# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 6- 25 54

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Kod jo Keg eh , als o k no wn as Jea n- Pau l Ch ris ti an Kege h

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Peti ti on er

v.

Je ffer so n B . Ses si on s, II I, Att or ne y Gene ral of t he Uni te d S ta te s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Resp on de nt

__ __ __ __ __ __

Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of a n Ord er o f th e Bo ard of I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Marc h 7 , 20 17
Fil ed : J ul y

31 , 20 17

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, MELLOY, and SHEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

SHEPHERD, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

Kod jo Keg eh ap pl ie d fo r as y lu m , w ith hol din g of rem ov al

, an d pr ot ect io n un de r

th e Co nv en ti on Aga in st Tort ur e (CAT). The Im m ig rat io n Ju dg e (IJ ) de ni ed al l th ree

ap pl ic at io ns

. Keg eh ap pe al ed to th e Bo ard of Im m ig rat io n App eal s (BI A )

, w h ic h

affi rm ed th e IJ ’s de ci si on

. Keg eh pe ti ti on s fo r rev ie w, arg ui ng th at th e IJ an d th e BIA

erre d in de nyin g hi s ap pl ic at io ns

. W e de ny th e pe ti ti on be cau se Keg eh ha s fai le d tom eet hi s bu rd en : to sh ow th at an y reas on ab le ad jud ic at or wou ld be co m

pe ll ed to fin d

in hi s fa vo r.

I.

Si nc e 19 69

, th e W es t Afri can na ti on of Tog o ha s b e e n g o ve rn ed by a si ng le

na ti on al po l i t i c a l pa rty. Afte r th e de at h of th e pr ev io us pr es id en t in 20 05

, Fau re

Gna ss in gb e be cam e pr es id en t by m il it ary fia t. In Apr il of th at y ear, a p r e s i d e n t ia l

el ect io n was he ld

. Gna ss in gb e was el ect ed pr es id en t, bu t th e el ect io n pr oc es s was

mar red by irr eg ul ari ti es an d vi ol en ce. Und er pr es su re fro m th e in te rn at io na l

co m m un it y to ch an ge , Pres id en t Gna ss in gb e an d m em be rs of so m e op po si ti on pa rti es

si gn ed th e Glo ba l Po li ti cal Agr e e men t ( GPA) in 20 06

. One op po si ti on pa rty, th e UFC, d ecl in ed to joi n. Ko djo Kege h was a m em be r of th e UFC.

Keg eh is a ci ti zen an d nat iv e of Tog o, and hi s n at iv e la ng ua ge is Fren ch

. He

was ad m it te d to th e Uni te d St at es as a no ni m m ig ran t vi si to r on Mar ch 1, 20 11

, wit h

pe rm is si on to rem ai n her e un ti l Aug us t 31

, 20 11

. He di d n ot lea ve by th at da te an d

ha s re m ai ne d i n th is co un try ev er sin ce. In lat e 2 01 1, h e su bm it te d a pp li cat io ns for

as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

, an d pr ot ect io n un de r th e CAT to th e Dep art m en t of

Hom el an d Secu rit y ’s Uni te d St at es Ci ti zen sh ip an d Im m ig rat io n Serv ic es (USCIS ).

Keg eh ’s ap pl ic at io n was acco m pa ni ed by an affi da vi t. His at to rn ey he lp ed hi m

pr ep are bo th do cu m en ts

. Acco rd in g to Ke g e h

, h e pr ep ared bo th do cu m en ts in

Fren ch

, an d th en hi s Fren ch was tra ns la te d in to Eng li sh

. The Eng li sh tra ns la ti on was

th en read ba ck to hi m in Fren ch

. Keg eh st at ed th at he was aware of wha t was in hi s

ap pl ic at io n a nd affi da vi t.

In Feb ru ary 20 12

, an as yl u m o f f ic er fro m USCIS in te rv ie wed Keg eh

. Late r

th at m on th

, USCIS refe rred Keg e h t o rem ov al pr oc eed in gs be fo re an IJ aft er

-2

-co nc lu di ng th a t Keg eh la ck ed cred ib il it y an d pr ov id ed te st im on y in co ns is te nt wit h

hi s affi da vi t. Rem ov al pr oc eed in gs th en be ga n pu rs ua nt to 8 U.S.C. § 12 27 (a)( 1) (B).

