Case Name: YING FENG ZHEN, 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: 2014-12-08
Citations: 593 F. App'x 44
Docket Number: No. 13-4669 NAC
Parties: YING FENG ZHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 593
Pages: 44–47

Head Matter:
YING FENG ZHEN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 13-4669 NAC.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Dec. 8, 2014.
Gerald Karikari, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General; Stephen J. Flynn, Assistant Director; Lynda A. Do, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington D.C., for respondent.
PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Ying Feng Zhen, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a November 14, 2013, decision of the BIA affirming the April 12, 2012, decision of an Immigration Judge ("IJ"), denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief pursuant to the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Ying Feng Zhen, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Nov. 14, 2013), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Apr. 12, 2012). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
We have reviewed 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 (2d Cir.2009).
I. Adverse Credibility Determination
We find no error in the agency's determination that Zhen was not credible as to his family planning claim. Asylum applications like Zhen's are governed by the REAL ID Act of 2005.
The record supports the agency's finding that Zhen was often unresponsive while testifying with regard to his family planning claim. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005); Jin Shui Qiu v. Ashcroft, 329 F.3d 140, 152 (2d Cir.2003). The IJ and the Government's attorney repeatedly attempted to elicit more detail from Zhen — either by rephrasing questions or by further probing Zhen's answers — often to no avail. See Shunfu Li v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 141, 147 (2d Cir.2008). The agency was not required to credit Zhen's explanation that unresponsiveness is his normal disposition. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005). Having called Zhen's credibility into question, the agency reasonably relied further on his failure to provide credible corroborating evidence. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007) (per curiam).
Given Zhen's unresponsive testimony and lack of corroborating evidence regarding his family planning claim, the totality of the circumstances supports the agency's adverse credibility determination. See Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008). That determination is dispositive of asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief insofar as they were based on Zhen's family planning claim. Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (2d Cir.2006).
II. Burden of Proof
The agency also reasonably determined that Zhen failed to establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on his practice of Falun Gong. Absent past persecution, an applicant may establish eligibility for asylum by demonstrating a well-founded fear of future persecution, 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(2), which must be both subjectively credible and objectively reasonable, Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 178 (2d Cir.2004). To demonstrate such a well-founded fear, an applicant must show either that he would be singled out for persecution or that the country of removal has a pattern or practice of persecuting those similarly situated to him. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(b)(2)(iii). Irrespective of the theory, the agency was not compelled to find that Zhen demonstrated a well-founded fear of persecution.
Although Zhen failed to submit any country conditions in support of his application, the IJ took administrative notice of the 2010 State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. That report discussed the mistreatment of certain Falun Gong supporters. However, because Zhen's practice of Falun Gong is neither public nor high-profile, the agency did not err in finding that he failed to demonstrate a reasonable possibility of being singled out for persecution, or that there is a pattern or practice of persecution against similarly situated practitioners. See Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 171 (2d Cir.2008) (providing that the agency is not compelled to resolve conflicts in record evidence in the applicant's favor so long as substantial evidence raises doubts that authorities will single out the applicant for persecution and the agency does not overlook contrary evidence); Santoso v. Holder, 580 F.3d 110, 112 & n. 1 (2d Cir.2009) (denying petition where agency considered background materials and rejected pattern-or-practice claim).
Because the agency reasonably found that Zhen failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on account of his practice of Falun Gong, it did not err in denying asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief insofar as those claims were based on that practice. See Paul, 444 F.3d at 156-57.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. 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).