Case Name: Jean Paul NZENGUE, 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: 2014-01-07
Citations: 549 F. App'x 47
Docket Number: No. 12-3949
Parties: Jean Paul NZENGUE, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, DENNY CHIN and SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 549
Pages: 47–48

Head Matter:
Jean Paul NZENGUE, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 12-3949.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Jan. 7, 2014.
Jean Paul Nzengue, pro se, Mount Vernon, NY, for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Linda S. Wernery, Assistant Director; Susan Bennett Green, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, DENNY CHIN and SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Jean Paul Nzengue, a native and citizen of Central African Republic, seeks review of a September 17, 2012, decision of the BIA affirming the December 1, 2010, decision of an Immigration Judge ("IJ"), which denied Nzengue's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief pursuant to the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Jean Paul Nzengue, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Sept. 17, 2012), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Dec. 1, 2010). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, we review the IJ's decision as modified by the BIA. See Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 522 (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).
Nzengue mainly challenges findings that were not cited by the BIA as bases for its decision and do not constitute grounds for the adverse credibility determination. See Xue Hong Yang, 426 F.3d at 522. We conclude that the remaining inconsistencies and problematic documentation cited by the BIA otherwise provide substantial evidence to support the adverse credibility determination. For asylum applications like Nzengue's, governed by the REAL ID Act of 2005, the agency may, "considering the totality of the circumstances," base a credibility finding on an asylum applicant's demeanor, the plausibility of his account, and inconsistencies in his statements, without regard to whether they go "to the heart of the applicant's claim." 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii). We "defer to [the agency's] credibility determination unless, from the totality of the circumstances, it is plain that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling." Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 167 (2d Cir.2008).
The agency reasonably based its adverse credibility determination on the inconsistencies between Nzengue's testimony and asylum application. A comparison shows discrepancies regarding Nzengue's entry into Cameroon, his father's name, and his marital status, all of which support the adverse credibility determination. Id. Additionally, as the agency noted, Nzengue's supporting letters were strikingly similar. Mei Chai Ye v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 489 F.3d 517, 524 (2d Cir.2007) (noting that we have firmly embraced the commonsensical notion that similarities between affidavits are an indication that they are "canned").
The inconsistencies combined with the "canned" letters provide substantial evidence for the adverse credibility finding. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Moreover, as the BIA noted, Nzengue's explanation that each of the inconsistencies was due to the mistakes of others does not compel a contrary conclusion. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80 (2d Cir.2005). Because all of Nzengue's claims depend on the same factual predicate, the adverse credibility determination is dispositive of asylum, withholding, and CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang, 426 F.3d at 523.
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 DENIED 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).