A.

At he ari ng s be fo re an IJ

, Keg eh te st ifi ed th at he rep res en te d th e UFC at a po ll

st at io n du rin g th e Apr il 20 05 pr es id en ti al el ect io n. Afte r th e vo ti ng cl os ed an d th e

ba ll ot s were be in g co un te d, m il it ary fo rces ap pe ared an d vi ol en ce br ok e ou t. Keg eh

te st ifi ed th at so ld ie rs st art ed be at in g pe op le an d us in g te ar ga s on th em , bu t he di d no t

m en ti on so ld ie rs sh oo ti ng or u si ng real bu ll et s.

W he n th e el ect io n res ul ts were an no un ced two da y s la te r, an d Gna ss in gb e was

el ect ed pre si de nt

, Keg eh an d o th er m em be rs of t he UFC p ro te st ed . Kegeh tes ti fie d

th at th e m il it ary cam e to th e pr ot es t arm ed wit h gu ns bu t di d no t us e th em ag ai ns t th e

pr ot es to rs

.

A sh or t whi le la te r, Keg eh an d ot he rs were ki dn ap pe d by th e m il it ary. So ld ie rs

to ok hi m in to a m il it ary ba rrac ks whe re he was su bjec te d to se ve re ph y si cal ab us e.

The ne xt da y , he an d th e ot he rs were dr iv en ou t to a fie ld

. The be at in gs be ga n ag ai n,

an d Keg eh fel l un co ns ci ou s. He te st ifi ed th at th e ne xt m em or y he ha d was wak in g

up in a cl in ic wit h se ve re bu rn s on hi s ch es t an d to rs o. Keg eh av ers th at th e m il it ary

se t hi m an d th e ot he rs on fir e aft er th e be at in gs

. Vil la ge rs fo un d hi m ba rel y al iv e an d

to ok hi m to th e cl in ic

. In a 20 12 le tt er pu rp or te dl y fro m Keg eh ’s wife bu t writ te n by

a pa st or in Tog o, sh e co nf irms th at Keg eh was be at en an d bu rn ed in Apr il 20 05

. At

th e he ari ng , Keg eh be ga n to li ft hi s sh irt to rev eal th e ex t e n t o f hi s bu rn s. The IJ

in fo rm ed hi m th at th is was un ne ces sa ry as sh e al read y ha d pi ct ur es of th e bu rn s. Sh e

al so ga ve hi m

th e ch an ce t o d es cri be hi s i nju rie s fo r th e rec or d.

Fo ll owi ng th e 20 05 ev en ts

, Keg eh le ft Tog o for two y ears , bu t th en ret ur ne d.

In 20 10

, ne w el ect io ns were he ld in Tog o. Keg eh te st ifi ed th at he di d no t en ga ge in

-3

-an y po li ti cal cam pa ig ni ng be fo re th e 20 10 el ect io ns

. He te st i fie d th at he was

in vo lv ed in “ pr e-ca m

pa ig ni ng ” to in fo rm pe op le of hi s pa rty’ s pr og ram

. He le ft Tog o

fo r th e la st ti m e aft er an ev en t pr eced in g th e 20 10 el ect io ns

. Keg eh te st ifi ed th at he

was at a so ccer ga m e whe n a po li ce offi cer app ro ach ed hi m an d s ev eral ot he rs wit h

a “ real ly j ui cy

ass ig nm en t.” Th e of

fic er h an de d h im

fou r ba gs an d a sk ed th e g ro up

to ta ke th e ba gs to pa rty he ad qu art ers in ex ch an ge fo r a la rg e su m of m on ey

. Keg eh

op en ed th e ba gs an d fou nd gu ns , gre na de s, an d o th er m il it ary art ic le s. He as su m ed

th is was a pl ot by th e m il it ary to fram e hi m an d ot he r pa rty m em be rs fo r po ss es si ng

da ng ero us weap on s. He thr ew th e ba gs away an d fled th e co un try. K eg eh tes ti fie d

t h a t s o l d i ers cam e lo ok in g fo r hi m at hi s fam il y ’s ho m e in Tog o in 20 12 an d
ph y si cal ly ass au lt ed hi s d au gh te r.

B.

Afte r two da y s of he ari ng s, th e IJ ru le d ag ai ns t Keg eh o n t h e g ro un d th at he

la ck ed cred ib il it y . This cred ib il it y fin di ng was ro ot ed in nu m ero us in co ns is te nc ie s

be twee n Keg eh ’s te st im on y an d th e reco rd

, th e im pl au si bi li ty of cert ai n ev en ts

, an d

a la ck of co rro bo rat in g ev id en ce. The IJ fo un d th at th e in co ns is te n c i es in Keg eh ’s

st or y went di rect ly to t he un de rlyin g b as is for hi s as y lu m cla im

.

Fo r ex am pl e, Keg eh ha d te st ifi ed th at no sh oo ti ng oc cu rred at th e po ll st at io n

th e da y of th e 20 05 pr es id en ti al el ect io n. Bu t in hi s affi da vi t he cl ai m ed th e m il it ary

us ed real bu ll et s th at da y

. W he n co nf ro nt ed ab ou t th is di sc rep an cy , K e g e h d i d no t

rem em be r sa y in g in hi s affi da vi t th at real bu ll et s were us ed

. The as y lu m ap pl ic at io n

of Fran ci sc o A n t h o n y, a fel lo w m em be r of th e UFC who was gr an te d as y lu m by

USCIS in 20 10

, al so co nt rad ic te d Keg eh ’s te st im on y

. Ant ho ny, pu rp or te dl y a fri en d 1

an d so m eo ne Keg eh sp eak s wit h ev ery ot he r week

, cl ai m ed th at he wor ke d at th e

sa m e po ll st at io n in 20 0 5 a s K eg eh

. Ant ho ny cl ai m ed th at th e m il it ary o pe ne d fir e

Keg eh of fere d Ant ho ny’ s as y lu m st at em en t to su pp or t hi s own as y lu m cl ai m

. 1

-4

-on th e cro wd, ki ll in g on e UFC m em be r. Keg eh te st ifi ed th at th ere were no sh ot s fir ed

on th e cro wd. Keg eh al so te st ifi ed th at he di d no t se e Ant ho ny at th e po ll st at io n an d

ha s ne ve r di sc us se d th e ev en ts of th at da y wit h Ant ho ny du rin g th ei r bi week ly ph on e

cal ls

.

Keg eh al so te st ifi ed th at th e m il it ary di d no t us e gu ns at t h e p r o t e st s of th e

el ect io n res ul ts two da y s la te r. Bu t in hi s affi da vi t he cl ai m ed th at th e m il it ary us ed

real bu ll et s th at da y

. W he n th e IJ tri ed to cl ari fy th is di sc rep an cy , Keg eh ’s res po ns es

were v ag ue an d e va si ve

.

Turn in g to th e ev en ts of 20 10

, Keg eh te st ifi ed th at he di d no t ta ke pa rt in an y

po li ti cal cam

pa ig ni ng

. His affi da vi t, ho wev er, st at es th at he act iv el y pa rti ci pa te d in

do or -to -d oo r cam

pa ig ni ng an d wha te ve r el se was as ke d o f h i m fo r th e cam pa ig n.

Als o in hi s affi da vi t, Kegeh cl ai m ed th at th e ru li ng pa rty was act iv el y m an ip ul at in g

th e el ect or al c o m

m it te e. W he n as ke d at th e he ari ng if th e el ect or al co m m it te e was

be in g m an ip ul at ed

, Ke ge h claim ed he di d no t kn ow wha t th e el ect or al co m m it te e was

. Fu rth er qu es ti on s ab ou t wha t Keg eh ha d m ean t by “ el ect or al co m m it te e” le d to

co nf us in g an d va gu e an swe rs

. Nex t, Keg eh te st ifi ed th at h e w a s a t a so ccer ga m e

whe n th e po li ce of

fic er ha d ap pr oa ch ed hi m wit h th e ba gs of gu ns

. Bu t hi s affi da vi t

st at ed th at he was on th e cam pa ig n tra il

, no t at a so ccer ga m e. Keg eh ex pl ai ne d th at

it was a ct ua ll y

a cam pa ig n s oc cer t ou rn am en t.

