Court Opinion

ID: 69584
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:48:25+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:21:08.266873
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                   FILED
                   FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                     ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              Nov. 19, 2009
                           No. 09-10260                     THOMAS K. KAHN
                       Non-Argument Calendar                    CLERK
                     ________________________

                       Agency No. A099-538-291

ZHEN DE CHEN,

                                                            Petitioner-Appellant,

                                 versus

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,

                                                        Respondent-Appellee.

                     ________________________

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

                          (November 19, 2009)

Before CARNES, MARCUS and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Zhen De Chen, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks

review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ final order dismissing his appeal

from the immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum,

withholding of removel, and CAT relief. Chen contends that substantial evidence

does not support the BIA’s adverse credibility determination and that if he returns

to China, he will be jailed and tortured because of his involvement in Catholic

religious activities.

       The BIA issued its own opinion in this case, so we will review only the

BIA’s decision. See Al Najjar v. Ashcroft, 257 F.3d 1262, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001).

We review credibility determinations under the substantial evidence test, and we

may not substitute our judgment for the BIA’s with respect to credibility findings.

See Forgue v. United States Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1282, 1286 (11th Cir. 2005).

Under the substantial evidence test, we must affirm the BIA’s decision if it is

“supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record

considered as a whole.” Id. (citation and internal quotation omitted). We will not

reverse a finding of fact by the BIA unless the record compels it. Adefemi v.

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

that may also support a conclusion contrary to the administrative findings is not

enough to justify a reversal. Id.

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      At his hearing before the IJ, Chen repeatedly testified that he lived at 425

West Town Place, #110, St. Augustine, Florida. On cross-examination, he testified

that he had been living at that address since he came to the United States. When

the government asked if he owned or rented that place, he replied that it was his

relative’s place, and he did not pay rent. The government asked him why the

internet showed that the address belonged to a Chinese restaurant rather than a

place of residence, and Chen indicated that his mail came to that address. The IJ

then questioned Chen about where he really lived and where he slept. Chen replied

that slept at his cousin’s, but he explained that he had testified about living at the

restaurant address because his mail came there, and he did not know the address of

his cousin’s place. On re-direct Chen’s attorney asked him whether “in [his] mind,

residing place and mailing place, are the same or different,” and he answered, “It’s

different.”

      The IJ found that Chen’s testimony about where he lived was not credible

and that even if he were found to be credible, he had failed to show that he had

faced past persecution or had a well-founded hear of future persecution based on

his religion. Chen appealed that decision, and the BIA determined that because

Chen had testified falsely about his address, the IJ’s credibility determination was

not clearly erroneous. Based on its own review of the record, the BIA also noted

that there were inconsistencies in Chen’s testimony about the date an alleged raid
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took place on his unsanctioned church and the number of church members arrested

in that raid.1 Furthermore, the BIA observed that there were contradictions

between Chen’s testimony about certain letters he submitted into evidence and the

actual letters. Under a totality of the circumstances credibility analysis, the BIA

concluded that Chen was not a credible witness and that he had not met his burden

of proof for asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT relief.

       Chen contends that his testimony about his address was insufficient evidence

to support the BIA’s credibility decision because his address did not have any

bearing on his claims for relief; he used the address because it would be easier to

receive mail there; and he did not understand the distinction between a mailing

address and a residence. Adverse credibility is assessed in light of the totality of

the circumstances and may be based on inaccuracies or falsehoods that do not

“go[] to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). An

applicant’s testimony, if credible, may carry the burden of proof for asylum

without corroboration. 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(a). “Conversely, an adverse credibility

       1
          Chen argues that the BIA’s consideration of that evidence constituted an impermissible
de novo review of the IJ’s adverse credibility finding because the IJ did not rely on that evidence
as grounds for its decision. A clear error standard of review not only permits a court to review
the entire record, it requires a court to do so. See United States v. United States Gypsum Co.,
333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S. Ct. 525, 542 (1948) (“A finding is ‘clearly erroneous’ when although
there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite
and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.”); see also Hale Container Line, Inc. v.
Houston Sea Packing Co., 137 F.3d 1455, 1474 (11th Cir. 1998). Here, the BIA did not engage
in a de novo review but instead reviewed the record as a whole and concluded that the IJ’s
adverse credibility determination was not clearly erroneous.
                                                   4
determination alone may be sufficient to support the denial of an asylum

application.” Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287. “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 reasons’ or was not based on

substantial evidence.” Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287.

      Chen repeatedly provided incorrect information about where lived, even

though he testified that he understood the difference between a mailing address and

a residence. That testimony, coupled with additional inconsistencies between

Chen’s testimony and the evidence he submitted, formed the basis of the BIA’s

specific, cogent reasons in support of its adverse credibility determination. See

Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1287. The BIA’s denial of asylum is supported by substantial

evidence on the record considered as a whole. See id. at 1286. Because Chen “has

failed to establish a claim of asylum on the merits, he necessarily fails to establish

eligibility for withholding of removal or protection under CAT.” Id. at 1288 n.4.

      PETITION DENIED.

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