Court Opinion

ID: 2686488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-30 21:00:34.657413+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:47:07.862839
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        FILED
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT                           JUL 30 2014

                                                                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                           U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

YUSHUN PIAO,                                       No. 12-70588

                Petitioner,                        Agency No. A098-131-038

  v.
                                                   MEMORANDUM*
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,

                Respondent.

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

                               Submitted July 22, 2014**

Before:        GOODWIN, CANBY, and CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges.

          Yushun Piao, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of

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

immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying her application for asylum,

withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
(“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial

evidence the agency’s factual findings. Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 963 (9th Cir.

2004). We review de novo claims of due process violations. Colmenar v. INS, 210

F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir. 2000). We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a

continuance. Ahmed v. Holder, 569 F.3d 1009, 1012 (9th Cir. 2009). We deny the

petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s adverse credibility determination

based on inconsistencies between Piao’s testimony and her supporting medical

documentation regarding whether she received treatment in China due to

complications related to an abortion, or whether she received treatment for the

removal of a tumor. See Li, 378 F.3d. at 962 (adverse credibility determinations

supported by specific, cogent reasons that go to the heart of the claim will be

upheld). The agency was not compelled to accept Piao’s explanation for the

discrepancy, especially where the explanation led to additional inconsistencies

regarding the issuance and receipt of her Chinese medical document. See Zamanov

v. Holder, 649 F.3d 969, 974 (9th Cir. 2011) (agency not required to accept

petitioner’s explanation). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s finding

that the U.S. doctor’s letter did not rehabilitate her testimony. See Li, 378 F.3d at

962. Further, the agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Piao an additional

                                           2                                      12-70588
continuance. See Ahmed, 569 F.3d at 1012 (setting out factors to consider). In the

absence of credible testimony, Piao’s asylum and withholding of removal claims

fail. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003).

      Piao’s due process claims fail because the BIA did not base its adverse

credibility determination on differences between the original asylum application

and amendments, and because Piao did not show prejudice from any alleged

problems with translation at the hearing. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246

(9th Cir. 2000) (requiring error and prejudice to prevail on a due process claim);

Acewicz v. INS, 984 F.2d 1056, 1063 (9th Cir. 1993) (rejecting due process claim

where petitioners failed to demonstrate how inadequate translation prevented them

from presenting relevant evidence, or that better translation would have made a

difference in the outcome of the hearing).

      Finally, because Piao’s CAT claim is based on the same testimony the BIA

found not credible, and the record does not otherwise compel the conclusion that it

is more likely than not she will be tortured if returned to China, her CAT claim

also fails. Id. at 1156-57.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                             3                                  12-70588