The IJ al so fo un d Keg eh ’s te st im on y reg ard in g hi s rel at io ns hi p wit h Ant ho ny

to be im pl au si b l e

. Fo r on e th in g, th e IJ fo un d th at

, if Ant ho ny’ s as y lu m st at em en t

was tru e, th en it was im

pl au si bl e fo r Keg eh no t to ha ve he ard gu ns ho ts or le arn ed of

th e de at h o f a fel lo w UF C m em be r aft er th e 20 05 el ect io n. The IJ ex pr es se d do ub t

th at Keg eh ha d ne ve r di sc us se d th es e ev en ts wit h Ant ho ny. The co ur t la st ly no te d

in co ns is te nc ie s wit h Keg eh ’s cl ai m th at he ne ve r sp ok e wit h Ant ho ny ab ou t th e bu rn s

he rece iv ed at th e ha nd s of th e m il it ary. Late r t e s ti m on y rev eal ed a br ie f ex ch an ge

whe re Keg eh an d An th on y di d d is cu ss th e b ur ns be twee n t he m se lv es

.

-5

-The IJ no te d ot he r in co ns is te nc ie s in Keg eh ’s te st im on y

. Keg eh

, who cl ai m ed

th at he ha d be en to th e UFC’s he ad qu art ers m an y ti m es , co ul d no t gi ve th e st reet

na m e o f th e he ad qu art ers

. Keg eh al so te st ifi ed th at th e GPA was si gn ed in 20 07 ; i t

was si gn ed in 20 06

. The re was al so a di sc rep an cy as to whe n so ld ie rs ph y si cal ly

as sa ul te d hi s da ug ht er: Keg eh te st ifi ed th at th e at ta ck oc cu rred in 20 12 whi le hi s wife

st at ed th at it ha pp en ed in 20 10

.

The IJ al so m ad e an ad ve rs e de m ean or fin di ng

. Sh e no te d th at Keg eh be cam e

fid ge ty an y ti m e hi s rel at io ns hi p wit h Ant ho ny was di sc us se d an d an y ti m e he was

as ke d ab ou t hi s as y lu m in te rv ie w an d a f f i da vi t. Keg eh gr ew vi si bl y ag it at ed

whe ne ve r co nf

ro nt ed wit h a n a pp aren t d is crep an cy

.

Fi na ll y , th e IJ fo un d th at Keg eh ha d no t pr ov id ed co rro bo rat in g ev id en ce of hi s

cl ai m s. Keg eh fai le d to pr ov id e th e or ig in al Fren ch affi da vi ts or of fer an ad eq ua te

ex pl an at io n as to why t he ori gi na ls were n ot av ai la bl e. Thi s le d th e IJ to gi ve li tt le
weig ht to Kege h’s ju st ifi cat io ns for erro rs or i nc on si st en ci es

.

II.

Keg eh ap pe al ed th e IJ ’s ord er t o t he BIA, who affi rm ed th e IJ ’s co nc lu si on s.

“ Bo th im m ig rat io n de ci si on s wil l be rev ie wed to ge th er whe ne ve r th e BIA ad op ts an d

affi rm s th e IJ ’s de ci si on , bu t al so ad ds reas on in g of it s own .” A r e v a lo -Co rte z v. Ly nc h, 82 9 F.3 d 10 22

, 10 26 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ). “ W e rev ie w qu es ti on s of la w de no vo ,

a n d we wil l rev ers e fin di ng s of fact on ly if th e ev id en ce is so co m pe ll in g th a t n o

reas on ab le fact fin de r co ul d fai l to fin d in fav or of th e pe ti ti on er.” Ali v. Hol de r, 77 6

F.3 d 52 2, 52 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. If th e de ci si on s of

th e IJ an d BIA are su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd

, we wil l affi rm

. Id

.

-6

-“ Und er ou r im m ig rat io n la w, [t]he Att or ne y Gen eral ha s di sc ret io n to gr an t

as y lu m to a refu ge e, de fin ed as an al ie n who is un ab le or un wil li ng to ret ur n to [h is ]

ho m e co un try be cau se of pa st pe rs ecu tio n or a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on

on acco un t of race , rel ig io n, na ti on al it y , m em be rs hi p in a pa rti cu la r so ci al gr ou p, or

po li ti cal op in io n.” Fes eh ay e v. Hol de r, 60 7 F.3 d 5 23

, 52 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (fi rs t

al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. As am en de d by th e REAL

ID Act of 20 05 , fed eral law p la ces th e b ur de n o n t he pe ti ti on er to pr ov id e cred ib le

,
pe rs ua si ve , an d su ffi ci en tl y sp eci fic ev id en ce in su pp or t of hi s pe ti ti on

. See 8 U.S.C.
§ 1 15 8( b) (1 )(B) (i) -(i i).

“ All ap pl ic at io ns fo r as y lu m an d wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al req ui re a th res ho ld

de te rm in at io n of th e ap pl ic an t’s cred ib il it y .” Garci a v. Ly nc h, 65 5 F. App ’x 51 1, 51 4
(8 th Cir

. 20 16 ) (p er curi am ) (ci ti ng 8 U.S.C. § 11 58 (b )(1 )(B) (ii i))

. “ The IJ is in th e

be st po si ti on t o mak e cred ib il it y fin di ng s be cau se [s he ] se es th e wit ne ss as th e

te st im on y is g i v e n .” Fes eh ay e, 60 7 F.3 d at 52 7 (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. A s a r e s ul t, we m us t de fer to th e IJ ’s cred ib il it y

de te rm in at io ns whe n th e IJ pr ov id es sp eci fic , c og en t reas on s fo r he r di sb el ie f. See

Ons on go v. Gon zal ez, 45 7 F.3 d 84 9, 85 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ); se e al so Yu An Li v.

Hol de r, 74 5 F.3 d 33 6, 34 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (“ Su ch fin di ng s are co nc lu si ve un le ss an y

reas on ab le ad

jud ic at or w ou ld be co m

pe ll ed to co nc lu de to th e co nt rary.” (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d) ). “ The co m bi na ti on of a n a dv ers e cre di bi li ty find in g an d

a la ck of co rro bo rat in g ev id en ce fo r t h e c l a i m of pe rs ecu ti on m ean s th at th e

ap pl ic an t’s cl ai m fai ls

, reg ard le ss of th e reas on fo r th e al le ge d pe rs ecu ti on .”

Ave ria no va v. Mu ka se y , 50 9 F.3 d 89 0, 89 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s

om it te d)

.

Keg eh arg ue s t ha t t he IJ e rred in it s cr ed ib il it y fin di ng s ei th er b ecau se (1) he

ex pl ai ne d th e in co ns is te nc ie s, (2 ) th e in co ns is te nc ie s di d no t g o to th e he art of hi s rig ht to asylu m , or (3 ) th ey di d n ot en ha nc e h is cla im for asylu m

.

-7

-Fi rs t, Keg eh cl ai m s he ha s of fere d su ffi ci en t ex pl an a t i on s fo r so m e of hi s

in co ns is te nt te st im on y

. Keg eh po in ts ou t th at he ex pl ai ne d th e in co ns is te nc y ab ou t

whe n th e GPA was si gn ed in hi s he ari ng

. His at to rn ey as ke d hi m on th e se co nd da y

of th e he ari ng whe n th e GPA was si gn ed

, an d Keg eh res po nd ed th at it was si gn ed in

20 06 bu t t ha t h e d id no t hear ab ou t it u nt il 20 07 , th us ex pl ai ni ng th e in co ns is te nc y

. Keg eh h a s al so of

fere d m ed ic al reco rd s pu rp or te dl y sh owi ng th at hi s da ug ht er was

at ta ck ed in 20 12 as h e te st ifi ed to at h is he ari ng

.

Seco nd

, Keg eh arg ue s t ha t s ev eral in co ns is te nc ie s in hi s tes ti m on y do no t go

to th e he art of hi s as y lu m p e t i t i o n

. The se in co ns is te nc ie s in cl ud e th e na m e of th e

st reet whe re pa rt y he ad qu art ers was lo cat ed

, an y cam pa ig ni ng Keg eh m ig ht ha ve

do ne pr io r to th e 20 10 el ect io n, an d th e us e of di ffer en t te rm s fo r th e cam pa ig n so ccer

to ur na m en t. Keg eh co nt en ds th at “ [a]n ad ve rs e cred ib il it y fin di ng m us t be ba se d on

is su es th at g o t o th e he art of th e ap pl ic an t’s cl ai m [an d] can no t be ba se d on an

irr el ev an t in co ns is te nc y.” M a r i k a si v. Ly nc h, 84 0 F.3 d 28 1, 28 7 (6 th Ci r. 20 16 )
(in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. The se in co ns is te nc ie s, Keg eh co nt in ue s, can no t

fo rm th e b as is of a n a dv ers e cre di bi li ty find in g a ga in st hi m

.

