FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT M ar c h 21, 2008 T HOM AS K. KAHN CL E RK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 12410 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ B I A N o. A 97- 207- 860 R O S E T T E A N N I E N G O N G A N G - N J I T I E , P e titio n e r ,

v ersu s U .S . A T T O RN E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on f orR e vi e w of

aD e c i s i on of

the B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

_________________________ ( M ar c h 21, 2008) B efo re A N D E R S O N , M A R C U S an d W IL S O N , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

R os e tt e A nni e N gonga ng- N j i t i e , ana t i ve a nd c i t i z e n of C a m e r oon, proceedi ng pro se, se eks r evi ew of the B oard of Im m i grat i on A pp ea l s’ s ( “ B IA ”) de c i s i on a f

f i rm i ng the i m m i gr a t i on j udge ’ s ( “ I J ” ) or de rde ny i ng he rappl i c a t i on f or as yl um , w i thh ol di ng of re m ov al un der the Im m i grat i on and N at i on al i ty A ct ( “ I N A ” ) , a nd r e l i e f

unde rthe U ni t e d N a t i ons C onve nt i on A ga i ns tT or tur e a nd O th e rCru e l , I n h u ma n , o rD e g r a d i n g Tr e a tme n to rPu n i s h me n t( “ CA T” ) , 8 U . S. C. §§ 1158, 1231, 8 C . F . R . § 208. 16. N gonga ng’ s c l a i m s a r e pr e m i s e d on the f a c ttha ts hor t l y be f

or e l e a vi ng C a m e r oon, s he w a s a tt a c ke d a nd r ape d. I n he ra s y l um appl i c a t i on, N gonga ng st at ed she had been att ac ked b ec ause she had previ ou sl y s po ken abo uti ss ues s uch as rape and abo rt i on . D uri ng her a sy l um hear i ng , N go ng ang t es t i fi ed abou tse vera l a tta c k s s u f

f e r e d b y f a m ily m e m b e r s b e c au s e o f h e rf a th e r ’s p o litic a l a f

f ilia tio n . S h e b e lie v e d th e r ap e w a s a ls o a n a tta c kb a s e d o n h e ra s s o c ia tio n w ith h e rf a th e r . S he s t a t e d tha tthe m e n w ho r ape d he rt ol d he ri tw a s t o ha rm he rf a m i l y a nd because s he ac t ed l i ke the m other of G od . T hese expl anat i on s f or the rape vari ed fr om the expl anat i on s s he prov i ded i n h eras yl um i nt ervi ew and a psyc ho l og i ca l r e p o r t. T h e I J a n d B I A d e n ie d N g o n g a n g ’s c la im s b a s e d o n a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility f i ndi ng. I n s uppor tof

i t s f i ndi ng, the B I A r e f

e r e nc e d i nc ons i s t e nc i e s i nvol vi ng the na tur e , s e ve r i ty , a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s of the r ape , the da t e of

the r ape , the i de nt i ty ofNg ong angdoes not raiseany argument in her brie f re g ardingthe B IA’s denial of her 1 claim that the IJ ’s lack of neutrality

violated her

due proc ess rights, so she has aba ndoned that issue . Sepulve da

v. U. S. Att’ y

Gen. , 4 01 F .3 d 1 22 6, 12 28 n. 2 ( 11 th C ir . 2 00 5) (h oldingthat, where an a

ppellant fails to raise arguments reg ardingan issue on appe al, that issue is deeme d abandone d). Additionally, to the extent that Ngong angargues that the inconsistenc ies were the result of a n inaccuratetranslation of her testimony , she raises this claim for the fir st tim e on appeal. We lack “jurisdiction to consider c laims that have not been raised be forethe B IA.” Sundar v. I

NS, 328 F.3d 1320, 1323 (11th Cir. 2003) 3 th e r ap ists, th e r ea so n sh e w as ra p ed , an d th e n atu re an d ex ten t o f b o th N g o n g an g ’s and h erfa ther’ s pol i t i ca l ac t i vi t i es . A dd i t i on al l y, the B IA ci t ed N go ng ang’ s f ai l ure to p ro v id e c o rr o b o ra ti n g ev id en ce . O n ap p ea l, N g o n g an g ar g u es th at th e B IA ’s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e rm i na t i on w a s nots uppor t e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , a nd th e reco rd p ro v i d es ad eq u at e ex p l an at i o n s fo r an y i n co n si st en ci es. 1 W e r e v ie w o n ly th e B I A ’s d e c is io n , “e x c e p t to th e e x te n t th a t it e x p r e s s ly adop t s the IJ ’ s opi ni on . ” A l N ajj arv. A shcr oft , 25 7 F . 3d 12 62 , 12 84 (11th C i r. 2001) . “ I ns of

