Court Opinion

ID: 9385511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-07 00:00:32.50746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:02.474919
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-60300         Document: 00516703639             Page: 1      Date Filed: 04/06/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit                                 United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                      ____________                              FILED
                                                                             April 6, 2023
                                       No. 22-60300                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                     Summary Calendar                           Clerk
                                     ____________

   Alex Noe Torres-Escamilla,

                                                                                   Petitioner,

                                             versus

   Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General,

                                                                                Respondent.
                      ______________________________

                         Petition for Review of an Order of the
                             Board of Immigration Appeals
                               Agency No. A209 231 964
                      ______________________________

   Before Barksdale, Higginson, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
          Alex Noe Torres-Escamilla, a native and citizen of Honduras,
   petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) dismissing
   his appeal from an order of the immigration judge (IJ) denying his application
   for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention
   Against Torture (CAT). In dismissing the appeal, the BIA upheld the IJ’s

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-60300      Document: 00516703639           Page: 2     Date Filed: 04/06/2023

                                     No. 22-60300

   decision: Torres’ testimony was not credible; and, alternatively, even if it
   was, he failed to show his eligibility for relief. Torres challenges the adverse
   credibility determination and maintains he established his eligibility for relief.
          We review the BIA’s decision and will consider the IJ’s decision only
   to the extent it affected that of the BIA. E.g., Zhu v. Gonzales, 493 F.3d 588,
   593 (5th Cir. 2007). Factual findings are reviewed for substantial evidence;
   conclusions of law, de novo. E.g., id. at 594. The substantial-evidence
   standard applies to factual determinations that an alien is ineligible for
   asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection.              E.g., Zhang v.
   Gonzales, 432 F.3d 339, 344 (5th Cir. 2005). Under this standard, our court
   will reverse the BIA’s decision only when “the evidence compels a contrary
   conclusion”. Carbajal-Gonzalez v. INS, 78 F.3d 194, 197 (5th Cir. 1996). “In
   other words, the alien must show that the evidence was so compelling that no
   reasonable factfinder could conclude against it.” Id.
          In determining credibility, the IJ “may rely on any inconsistency or
   omission”. Singh v. Sessions, 880 F.3d 220, 225 (5th Cir. 2018) (citations
   omitted); 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). If the IJ determines the “totality of
   the circumstances” requires an adverse credibility finding, our court will
   defer to that finding so long as it is “supported by specific and cogent
   reasons”. Singh, 880 F.3d at 225 (citations omitted).
          The BIA pointed to numerous inconsistencies and omissions upon
   which the IJ had relied in making its credibility determination, between
   Torres’ credible-fear interview and his testimony before the IJ.            Most
   notable, regarding Torres’ claimed fear of harm by gang members he claims
   targeted him for recruitment, Torres did not explain the inconsistency
   pertaining to whether the gang recruited him as a lookout/informant or to
   construct weapons. This discrepancy goes to the heart of his claim; therefore
   it “easily constitute[s] substantial evidence to support an adverse credibility

                                           2
Case: 22-60300      Document: 00516703639          Page: 3    Date Filed: 04/06/2023

                                    No. 22-60300

   finding”. Arulnanthy v. Garland, 17 F.4th 586, 593–94 (5th Cir. 2021). And,
   even where Torres attempts to explain other inconsistencies throughout his
   application process and testimony, such as when he was allegedly beaten by
   gang members, the record does not compel a determination that he was
   credible. See Morales v. Sessions, 860 F.3d 812, 817 (5th Cir. 2017) (“Neither
   an IJ nor the BIA is required to accept a petitioner’s explanation for the plain
   inconsistencies in her story.” (citation omitted)); Zhu, 493 F.3d at 594
   (under substantial-evidence standard, our court reverses factual findings only
   when “evidence compels us to do so”). Finally, to the extent he contends
   any discrepancies were because he was trying to protect his family in
   Honduras, that contention was not presented to the BIA; therefore, we lack
   jurisdiction to consider it. E.g., Martinez-Guevara v. Garland, 27 F.4th 353,
   360 (5th Cir. 2022).
          The adverse-credibility finding being proper, the evidence does not
   compel finding Torres was eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, or
   CAT relief. E.g., Avelar-Oliva v. Barr, 954 F.3d 757, 763–70 (5th Cir. 2020)
   (where petitioner’s testimony is incredible, failure to provide sufficient
   corroborating evidence may be “fatal to an alien’s application for relief”);
   Efe v. Ashcroft, 293 F.3d 899, 907–08 (5th Cir. 2002) (CAT relief requires
   applicant show “it is more likely than not” he would be tortured).
          DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.

                                          3