Case Name: Ousmane Lamarana BAH, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-07-24
Citations: 286 F. App'x 799
Docket Number: No. 07-3812
Parties: Ousmane Lamarana BAH, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 286
Pages: 799–802

Head Matter:
Ousmane Lamarana BAH, Petitioner v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES, Respondent.
No. 07-3812.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAE 34.1(a) July 23, 2008.
Opinion filed: July 24, 2008.
Matthew J. Harris, Law Office of Eric A. Wuestman, Brooklyn, NY, for Petitioner.
Richard M. Evans, Esq., Nancy E. Friedman, Esq., Sarah Maloney, Esq., United States Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: AMBRO, FISHER and JORDAN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Ousmane Lamarana Bah petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board or BIA), which denied his application for relief from removal. We will deny the petition.
Bah is a native and citizen of the Republic of Guinea. He entered the United States in 2003 and made an affirmative asylum application soon thereafter. The application was denied, and Bah was placed in removal proceedings for overstaying his visa. Bah renewed his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT).
Bah sought relief based on problems he and his father experienced due to their political involvement. Bah testified that he joined the UNR political party, an opposition party that his father belonged to, in 1992. A.R. 169. When the party no longer existed, he and his father joined the UFR party in 2000. A.R. 169-70. Bah worked in the party at the grass roots level, distributing membership cards and holding youth meetings. A.R. 170. In 2003, an international conference for democracy had been planned to be held at a large hotel. On June 8th of that year, the Guinean president was scheduled to arrive with a delegation at the airport for the conference. Opposition political parties gathered at the airport to meet the president, but the Government broke up the crowd and arrested hundreds of people. A.R. 172-74; A.R. 96. Bah fled and stayed with two friends for two days. A.R. 174-75. He returned home on the third day, and was arrested because of his involvement in the events at the airport. He was beaten and tortured during a confinement of almost a month. A.R. 175-76. He was released when his wife paid some money. A.R. 177. He went to a hospital, got a prescription, and left, but he continues to feel pain in his left shoulder and his back. A.R. 193-94.
Bah also submitted an affidavit from his mother, describing problems her husband had due to his political involvement, and stating that her son (Bah) "was arrested also in June 2003, at the international airport of Conakry Gbessia after participating at a manifestation...." A.R. 487. The translation of the affidavit states that Bah was "locked" at the Conakry precinct for 27 days, and that "[w]e paid money to have him freed, because of his wife that was mentally inapt [sic]." A.R. 487.
The IJ denied relief based on an adverse credibility finding, citing differences between Bah's testimony and his mother's affidavit (where he was arrested and who paid to have him released); and also because Bah faded to meet his burden of proof by adequately corroborating his claims. The Board dismissed Bah's appeal, finding no clear error in the IJ's adverse credibility finding. App. at 3-4 (A.R. 2-3). The Board also found no error in the IJ's decision that Bah should have provided corroboration of his claims from his wife and his political party. Id.
We have jurisdiction to review a final order of removal of the BIA under 8 U.S.C. 1252(a)(1). Abdulai v. Ashcroft, 239 F.3d 542, 547 (3d Cir.2001). "[W]hen the BIA both adopts the findings of the IJ and discusses some of the bases for the IJ's decision, we have authority to review the decisions of both the IJ and the BIA." Chen v. Ashcroft, 376 F.3d 215, 222 (3d Cir.2004). Our standard of review is narrow. We must sustain the Board's removal order if there is substantial evidence in the record to support it. Abdille v. Ashcroft, 242 F.3d 477, 483 (3d Cir.2001).
Although an applicant's credible testimony may be sufficient to sustain his burden of proof without corroboration, the IJ may nonetheless require corroboration when the applicant is "reasonably expected" to do so. Dia v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 228, 253 (3d Cir.2003) (en banc). In deciding whether the IJ reasonably required corroborating evidence, this Court employs a three-part inquiry: "(1) an identification of facts for which it is reasonable to expect corroboration; (2) an inquiry as to whether the applicant has provided information corroborating those facts; and, if he or she has not, (3) an analysis of whether an applicant has adequately explained why s/he was unable to do so." Mulanga v. Ashcroft, 349 F.3d 123, 134 (3d Cir.2003) (internal quotation omitted). Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4) [INA § 242(b)(4) ], "[n]o court shall reverse a determination made by a trier of fact with respect to the availability of corroborating evidence . unless the court finds . that a reasonable trier of fact is compelled to conclude that such corroborating evidence is unavailable."
Bah's asylum claim was based on the events of June 2003. Bah testified that his wife was home when he was arrested, and his wife paid money to have him released from prison. A.R. 184. When asked when he was last in contact with his wife, Bah stated that "she wrote me a letter but regularly we speak over the phone." A.R. 177. Because Bah's wife was the only witness to his arrest, and was involved in paying for his release, it was reasonable for the IJ to expect corroboration from Bah's wife. Bah's only explanation for failing to produce an affidavit from his wife is that he was not asked to produce one. A.R. 189. The record does not compel a finding that corroboration from Bah's wife would be unavailable.
Similarly, the IJ expected corroboration from Bah's political party. Bah testified that his party was aware of his arrest and mistreatment. A.R. 190. Bah produced a certificate attesting to his membership in the party, A.R. 235; and he testified that if the party had been asked, it would have sent corroboration regarding his arrest and detention. A.R. 190. Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for the IJ to expect corroboration from the political party.
Given Bah's failure to provide sufficient corroborating evidence, we find that the BIA's holding that he failed to meet his burden of proof is supported by substantial evidence. For the reasons given, we will deny the petition for review.
. Although Bah's brief sets forth the requisite standard for obtaining relief under the CAT, Bah did not contest the denial of relief under the CAT in his appeal to the Board. We thus lack jurisdiction to consider the denial of CAT relief. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1) [Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) § 242(d)(1) ]; see also Bonhometre v. Gonzales, 414 F.3d 442, 448 (3d Cir.2005).
. Bah's brief does not mention the Immigration Judge's (IJ's) rejection of his claim based on membership in a particular social group; i.e., his family. App. at 15-15A (A.R. 98-99). Accordingly, the claim has been waived. Chen v. Ashcroft, 381 F.3d 221, 235 (3d Cir. 2004).
. The BIA did not agree, however, that the IJ should have required that Bah provide corroboration from the two friends with whom he hid, as the IJ did not ascertain that such corroboration was readily available. A.R. 3.
. We thus need not discuss the Board's alter native holding that Bah's testimony was not credible.
. Bah's motion for a stay of removal is denied as moot.