Court Opinion

ID: 68569
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:34:51+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:41.627739
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________                   FILED
                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                            No. 08-16014                  ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                             AUGUST 13, 2009
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                                                           THOMAS K. KAHN
                      ________________________
                                                                CLERK

                       Agency Nos. A088-800-634,
                             A088-800-635

SHAVKAT JUMAYEV,
GULCHEKHRA DZHALILOVA,

                                                                    Petitioners,

                                  versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                                   Respondent.

                      ________________________

                  Petition for Review of a Decision of the
                       Board of Immigration Appeals
                       _________________________

                            (August 13, 2009)

Before CARNES, WILSON and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Shavkat Jumayev,1 a native and citizen of Uzbekistan, petitions this court for

review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”) decision affirming the

Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying him asylum, withholding of removal,

and relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).2 In his

petition, Jumayev challenges the BIA’s adverse credibility determination.

       Where, as here, the BIA issues its own opinion and does not adopt the IJ’s

decision, we review only the BIA’s decision. Al Najjar v. Ashcroft, 257 F.3d

1262, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001). We review credibility determinations under the

substantial-evidence test and must affirm the BIA’s decision if it is “supported by

reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a

whole.” Forgue v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1282, 1286 (11th Cir. 2005). “The

trier of fact must determine credibility, and this court may not substitute its

judgment . . . with respect to credibility findings.” Id. Therefore, we will reverse

“only when the record compels a reversal; the mere fact that the record may

support a contrary conclusion is not enough to justify a reversal.” Adefemi v.

Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 1022, 1027 (11th Cir. 2004) (en banc).

       1
         Gulchekhra Dzhalilova proceeded as a derivative beneficiary. We refer to Jumayev, as
the lead petitioner.
       2
        Because Jumayev fails to offer any argument related to the denial of CAT relief, he has
abandoned this issue. Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005).

                                               2
      To be eligible for asylum “the [applicant] must, with credible evidence,

establish (1) past persecution on account of [his] political opinion or any other

protected ground, or (2) a ‘well-founded fear’ that [his] political opinion or any

other protected ground will cause future persecution.” Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at

1230-31 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(a), (b)). To qualify for withholding of

removal, an applicant must establish that it is more likely than not “that his life or

freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership

in a particular social group, or political opinion.” Mendoza v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 327

F.3d 1283, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003) (citing 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A)). The applicant

bears the burden of proof in establishing his eligibility for asylum and withholding

of removal. See id.; 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(i). If an applicant cannot establish

eligibility for asylum, he cannot meet the more stringent standard for withholding

of removal. Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at 1232-33.

      An applicant’s testimony, if credible, may carry his burden of proof without

corroboration. 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(a). “Conversely, an adverse credibility

determination alone may be sufficient to support the denial of an asylum

application.” Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287. An adverse credibility finding must be

explicit. Yang v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 418 F.3d 1198, 1201 (11th Cir. 2005). “Once

an adverse credibility finding is made, the burden is on the applicant alien to show

that the [BIA’s] credibility decision was not supported by ‘specific, cogent
                                            3
reasons’ or was not based on substantial evidence.” Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287.

“Indications of reliable testimony include consistency on direct examination,

consistency with the written application, and the absence of embellishments.”

Ruiz v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 440 F.3d 1247, 1255 (11th Cir. 2006). The REAL ID Act,

which applies to applications such as Jumayev’s filed after the date of its

enactment, provides that an adverse-credibility determination can be based on

inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or falsehoods, regardless of whether they relate to the

heart of an applicant’s claim. Pub. L. No. 109-13, § 101(a)(3), (d), 119 Stat. 231,

303-05 (2005). Nevertheless, “an adverse credibility determination does not

alleviate the [] duty to consider other evidence produced by an asylum applicant.”

Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287. In other words, the fact finder must consider all

evidence introduced by the applicant. Id.

      Upon review, we conclude that the BIA’s adverse credibility determination

was supported by substantial evidence because there were discrepancies in

Jumayev’s evidence. First, in his visa application, Jumayev listed Ulmas as his

employer of ten years. In his testimony, however, he omitted this information until

confronted with it on cross-examination. Second, when asked about corroborating

evidence, Jumayev initially stated that he was afraid to take the documents with

him when he fled Uzbekistan, but later admitted that the documents did not exist.

Third, in his asylum application, Jumayev wrote that he was detained for eight
                                            4
days, but in his testimony, he stated that it was seven days and at another point

stated that he was tortured during his “second week” of detention. Fourth,

Jumayev testified that he applied for a visa because he was afraid and in pain due

to his imprisonment in 2006, but when confronted with the fact that he had applied

for the visa before his imprisonment, Jumayev testified that he did so as a result of

bad memories from his mistreatment in 2005. During his testimony, however,

Jumayev had stated that he had forgotten about the 2005 mistreatment. Finally, in

his asylum application, Jumayev explained that he was told to leave the city when

he was threatened in 2005, but in his testimony, he stated he was told to leave the

country.

      Because the other evidence in the record does not compel a reversal of the

BIA’s adverse credibility determination, we deny Jumayev’s petition.

      PETITION DENIED.

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