Case ID: f-appx_387/html/0053-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MING JIANG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., U.S. Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 09-3395-ag.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    July 21, 2010.
    John Z. Zhang, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
    Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Luis E. Perez, Senior Litigation Counsel, John B. Holt, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: GUIDO CALABRESI, REENA RAGGI and RICHARD C. WESLEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Ming Jiang, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of a July 20, 2009, order of the BIA, affirming the November 1, 2007, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Thomas J. Mulligan, denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Ming Jiang, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. July 20, 2009), affg No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Nov. 1, 2007). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review 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 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513-14 (2d Cir.2009).

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. The IJ found that: (1) although Jiang testified at his November 2007 hearing that he only threatened family planning officials with a stick, he stated, both in his amended statement and at his May 2003 hearing, that he hit the officials with a stick; (2) although Jiang testified at his November 2007 hearing that there were more than ten cadres at his sister’s house, he stated at his May 2003 hearing that there were only four cadres; and (3) Jiang offered three different dates as to when his wife was forced to have an abortion — January 29, 1999, January 29, 2000, and January 22, 2000. Although minor and isolated discrepancies may be insufficient to support an adverse credibility finding, see Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 285-86 (2d Cir.2000), the multiple discrepancies here were not isolated, and related to events at the heart of Jiang’s claim — that he suffered past persecution and feared future persecution based on his “other resistance” to China’s family planning policy. Thus, the IJ reasonably relied on their cumulative effect to call into question Jiang’s credibility. See Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 402 (2d Cir.2006). Furthermore, the IJ reasonably relied on Jiang’s demeanor to find him not credible, noting that he was “visibly nervous” and “very uncomfortable.” The IJ also noted that when Jiang was questioned about the incident in which he allegedly threatened or beat family planning officials, “there was a very serious lack of detail in his testimony” and “[i]t took about six or seven attempts at additional questioning ... to elicit further details.” We afford particular deference to such assessments of an applicant’s demeanor. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005).

Accordingly, substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See Zhou Yun Zhang v. INS, 386 F.3d 66, 74 (2d Cir.2004), overruled in part on other on other grounds by Shi Liang Lin v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 494 F.3d 296 (2d Cir.2007). Because the only evidence of a threat to Jiang’s life or freedom depended upon his credibility, the adverse credibility determination in this case necessarily precludes success on his claim for asylum and withholding of removal. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).

We lack jurisdiction to consider Jiang’s unexhausted challenge to the IJ’s denial of his request for CAT relief and dismiss the petition for review to the extent that it seeks relief on this basis. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED in part and DISMISSED in part. 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). 
      
      . Because Jiang 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).