Case ID: f-appx_536/html/0089-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

YONG DENG LIU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 12-2460.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Sept. 18, 2013.
    Michael Brown, New York, New York., for Petitioner.
    Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Greg Mack, Senior Litigation Counsel; Micheline Hershey, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
    PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR. and CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Yong Deng Liu, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a May 29, 2012, decision of the BIA affirming the April 6, 2011, decision of Immigration Judge (“IJ”) Philip L. Morace, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Yong Deng Liu, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. May 29, 2012), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Apr. 6, 2011); We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the BIA’s and IJ’s opinions. Yun-Zui Guan v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 391, 394 (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 (2d Cir.2009).

For applications, like Liu’s, governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may, “[c]on-sidering the totality of the circumstances,” base a credibility finding on an asylum applicant’s “demeanor, candor, or responsiveness,” the plausibility of his account, and inconsistencies in his statements, without regard to whether they go “to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” See 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii), 1231(b)(3)(C); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008). We “defer to an IJ’s credibility determination unless, from the totality of the circumstances, it is plain that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167.

Here, the agency reasonably found Liu not credible based on internal inconsistencies in his testimony and inconsistencies between his testimony and his documents. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Liu testified inconsistently regarding the dates of his arrests and whether he was with his wife when she was taken for sterilization, stating, contrary to his asylum application, that he was not with his wife in 2000 when the cadres came to take her for sterilization because he was out fishing, but on cross-examination changing his testimony to say that he was with her. Moreover, Liu testified that he was arrested twice, in 1995 and 2008, changed his testimony to say he was arrested in 2000 and 2008, and then changed it again to say he could not recall the date of his first arrest but the second arrest was definitely in 2008. Furthermore, this inconsistent testimony contradicts Liu’s asylum application, which mentions no incident in 1995 and places Liu with his wife in 2000 when she was taken for forced sterilization. As these discrepancies go to the heart of Liu’s claim that he suffered past persecution on account of his resistance to the family planning policy in China, the agency’s determination that Liu was not credible is supported by substantial evidence. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 165-66.

The adverse credibility determination is further supported by the IJ’s demeanor finding, to which we defer. See Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 116 (2d Cir.2006) (“the IJ’s opportunity to judge demeanor causes us to grant particular deference to credibility findings based on demeanor.” (internal quotations and citation omitted)). The agency considered and reasonably rejected Liu’s explanations for his inconsistencies, as his lack of literacy and education do not explain his inconsistent statement as to whether he was arrested in 1995 or in 2000 or where he was when his wife was taken for sterilization. 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 quotations and citation omitted)).

Given Liu’s inconsistencies, demeanor, and non-responsive explanations, the totality of the circumstances supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Because the only evidence of a threat to Liu’s life or freedom depended upon his credibility, the adverse credibility determination in this case necessarily precludes any relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. The pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot.