Opinion ID: 77006
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Yang's Credibility

Text: 8 We first turn to the question of whether the IJ made an adverse credibility determination and, if so, whether substantial evidence supports that determination. Because the BIA affirmed without opinion the IJ's decision pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(e)(4), the IJ's decision is the final agency determination, and thus, the one before us on appeal. Mendoza v. United States Attorney Gen., 327 F.3d 1283, 1288-89 (11th Cir.2003). 9 It is the duty of the fact finder to determine credibility, and we may not substitute our judgment for that of the IJ with respect to credibility findings. Vasquez-Mondragon v. INS, 560 F.2d 1225, 1226 (5th Cir.1977). 2 Thus, the IJ's administrative findings of fact are conclusive unless a reasonable factfinder would be compelled to conclude to the contrary. Fahim v. United States Attorney Gen., 278 F.3d 1216, 1218 (11th Cir.2002). Uncorroborated but credible testimony may be sufficient to sustain the burden of proof for demonstrating eligibility for asylum. 8 C.F.R. §§ 208.13(a), 208.16(b). The weaker an applicant's testimony, however, the greater the need for corroborative evidence. Matter of Y-B-, 21 I&N Dec. 1136, 1139, 1998 WL 99554 (BIA 1998). 10 The IJ did not expressly state whether she found Yang's testimony to be credible or not. We agree with our sister Courts that when an IJ says not that [s]he believes the asylum seeker or [that] [s]he disbelieves her . . . the reviewing Court is left in the dark. See Li Iao v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 530, 534 (7th Cir.2005) citing Gontcharova v. Ashcroft, 384 F.3d 873, 877 (7th Cir.2004); Mendoza Manimbao v. Ashcroft, 329 F.3d 655, 660-61 (9th Cir.2003); Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 287-88 (2d Cir.2000). Though the IJ made a reference to Yang's claims as a ridiculous fabrication and stated that her testimony was extremely inconsistent and [made] absolutely no sense whatsoever, we are not persuaded that this was an explicit finding that Yang's testimony was not credible. IJ's must make clean determinations of credibility. Id. Moreover, the thrust of the IJ's analysis focuses on the insufficiency of Yang's evidence, rather than on any credibility issues. Thus, for purposes of our review, we will assume that any credibility determinations by the IJ were not dispositive of the appeal.