Case Name: Alexander Alexeyevich MELNIKOV, 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: 2010-08-31
Citations: 391 F. App'x 912
Docket Number: No. 09-2666-ag
Parties: Alexander Alexeyevich MELNIKOV, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, JON O. NEWMAN, JOSÉ A. CABRANES, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 391
Pages: 912–914

Head Matter:
Alexander Alexeyevich MELNIKOV, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 09-2666-ag.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Aug. 31, 2010.
Alexander J. Segal, New York, New York, for Petitioner.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division; Jennifer Paisner Williams, Senior Litigation Counsel; Lindsay E. Williams, Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, Chief Judge, JON O. NEWMAN, JOSÉ A. CABRANES, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Alexander Alexeyevich Melnikov, a native of the former U.S.S.R. and a citizen of Uzbekistan, seeks review of a June 3, 2009, order of the BIA, affirming the February 3, 2009, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Alan A. Vomacka, which denied his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Alexander Alexeyevich Melnikov, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. June 3, 2009), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Feb. 3, 2009). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history.
In the circumstances of this case, we review both the BIA's and the IJ's decisions. See 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).
I. Due Process Claim
Melnikov asserts that his due process rights were violated because the IJ was biased and failed to conduct a proper hearing. However, the record is without support for his contention. Contrary to Melnikov's arguments, the IJ gave him an opportunity to litigate the timeliness of his application, and did not erroneously deny Melnikov's application on his failure to submit biometrics in a timely manner. The IJ properly referenced regulations that require the completion of biometric identification prior to any grant of relief, see 8 C.F.R. § 1003.47(c), and went on to consider Melnikov's application and deny it on the merits. Melnikov also contends that the IJ improperly considered his mother's asylum application and relied upon her actions in the courtroom in denying his claim for relief. However, it was Melnikov who put his mother's asylum application into contention; and insofar as his mother's actions in the courtroom had bearing on Melnikov's demeanor, the IJ could properly consider them in making the credibility determination. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii) (demeanor is a relevant consideration in a credibility determination). Finally, to the extent Melnikov contends he was denied due process by the IJ's speculation about the government of Uzbekistan, the IJ properly considered the evidence before him and made reasonable implausibility findings supported by the record. See Yan v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 63, 67 (2d Cir.2007).
Accordingly, the IJ afforded Melnikov an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner and, thus, did not violate his due process rights. Burger v. Gonzales, 498 F.3d 131, 134 (2d Cir.2007).
II. Adverse Credibility Determination
Substantial evidence supports the IJ's adverse credibility determination, see Corovic, 519 F.3d at 95, including: (1) inconsistencies in Melnikov's accounts of the past harm he suffered at the hands of the police in Uzbekistan; (2) the omission from his asylum application of allegations that his father was interrogated and physically harmed by the police and that Melnikov was injured after a beating by the police; and (3) the implausibility of several aspects of his claim, including the allegation that police were continuing to look for him in Uzbekistan over eight years after he left the country with the government's permission. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii). The IJ did not err in declining to credit the explanations Melnikov offered for these discrepancies. Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 (2d Cir.2005). Having called his credibility into question, the IJ reasonably considered the lack of corroborating evidence available to rehabilitate Melnikov's testimony. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 341 (2d Cir.2006).
Because the only evidence of a threat to Melnikov's life or freedom depended on his credibility, the IJ's adverse credibility determination was fatal to his application for both withholding of removal and CAT relief. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006).
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).