Court Opinion

ID: 3209804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-06 21:01:01.655075+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:28.197461
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        JUN 6 2016
                                                                       MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                         U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

 LIU ZHU ZHANG,                                    No.    13-73597

              Petitioner,                          Agency No. A088-103-903

    v.
                                                   MEMORANDUM*
 LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,

              Respondent.

                       On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                           Board of Immigration Appeals

                               Submitted May 24, 2016**

Before:        REINHARDT, W. FLETCHER, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.

         Liu Zhu Zhang, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the

Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an

immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of

removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We

         *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
         **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the

agency’s factual findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility

determinations created by the REAL ID Act. Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034,

1039-40 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny the petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s adverse credibility determination

based on inconsistencies in Zhang’s testimony regarding his house church

attendance in China, inconsistencies between his testimony and documentary

evidence regarding his church attendance in the United States, and his non-

responsive and evasive demeanor. See id. at 1048 (adverse credibility finding

reasonable under the totality of the circumstances). In the absence of credible

testimony, Zhang’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See Farah v.

Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003).

      Finally, Zhang’s CAT claim fails because it is based on the same evidence

that was found not credible, and the record does not otherwise compel the

conclusion that it is more likely than not he will be tortured by or with consent or

acquiescence of the Chinese government. See id. at 1156-57.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

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