Court Opinion

ID: 9495329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 15:59:39.606647+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:56:56.666204
License: Public Domain

TALLMAN, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
Because I believe that there was substantial evidence to support the BIA’s adverse credibility determination, the BIA sufficiently articulated its bases for that determination, and the evidence does not compel a contrary result, I respectfully dissent from the grant of the petition for review in this case.
An adverse credibility finding by the BIA is reviewed under the substantial evidence standard. See Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1042 (9th Cir.2001). Under this highly deferential standard, we are “compelled to uphold the factual findings of the BIA if those findings are supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence.” Valderrama v. INS, 260 F.3d 1083, 1085 (9th Cir.2001) (internal quotations omitted). We must uphold the BIA’s findings unless the evidence presented would “compel[ ] a reasonable factfinder to reach a contrary result.” de Leon-Barrios v. INS, 116 F.3d 391, 393 (9th Cir.1997) (emphasis added). Thus, where the BIA provides a “specific, cogent reason” for questioning a petitioner’s credibility, Garrovillas v. INS, 156 F.3d 1010, 1013 (9th Cir.1998), the petitioner must show that the evidence compelled a contrary conclusion in order to overcome the special deference accorded to the BIA’s credibility determinations. See Chebchoub, 257 F.3d at 1042; De Leon-Barrios, 116 F.3d at 393.
The BIA conducted an independent review of the record in this case and made an adverse credibility determination “supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence.” Valderrama, 260 F.3d at 1085. The BIA provided a “legitimate articulable basis to question [Singh’s] credibility.” Garrovillas, 156 F.3d at 1013. In *1115doing so, it properly evaluated the inconsistencies regarding the injuries Singh suffered and the location of the 1997 rally, as well as Singh’s testimony before the Immigration Judge attempting to explain these inconsistencies. See id. Although the Court’s assertion that these discrepancies are not contradictory or are minor is plausible, that interpretation is not compelled by the evidence that was before the BIA. See Chebchoub, 257 F.3d at 1042; De Leon-Barrios, 116 F.3d at 393. The BIA’s decision should therefore be upheld.