Case Name: ZENG GUANG LIU, 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: 2013-10-30
Citations: 538 F. App'x 91
Docket Number: No. 12-3991
Parties: ZENG GUANG LIU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 538
Pages: 91–93

Head Matter:
ZENG GUANG LIU, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 12-3991.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Oct. 30, 2013.
Charles Christophe, Christophe Law Group, P.C., New York, NY, Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Linda S. Wernery, Assistant Director, Thankful T. Vanderstar, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: ROBERT D. SACK, BARRINGTON D. PARKER and DENNY CHIN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Zeng Guang Liu, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a September 12, 2012, decision of the BIA affirming a May 20, 2011, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Randa Zagzoug, denying Liu's application for asylum, withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Zeng Guang Liu, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Sept. 12, 2012), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City May 20, 2011). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the BIA's and the IJ's decision, including the portions of the IJ's decision not explicitly discussed by the BIA. Yun-Zui Guan v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 391, 394 (2d Cir.2005). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir. 2008).
For applications like this one, governed by the REAL ID Act of 2005, the agency may base a credibility finding on an asylum applicant's demeanor, the plausibility of his account, and inconsistencies in her statements, without regard to whether they go "to the heart of the applicant's claim." 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Matter of J-Y-C- 24 I. & N. Dec. 260, 265 (B.I.A.2007). Analyzed under these standards, the agency's adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence.
In finding Liu not to be credible, the IJ reasonably relied on the discrepancy between the identification number on his Resident Identity card and the identification number on his household registry, as well as the handwritten change to the household registry's identification number. The agency reasonably declined to credit Liu's explanations for these differences. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005). Because he did not raise the argument in the agency proceedings, we will not consider his new explanation for the discrepancy—that the numbers were "zeroed out" for security purposes. See Lin Zhong v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 480 F.3d 104, 107 n. 1 (2d Cir.2007).
Liu has not contested the other basis for the IJ's adverse credibility determination—the IJ's finding that his testimony and evidence did not convincingly demonstrate that he actually practiced Falun Gong—and this finding, therefore, provides further support for the adverse credibility determination. See Shunfu Li v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 141, 146-47 (2d Cir.2008).
Having found Liu not credible, the agency reasonably noted that his failure to provide corroborative evidence further undermined his credibility. An applicant's failure to corroborate his testimony may bear on credibility, either because the absence of particular corroborating evidence is thought to be suspicious, or because the overall absence of corroboration makes an applicant unable to rehabilitate testimony that has already been called into question. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir.2007).
Here, Liu failed to provide any documentary support for his testimony that he sought medical treatment for a work-related injury and, contrary to his contention, he was questioned about the lack of corroboration during the merits hearing. Moreover, his failure to corroborate was especially relevant given his testimony that his workplace injury, and the ineffectiveness of medical treatment, led him to begin practicing Falun Gong. Accordingly, the agency's adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167.
Having reasonably found that Liu failed to establish eligibility for asylum on credibility grounds, the agency did not err in denying withholding of removal and relief under the CAT, inasmuch as these claims shared the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (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 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).