Case Name: XUE EIAO SHAO, aka Xue Chao Shao, 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: 2011-12-23
Citations: 442 F. App'x 617
Docket Number: No. 10-4529-ag
Parties: XUE EIAO SHAO, aka Xue Chao Shao, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: GUIDO CALABRESI, REENA RAGGI, RICHARD C. WESLEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 442
Pages: 617–620

Head Matter:
XUE EIAO SHAO, aka Xue Chao Shao, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 10-4529-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Dec. 23, 2011.
Jed S. Wasserman, Kuzmin & Associates, P.C., New York, N.Y., for Petitioner.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General; David V. Bernal, Assistant Director; Stuart S. Nickum, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: GUIDO CALABRESI, REENA RAGGI, RICHARD C. WESLEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Xue Eiao Shao, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of an October 4, 2010, order of the BIA affirming the December 1, 2008, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Javier E. Balasquide, which denied Shao's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Xue Eiao Shao, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Oct. 4, 2010), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Dec. 1, 2008). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of 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); see also Corovic v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 90, 95 (2d Cir.2008); Bah v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 99, 110 (2d Cir.2008). An adverse credibility determination must be based on "specific, cogent" reasons bearing a "legitimate nexus" to the finding. See Zhou Yun Zhang v. INS, 386 F.3d 66, 74 (2d Cir.2004) (quoting Secaida-Rosales v. INS, 331 F.3d 297, 307 (2d Cir.2003)).
The agency reasonably relied on the inconsistencies between Shao's testimony and his fiancée's statements regarding the timing and cause of her abortion and the payment of fines in finding him not credible because Shao's incident with the family planning officials and the harm he and his fiancée suffered are the basis of his asylum claim. See Chen Yun Gao v. Ashcroft, 299 F.3d 266, 272 (3d Cir.2002) (holding that an IJ may base an adverse credibility determination on discrepancies that go to the "heart of the asylum claim").
Contrary to Shao's argument, the agency did not err in rejecting his explanations for his fiancée's statements because, although Shao asserted that she was confused regarding the timing of her abortion, she provided specific dates, and a motivation for the abortion incompatible with Shao's testimony. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005) (concluding that the agency need not credit an applicant's explanations for inconsistent testimony unless those explanations would compel a reasonable fact-finder to do so). Moreover, the BIA did not exceed its authority in rejecting Shao's argument that the family planning violation notice, dated January 2000, supported his testimony. While the BIA generally should not engage in fact-finding on appeal, see 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(d)(3)(iv), it acted within its authority in reviewing the record created by the IJ and rejecting Shao's assertion that the notice corroborated his testimony, as it was inconsistent with his statements that the authorities first learned of the pregnancy in February 2000. See Belortaja v. Gonzales, 484 F.3d 619, 624-25 (2d Cir.2007) (holding that BIA did not exceed its authority in making an adverse credibility determination based on evidence presented to the IJ).
The adverse credibility determination was further supported by the agency's finding that Shao's omission of the police visit to his house and his time in hiding from his initial asylum application undermined his credibility. See Tu Lin v. Gonzales, 446 F.3d 395, 402-03 (2d Cir.2006) (concluding that because adverse credibility determinations are based on the whole record, omissions from an asylum application may, in light of other omissions and inconsistencies, be deemed consequential to the factfinder). Together, these discrepancies provided substantial evidence in support of the agency's adverse credibility determination. See id.
That determination was a proper basis for the agency's denial of Shao's asylum and withholding of removal claims as both claims were premised on his account of his interactions with the family planning officials. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006). Accordingly, we do not address Shao's arguments concerning whether the past mistreatment he allegedly suffered constituted past persecution and whether he faces future harm on account of a protected ground.
The agency also reasonably found that Shao did not establish his eligibility for CAT relief based on his illegal departure from China as he presented no particularized evidence suggesting that he would likely be tortured. See Mu Xiang Lin v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 432 F.3d 156, 157-60 (2d Cir.2005) (holding that a petitioner is not "entitled to CAT protection based solely on the fact that [he] is part of the large class of persons who have illegally departed China," and that beyond generalized country conditions reports stating that some Chinese prisoners have been tortured, an applicant for CAT relief must submit particularized evidence suggesting that he is likely to be subject to torture in Chinese prisons).
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).
. Contrary to the government's argument, Shao raised the issue of his illegal departure in his brief before the BIA.