Case Name: CHUN CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2010-01-08
Citations: 359 F. App'x 255
Docket Number: No. 08-4278-ag
Parties: CHUN CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, GUIDO CALABRESI, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 359
Pages: 255–257

Head Matter:
CHUN CHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 08-4278-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Jan. 8, 2010.
Nathaniel K. Hsieh, Hsieh & Associates, PC, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; M. Jocelyn Lopez-Wright, Senior Litigation Counsel; Judith R. O’Sullivan, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, GUIDO CALABRESI, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Chun Chen, a native and citizen of the People's Republic of China, seeks review of a July 30, 2008 order of the BIA affirming the July 30, 2007 decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Joanna Miller Bukszpan denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Chun Chen, No. [ AXXX-XXX-XXX ] (B.I.A. July 30, 2008), aff'g No. [ AXXX-XXX-XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City July 30, 2007). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
When the BIA agrees with the IJ's conclusion that a petitioner is not credible and, without rejecting any of the IJ's grounds for decision, emphasizes particular aspects of that decision, this Court reviews both the BIA's and IJ's opinions— or more precisely, the Court reviews the IJ's decision including the portions not explicitly discussed by the BIA. Yun-Zui Guan v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 391, 394 (2d Cir.2005). We review the agency's factual findings, including adverse credibility findings, under the substantial evidence standard. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Corovic v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 90, 95 (2d Cir.2008). We review de novo questions of law and the application of law to undisputed fact. See, e.g., Salimatou Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008).
Substantial evidence supports the IJ's adverse credibility determination. See Corovic, 519 F.3d at 95. The IJ cited: (1) inconsistencies between Chen's testimony and his cousin's testimony regarding the date Chen last practiced Falun Gong; (2) inconsistencies between his testimony and his cousin's testimony regarding where he practiced Falun Gong; (3) inconsistencies between his testimony and his cousin's testimony regarding the apartment they allegedly shared and the family members they lived with; (4) inconsistencies between his testimony and his written statement regarding the year in which he was arrested; and (5) Chen's lack of knowledge about the Falun Gong flyers he allegedly posted. Chen's brief argues that several of these inconsistencies were too minor to support an adverse credibility determination. However, under the REAL ID Act, which applied to Chen's application for relief, "an IJ may rely on any inconsistency or omission in making an adverse credibility determination as long as the 'totality of the circumstances' establishes that an asylum applicant is not credible." Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008) (emphasis in original); see Matter of J-Y-C-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 260, 265 (BIA 2007) (finding that "the REAL ID Act no longer requires the trier of fact to find a nexus between inconsistencies and the 'heart of the claim' "). Moreover, although Chen offered explanations for these discrepancies before the agency, no reasonable fact finder would have been compelled to credit them. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005).
Given the discrepancies the IJ identified, substantial evidence supports the agency's adverse credibility determination. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Therefore, the IJ properly denied Chen's application for asylum. The applications for withholding of removal and CAT relief were also properly denied because the only evidence that Chen would be persecuted or tortured depended on his credibility. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir.2005).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, 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).