a ra s the [ B I A ] a dopt s the I J ’ s r e a s oni ng, w e r e vi e w the I J ’ s de c i s i on a s w e l l . ” I d. ( c i t a t i ons om i tt e d) . I n thi s c a s e , the B I A i s s ue d aw r i tt e n opi ni on a nd adop t ed, i n p art , the IJ ’ s r ea soni ng i nsofaras the IJexpl ai ned the i ncon si st enci es a n d la c ko f

c o rr o b o r a tin g e v id e n c e a s ab a s is f o rm a k in g its a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility de t e rm i na t i on. A c c or di ngl y , w e r e vi e w the B I A ’ s opi ni on a nd the por t i on of the I J ’ s de c i s i on tha tthe B I A e xpr e s s l y a dopt e d. S e e A l N a jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1284. T he B IA ’ s f

ac tual det erm i nat i on s are re vi ew ed un der the subst ant i al e vi de nc e t e s t , a nd w e w i l l “ a f f i rm th e B I A ’ s de c i s i on i f i ti s s uppor t e d by reaso n ab l e, su b sta n tia l, an d p ro b at i v e ev i d en ce o n th e reco rd co n si d ered as a4

w hol e . ” F or gu e v . U . S . A tt ’ y G e n. , 401 F . 3d 1282, 1286 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( q u o ta tio n s a n d c ita tio n s o m itte d ) . T h e s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e te s t is “h ig h ly d ef er en ti al” a n d d o es n o t all o w “rew eig h [i n g ] th e e v id en ce fr o m sc ra tch .” Id . “ A c r e di bi l i ty de t e rm i na t i on, l i ke a ny f a c tf i ndi ng, m a y notbe overtu rn ed u nl e s s the re cord com pel s i t . ” I d. at12 87 (quo t at i on s and ci t at i on s om i tt ed). A n a l i e n w ho a rr i ve s i n ori s pr e s e nti n the U ni t e d S t a t e s m ay ap p l y f or a s y l u m. I N A § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 8 U . S. C. § 1 1 5 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) . Th e Se c r e t a ry o f H om e l a nd S e c u r ity o rth e A tto rn e y G e n e r a l h a s d is c r e tio n to g r a n t a s y lu m if th e a l i e n m e e ts the I N A ’ s d e f

i ni t i on of a“ r e f uge e . ” I N A § 208( b) ( 1) , 8 U . S . C . § 1158( b) ( 1) . T he a s y l u m ap p l i c a n tc a rr i e s th e b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g s t a tu t o ry “ r e f u g e e ” s t a tu s . Al N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 4 . T o e s tab lis h a s y l u m e lig ib ility , th e a lie n m u s t, w ith spec i fi c a nd cr edi bl e e vi dence, es t abl i sh (1) p as t p er secut i on on ac coun tof a s t a tut or i l y l i s t e d f

a c t or , or( 2) a“ w e l l - f

ounde d f e a r ” tha tthe s t a tut or i l y l i s t e d f a c t or w i l l c aus e s uc h f

utur e pe r s e c ut i on. 8 C . F . R . § 208. 13( a ) , ( b) ; A l N aj j ar , 257 F . 3d a t1287. T o qu al i f

y f orw i thhol di ng of

r e m ova l unde rthe I N A , a n a l i e n m us ts how tha ti f r e turne d t o he rc ountry , the al i en ’ s l i f e orf r e e dom w oul d be thr e a t e ne d on a c c ountof

r a c e , r e l i gi on, na t i ona l i ty , m e m be r s hi p i n a p art i cu l a rs oc i a l gr oup, or po l i t i ca l op i ni on . IN A § 2 41 (b)( 3), 8 U . S . C . § 1 23 1(b )(3). G ener al l y, w here an a l i e n f a i l s t o m e etthe “ w e l l - f ounde d f

e a r ” s t a nda r d f

ore s t abl i s hi ng a s y l um5

e lig ib ility , th e a lie n c a n n o t s a tis f y th e h ig h e rb u r d e n f

o rw ith h o l d i n g o f

r e m o v a l. A l N a jj a r , 257 F . 3d a t1292- 93.

“ T o d em on stra t e e l i gi bi l i ty f or C A T prot ec t i on , a n ap p l i ca ntm ustshow that i t i s mo r e l i k e l y th a n n o t th a t s h e w i l l b e t o r tu r e d i n h e r h o me c o u n try a tt he ha nds of her gov ernm entor thather gov er n m en tw i l l ac qu i es ce i n the t orture. ” S anchez v. U . S. A tt ’ y G e n. , 39 2 F. 3d 43 4, 43 8 ( 11 th Ci r . 20 04 ) . The bu r de n of pr oo f for a n appl i c a nts e e ki ng r e l i e f unde rthe C A T al so i s hi ghe rtha n the bur de n i m pos e d on a n a s y lu m ap p lic a n t. A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 3 0 3 . “ Th e a s y l u m ap p l i c a n tmu s te s t ab l i s h e l i g i b i l i ty f o ra s y l u m b y o f

