Case Name: YONGFU LIU, Yingmei Yuan, Petitioners, 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: 2014-10-28
Citations: 587 F. App'x 692
Docket Number: No. 13-343 NAC
Parties: YONGFU LIU, Yingmei Yuan, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, DENNIS JACOBS, and PIERRE N. LEVAL, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 587
Pages: 692–694

Head Matter:
YONGFU LIU, Yingmei Yuan, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 13-343 NAC.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Oct. 28, 2014.
Khaghendra Gharti-Chhetry, New York, NY, for Petitioners.
Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General; Cindy S. Ferrier, Assistant Director; Sunah Lee, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, DENNIS JACOBS, and PIERRE N. LEVAL, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioners Yongfu Liu and Yingmei Yuan, natives and citizens of the People's Republic of China, seek review of a January 14, 2013, decision of the BIA, affirming the March 10, 2011, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Sandy K. Horn, denying their application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Yongfu Liu, Yingmei Yuan, Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ], [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Jan. 14, 2013), aff'g Nos. [ AXXX XXX XXX ], [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig.Ct.N.Y.City Mar. 10, 2011). We assume the parties' familiarity with the-underlying facts and procedural history of this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the IJ's and the BIA's opinions "for the sake of completeness." Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008) (quotation marks and citations omitted). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 157-58 (2d Cir.2008); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008).
I. Past Persecution
The agency may, considering the totality of the circumstances, base a credibility finding on inconsistencies in an applicant's statements and other record evidence without regard to whether they go "to the heart of the applicant's claim." 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Substantial evidence supports the agency's determination that petitioners were not credible as to their claim that family planning officials had fined them and beaten Liu on account of Yuan's pregnancy in violation of China's coercive population control policy.
Petitioners' statements in their original asylum applications that Yuan was forced to undergo abortion and sterilization procedures were inconsistent with their testimony that she had not undergone such procedures. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Furthermore, they omitted from their original asylum applications their claim that family planning officials beat Liu. See id. at 166 n. 3 ("An inconsistency and an omission are . functionally equivalent."). Petitioners also provided inconsistent statements and evidence regarding when they were fined for violating the population control policy. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Neither petitioners, nor their counsel, provided a compelling explanation for these discrepancies. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80 (2d Cir.2005).
Having questioned petitioners' credibility, the agency reasonably relied further on their failure to provide certain evidence corroborating their claim. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007). Given the inconsistency and corroboration findings, the agency's adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); see also Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Because the credibility determination is dispositive, we need not reach the agency's alternative finding that, even if credible, petitioners failed to show that the harm they suffered constituted persecution.
II. Well-Founded Fear of Persecution
For largely the same reasons as this Court set forth in Jian Hui Shao, 546 F.3d 138, we find no error in the agency's determination that petitioners failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution for their alleged violation of China's population control program. See id. at 158-72.
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. 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).