable if it contains a “ ‘verbatim account or transcript’ of the alien’s statements,” was “ ‘designed to elicit the details of an asylum claim,’ ” and contains no indication that the alien revealed information reluctantly or failed to understand the interpreter’s translations. Ming Zhang, 585 F.3d at 721 (quoting Guan v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 391, 396 (2d Cir. 2005)).

Here, the IJ conducted a lengthy analysis of the reliability of the interview record, and found that: Gurbax-Singh had a Punjabi interpreter and expressed no difficulties understanding the interpreter; although the transcript is not verbatim, it gives the questions asked and Gurbax-Singh’s responses, and reveals that Gur-bax-Singh was given an opportunity to provide the details of his claim; and Gur-bax-Singh did not allege that any portion of the interview record was inaccurate or that he was coerced into providing specific answers. Gurbax-Singh’s attorney objected to the admission of the interview only solely on the ground that she had not had a chance to review it prior to the hearing, not because the record was unreliable. Given these facts, the IJ did not err in relying on the interview record in addressing Gur-bax-Singh’s credibility. See Ming Zhang, 585 F.3d at 721, 725.

Gurbax-Singh’s brief argues that the record is unreliable because he was not allowed to review it before he signed it. He raises this issue for the first time in this Court. Accordingly, it is unexhausted and we decline to address it. Lin Zhong, 480 F.3d at 123.

Moreover, the inconsistency between the credible fear interview and Gur-bax-Singh’s testimony supports the adverse credibility determination. Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. During the credible fear interview Gurbax-Singh reported one arrest and beating by police in January 2009. However, he testified that he was beaten three times in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and that he was never harmed in January 2009. The IJ was not required to credit Gurbax-Singh’s explanation that he was confused and forgot, as it did not resolve why Gurbax-Singh’s memory was improved two years after the interview. Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir. 2005).

Given the IJ’s reasonable reliance on the credible fear interview, and Gurbax-Singh’s failure to challenge any of the IJ’s additional findings, the IJ’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66. The adverse credibility determination is dispositive of asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief because all three claims were based on the same factual predicate. 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).