Fi na ll y , Keg eh al le ge s th at th e rem ai ni ng in co ns is te nc ie s in hi s te st im on y

fai le d to en ha nc e h i s c l ai m fo r as y lu m , an d th eref or e were im m at eri al

. The se

in co ns is te nc ie s in cl ud ed w he ther th e m il it ary us ed real bu ll et s ag ai ns t UFC m em be rs , hi s co nf us io n a bo ut what th e el ect or al co m m it te e was , hi s l ack of k no wled ge ab ou t

th e m ur de r of a UFC m em

be r, an d in co ns is te nc ie s wit h st at em en ts m ad e by Ant ho ny

in hi s as y lu m

ap pl ic at io n. Keg eh arg ue s th at “ if d is crep an ci es can no t b e v ie wed as

at te m pt s by th e ap pl ic an t to en ha nc e hi s cl ai m s of pe rs ecu ti on , th ey ha ve no be ari ng

on cred ib il it y .” See Ce raj v. Mu ka se y , 51 1 F.3 d 58 3, 59 1 (6 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s o m it te d)

.

Keg eh ’s arg um en ts f

a l l sh or t of th e st an da rd se t fo rth un de r cu rren t fed eral

im m ig rat io n la w. Fi rs t, “ ev en whe re a n ap pl ic an t’s ex pl an at io ns are pl au si bl e, an

-8

-ag en cy is no t req ui red to acce pt th e ex pl an at io ns if an al te rn at iv e ex pl an at io n i s

reas on ab le .” Nad eem v. Hol de r, 59 9 F.3 d 86 9, 87 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (ci ti ng Rafi y ev

v. Mu ka se y , 53 6 F.3 d 85 3, 85 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 )). Seco nd

, im m ig rat io n la w no w

pe rm it s an IJ to ba se he r cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n on th e co ns is te nc y of a pe ti ti on er’s

te st im on y an d ot he r writ te n st at em en ts in th e rec or d, “ wit ho ut reg ard to whet he r an

in co ns is te nc y , in accu racy, or fal se ho od go es to th e he art of th e a pp li can t’s cl ai m .”

Yu An Li, 74 5 F.3 d at 34 1 (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d) ; se e al so Sl y us ar v.

Hol de r, 74 0 F.3 d 10 68

, 10 72 (6 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (ack no wled gi ng th at th e REAL ID Act

rev ers ed pr io r la w th at req ui red an in co ns is te nc y reac h th e he art of th e m at te r whe n

m ak in g a cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n)

. “ [E]ven an ci ll ary in co ns is te nc ie s in a

pe ti ti on er’s te st im on y su pp or t a d v e r se cred ib il it y fin di ng s.” Sl y us ar, 74 0 F.3 d at

1 0 7 3. And th e “ cu m

ul at iv e effe ct ” of m

ul ti pl e in co ns is te nc ie s, ev en if no t di rect l y

m a t e r i a l to th e pe ti ti on , can su pp or t a reas on ab le fact fin de r’s ad ve rs e cred ib il it y

d et erm in at io n. See Xiu Xia Lin v. Mu ka se y , 53 4 F.3 d 16 2, 16 7 (2 d Ci r

. 2 0 0 8 )

. Thi rd

, se ve ral of th e in co ns is te nc ie s in hi s te st im on y do

, in fact

, go to th e he art of hi s

pe ti ti on

. Keg eh cl ai m s th at he ha s su ffer ed pe rs ecu ti on in th e pa st an d ha s a well

fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on be cau se of h i s po li ti cal act iv it ie s. Yet hi s

te st im on y rev eal ed si gn ifi can t in co ns is te nc ie s as to hi s po li ti cal a c t i v it ie s. Fo r

ex am pl e, a mem

be r of hi s po li ti cal pa rty was m ur de red th e da y of th e 20 05

pr es id en ti al el ect io n, bu t Keg eh was no t aware of th is a n d a p p a r e n tl y ha s ne ve r