f e r i ng c r e di b l e , d i r e c t , an d s p e c i f i c e v i d e n c e i n th e r e c o r d . ” Fo r g u e , 4 0 1 F. 3 d a t1287 ( quot a t i on om i tt e d) . “ I ndi c a t i ons of r e l i abl e t e s t i m ony i nc l ude c ons i s t e nc y on di r e c te xa m i na t i on , c ons i s t e nc y w i th the w r i tt e n appl i c a t i on, a nd the abs e nc e of em bel l i shm ent s. ” R ui z v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 44 0 F .3 d 1 2 4 7 , 12 55 (11th C i r. 20 06 ). I f c r e d ib le , a n a lie n ’s te s tim o n y m a y b e s u f f ic ie n t, w ith o u t c o rr o b o r a tio n , to s us t a i n hi s bur de n of p ro o f i n est abl i s hi ng hi s e l i gi bi l i ty f ora s y l um . F or gue , 401 F . 3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . A lth o u g h u n c o rr o b o r a te d b u t c r e d ib le te s tim o n y m a y b e s u f f ic ie n t to su st ai n an ap p l i can t ’ s b u rd en o f p ro o f, “ [t ] h e w eak er an ap p l i can t ' s t est i m o n y, h o w ev er , th e g re aterth e n ee d fo r c o rr o b o ra ti v e e v id en ce .” Y an g v . U .S . A tt ’y G e n ., 4 1 8 F .3 d 1 1 9 8 , 1 2 0 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . F u r th e rm o r e , “a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility de t e rmi n a t i o n a l o n e ma y b e s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t th e d e n i a l o f a n a s y l um6

ap p lic a tio n .” F o r g u e , 4 0 1 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 . H o w e v e r , “a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility det erm i nat i on do es n o t a ll evi at e the IJ ’ s duty t o con si der other e vi dence produ ce d b y a n a s y lu m ap p lic a n t.” I d . T he I J m us tm ak e an e xpl i c i tf i ndi ng of a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty . S e e Y a ng, 418 F . 3d a t1201. “ O nc e a n a dve r s e cred i b i l i t y fi ndi ng i s m a de , the bur de n i s on the appl i c a nta l i e n t o s how tha tthe I J ’ s c r e di b i l i t y de c i s i on w a s nots uppor t e d by s pe c i f i c , c oge ntr e a s ons orw a s notbased o n subs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . ” F or gue , 401 F . 3d at12 87 (c i t at i on s and qu ot at i o n s o m itte d). W hen the IJenum er at es an ap p lic a n t's in c o n s is te n c ie s a n d th o s e f in d in g s a r e s u p p o r te d b y th e r e c o r d , “w e w ill n o t s u b s titu te o u rju d g m e n t f o rth a t o f

th e I J w ith r e s p e c t t o i t s c r e d ib ility fi nd i ng s. ” D -M uh um ed v. U . S . A tt ’ y G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 9 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). T he I J pr ovi de d s pe c i f

i c , c oge ntr e a s ons f

orhe rc r e di bi l i ty de t e rm i na t i on, w i th w hi ch the B IA agre ed, and these fi nd i ng s are supp ort ed by subst ant i al e vi de nc e . N gonga ng’ s t e s t i m ony w a s m a t e r i a l l y i nc ons i s t e ntw i th he ra s y l um ap p lic a tio n a n d h e ra s y lu m in te rv ie w . N g o n g a n g p r o v id e d c o n f lic tin g s ta te m e n ts r e g a r d in g th e d a te o f

h e rr ap e , th e r e a s o n f

o rth e r ap e , a n d th e n a tu r e a n d s e v e r ity of her f am i l y’ s per se cut i on . In addi t i on , she f ai l ed t o exp l ai n these di sc re panci es a d e q u a te ly , a n d s h e f

a ile d to p r o d u c e e v id e n c e to c o rr o b o r a te h e rc la im s . T he r e f or e , s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the B I A ’ s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng a nd de ni a l of a s y l um be c aus e the B I A ha d r e a s on t o doubtN gonga ng’ s t e s t i m onyNg ong ang ’s motion for an ex tension of time to file a reply brief is denied. 2 7 ba s e d on the num e r ous i nc ons i s t e nc i e s a nd om i s s i ons , a nd he rf a i l ur e t o pr ovi de c o rr o b o r a tiv e e v id e n c e to s u b s ta n tia te h e rc la im s . S h e lik e w is e h a s f a ile d to e s t ab l i s h e l i g i b i l i ty f

o rwi th h o l d i n g o f

r e mo v a l u n d e rth e I NA a n du n d e rth e CAT, b e c au s e th e y c a rry ah i g h e rb u r d e n o f p r o o f th a n a s y l u m c l a i m s . Ac c o r d i n g l y , we d e n y th e p e t i t i o n f

o rr e v i e w. P E T I T I ON DE NI E D. 2