Opinion ID: 3014834
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Other Reasons for the Adverse Credibility

Text: Determination Once the IJ’s conclusions regarding the relationship between the doctor’s note and Butt’s testimony are unraveled, we are left with only two other reasons advanced by the IJ in support of the adverse credibility determination: (1) his generic critique of the proffered testimony, which he described as “thin” and “extremely vague”; and (2) his view of the other documents submitted by Butt as “equally flimsy in that neither is verified or authenticated.” As stated earlier, we afford an IJ’s adverse credibility determination substantial deference if it is supported by “specific, cogent reasons.” Reynoso-Lopez, 369 F.3d at 278 (internal quotations marks and citation omitted). These statements, which were secondary to the IJ’s determination that the note and testimony conflicted as a basis for the adverse the rest of his decision and, as such, does not fall into the category of a “specific cogent” reason as required by, inter alia, Reynoso-Lopez to support the adverse credibility determination. 17 credibility determination, are simply too general and conclusory to provide a basis for us to uphold his determination. They do not give any insight into why the IJ thought the testimony was vague or why there was reason to question the authenticity of the documents Butt submitted. Without such an explanation, we are unable to ascertain whether the IJ’s adverse credibility determination was supported by substantial evidence.9 See, e.g., Dia, 353 F.3d at 252 (stating that “[a]bsent a reason such as implausibility or inconsistency based in the record . . .[,] the IJ should not have summarily dismissed [the petitioner]’s 9 We note that this is particularly true in this case, where the record contains testimony that is fairly well developed as well as documents that appear to support that testimony (including evidence of Butt’s membership in the PPP, the criminal information that Butt claimed prompted him to flee Pakistan, and the doctor’s note stating the places in which Butt was injured and the length of his treatment). We recognize that the fact-finder is generally in the best position to judge credibility and may have insights that cannot be gleaned from the cold record. If this is the case, however, we do not think it unreasonable to require the IJ to provide specific, cogent explanations of why apparently sound testimony was rejected. As we stated in Dia, “requir[ing] sound reasoning [from the IJ] breathes life into [the substantial evidence] standard.” 353 F.3d at 251. We cannot say that this requirement is satisfied when there is no explanation given for the IJ’s disbelief of Butt’s testimony other than his erroneous interpretation of the doctor’s note and his statement that the testimony did not “impress” him. 18 testimony on [a particular] point”); Mulanga, 349 F.3d at 137–38 (holding that an IJ’s disbelief of an alien’s testimony was “unsound” when the only foundation the IJ articulated for that belief was that the testimony lacked “common sense”). In this context, we are compelled to conclude that the IJ’s adverse credibility determination was erroneous. We also note that, once the doctor’s note is given its plain language meaning, it is, as stated above, reconcilable with Butt’s testimony, removing the only inconsistency the IJ pointed to in his decision. The IJ himself stated that, without the contradiction he perceived, “[t]he testimony presented was thin . . . but it would have survived a certain degree of consistency . . . .” If consistency is crucial to credibility, as we think it is, we do not see how the record in this case can support an adverse credibility determination. However, in keeping with Supreme Court and our precedent, we give the IJ an opportunity to revisit the credibility issue on remand (without regard to his prior adverse credibility determination).10 See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16 10 The Government notes other inconsistencies in the record—such as the precise date Butt may have been taken to the clinic—that it believes support the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. See Gov’t Br. at 15–16 nn. 5–7. However, the IJ did not rely on any of these other alleged inconsistencies in making his adverse credibility determination. Moreover, we emphasize here, as we have previously, that “[g]enerally, minor inconsistencies and minor admissions that reveal nothing about 19 (2002) (per curiam) (appellate courts should, upon reversing a decision of the BIA, remand the case to the agency for further proceedings except in rare circumstances); Dia, 353 F.3d at 260 (“concluding . . . that because of the lack of substantial evidence to support the adverse credibility determination, we will remand in order for the agency to further explain or supplement the record”); Ezeagwuna v. Ashcroft, 325 F.3d 396, 411 (3d Cir. 2003) (reversing BIA’s adverse credibility determination and stating that, in keeping with Ventura, “[w]e [would] not assess [the petitioner]’s entitlement to relief based on the record as we have required it to be modified by this opinion because the agency should have the opportunity to do so”). an asylum applicant’s fear for his safety are not an adequate basis for an adverse credibility finding.” Gao, 299 F.3d at 272 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also Dia, 353 F.3d at 278 (McKee, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part) (“It can not be overstated that ‘[c]aution is required [in making credibility determinations] because of the numerous factors that might make it difficult for an alien to articulate his/her circumstances with the degree of consistency one might expect from someone who is neither burdened with the language difficulties, nor haunted by the traumatic memories, that may hamper communication’ between a government agent and a petitioner.” (quoting Zubeda v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 463, 476 (3d Cir. 2003))). 20