di sc us se d th e ev en ts of th at da y wit h ot he rs who w e r e a w a r e

. Keg eh al so

co nt rad ic te d h im se lf a s t o wh et he r th e so ld ie rs us ed real bu ll et s. In hi s af fid av it he

sp ok e of an el ec t o r a l c om m it te e in Tog o, bu t at th e he ari ng ex pr es se d co nf us io n

reg ard in g wha t th e el ect or al co m m it te e was

. Eve n th e m in or in co ns is te nc ie s or la ck

of kn owl ed ge ex hi bi te d by Keg eh , s uc h a s fa il in g t o k no w th e p art y he ad qu art ers ’s

st reet ad dr es s or wha t ki nd of cam pa ig ni ng he di d be fo re th e 20 10 el ect io n, pr ov id e

a fact fin de r reas on ab le do ub t con cern in g th e cred ib il it y of hi s cl ai m of pe rs ecu ti on

fo r po li ti cal act iv it ie s. See Tura y v. Ash cro ft, 40 5 F.3 d 66 3, 66 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 ) (“ [I]t

is ess en ti al th at th e v ic ti m ’s po li ti cal op in io n m ot iv at es th e p ers ecu ti on .”).

-9

-“ W e co nc lu de th e IJ ’s cred ib il it y f i n d i ng was su pp or te d by sp eci fic

, co ge nt

reas on s fo r di sb el i e f

, a nd we can no t sa y ‘any reas on ab le ad jud ic at or wou ld be

co m pe ll ed to co nc lu de to th e co nt rary.’ ” Thu v. Hol de r, 59 6 F.3 d 99 4, 99 9 (8 th Ci r.

20 10 ) (q uo ti ng 8 U.S.C. § 12 52 (b )(4 )(B) ). Keg eh ’s rem ai ni ng arg um en ts cen te r on

hi s ex te ns iv e bu rn s, whi ch he co nt en ds co ns ti tu te pr oo f of to rtu re. The IJ

, ho wev er, 2

di d no t fin d Keg eh ’s te st im on y cred ib le

, as di sc us se d ab ov e. Fu rth er, Keg eh te st ifi ed

th at he was un co ns ci ou s an d th en wok e up wit h b u r n s o n hi s bo dy. He co ul d on ly

su rm is e as to ho w he go t th e bu rn s. Neit he r he no r th e bu rn s, th eref or e, co ul d pr ov id e

ev id en ce fo r a to rtu re cl ai m

. The on ly co rro bo rat in g ev id en ce Keg eh of fere d fo r hi s

to rtu re cl ai m was a le tt er fro m h i s w i f e

. Bu t th e IJ ga ve li tt le weig ht to th at le tt er,

be cau se it was wri tt en in Fren ch an d Keg eh ’s wife d oe s n ot sp eak Fren ch . For t hi s

sp eci fic

, co ge nt reas on , we can no t sa y th e IJ erre d in affo rd in g li tt le weig ht to th e

le tt er. See Fes eh ay e, 60 7 F.3 d at 52 7- 28

. In th e en d, “ su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts

th e d en ia l o f as y lu m .” Arev al o- Co rte z, 82 9 F .3d at 1 02 7.

III.

“ W he n asylum

, wit hh ol di ng rem ov al

, an d CAT cl ai m s are bas ed on th e sa m e

di sc red it ed te st im on y , th e ad ve rs e cred ib il it y fin di ng is fat al to al l th ree cl ai m s.” Ali

, 77 6 F.3 d at 52 8 (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. Acco rd in gl y , we de ny Keg eh ’s

pe ti ti on for rev ie w.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Keg eh co m

pl ai ns th e IJ pr e v en te d hi m fro m rem ov in g hi s sh irt to rev eal hi s 2

bu rn s du rin g t he he ari ng . But , as s ta te d p rev io us ly, th e IJ ha d p ic tu res of th e bu rn s

ta ke n by a ph y si ci an

. W ha t sh e as ke d Keg eh to do was to de sc rib e hi s bu rn s fo r th e of fic ia l reco rd

, whi ch li fti ng hi s sh irt wou ld ha ve fai le d to acco m pl is h. Bec au se th e IJ co ns id ered al l of th e ad m it te d e vi de nc e—i nc lu di ng Kege h’s m ed ic al rep or ts an d ph ot os — i n m ak in g h er d eci si on , we see no erro r.

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