Case Name: YU ZHEN JIANG, 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: 2013-07-22
Citations: 530 F. App'x 61
Docket Number: No. 12-351
Parties: YU ZHEN JIANG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 530
Pages: 61–63

Head Matter:
YU ZHEN JIANG, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., United States Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 12-351.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
July 22, 2013.
Farah Loftus, Century City, CA, for Petitioner.
Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Greg D. Mack, Senior Litigation Counsel; Kathryn L. Deangelis, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington D.C., for Respondent.
PRESENT: JOSÉ A. CABRANES, RICHARD C. WESLEY, and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Petitioner Yu Zhen Jiang, a native and citizen of the People's Republic of China, seeks review of a December 30, 2011, decision of the BIA, affirming the June 22, 2010, decision of Immigration Judge ("IJ") Barbara A. Nelson denying Jiang's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). In re Yu Zhen Jiang, No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (B.I.A. Dec. 30, 2011), aff'g No. [ AXXX XXX XXX ] (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City June 22, 2010). 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 IJ's and the BIA's opinions as to Jiang's credibility "for the sake of completeness." Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir.2008). The applicable standards of review are well-established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008); Li Yong Cao v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 421 F.3d 149, 156-57 (2d Cir.2005).
For asylum applications governed by the REAL ID Act, such as the application in this case, the agency may, "[considering the totality of the circumstances," base a credibility finding on the applicant's demeanor, the plausibility of the applicant's account, and inconsistencies in her 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)(l)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Substantial evidence supports the agency's adverse credibility determination.
In finding Jiang not credible, the IJ reasonably relied on Jiang's demeanor, noting that her testimony was unresponsive and hesitant. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); see also Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 81 n. 1 (2d Cir.2005). That finding is supported by the hearing transcript.
The IJ's adverse credibility determination is further supported by specific examples of contradictory testimony. See Li Hua Lin v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 453 F.3d 99, 109 (2d Cir.2006) ("We can be still more confident in our review of observations about an applicant's demeanor where, as here, they are supported by specific examples of inconsistent testimony."). Indeed, the IJ reasonably found discrepancies in Jiang's statements regarding her applications for birth permits and whether or not she paid a family planning fine. See Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64. Jiang failed to provide compelling explanations for these discrepancies. See Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80-81.
In addition, the agency did not err in declining to credit Jiang's individualized evidence because the letters she submitted were unsworn, strikingly similar, and prepared by interested parties for the pur pose of litigation. See Xiao Ji Chen v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 471 F.3d 315, 342 (2d Cir.2006); see also Mei Chai Ye v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 489 F.3d 517, 524 (2d Cir.2007). Thus, given the IJ's demeanor finding, the record discrepancies, and lack of credible corroborating evidence, we find the agency's adverse credibility determination supported by substantial evidence and dispositive of Jiang's claims for asylum and withholding of removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii); Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 163-64; see also Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 155-57 (2d Cir.2006).
Finally, we lack jurisdiction to review the IJ's denial of CAT relief because Jiang failed to challenge the denial of that category of relief before the BIA. See Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 & n. 2 (2d Cir.2006).
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED in part and DISMISSED in part. 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).