Guangyu Li v. Merrick Garland

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: January 27, 2023
• Docket: 16-72513
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JAN 27 2023 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

GUANGYU LI, No. 16-72513

Petitioner, Agency No. A089-898-422

v. MEMORANDUM* MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General,

Respondent.

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

Submitted January 18, 2023**

Before: GRABER, PAEZ, NGUYEN, Circuit Judges.

Guangyu Li, 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 (“IJ”) decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of

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

* 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). jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence

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

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

1039‑40 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for

review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination

based on inconsistencies between Li’s testimonial and documentary evidence

regarding his ex-wife’s date of birth, his residences in China, and his addresses in

the United States. See id. at 1048 (adverse credibility finding reasonable under the

totality of the circumstances). Li’s explanations do not compel a contrary

conclusion. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir. 2000). Thus, in the

absence of credible testimony, in this case, Li’s asylum and withholding of

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

Substantial evidence also supports the finding that Li did not present

corroborative evidence that would otherwise establish his eligibility for relief. See

Garcia v. Holder, 749 F.3d 785, 791 (9th Cir. 2014) (petitioner’s documentary

evidence was insufficient to independently support claim).

Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT protection

because Li’s claim was based on the same testimony the agency found not

credible, and Li does not point to any other evidence in the record that compels the

2 16-72513 conclusion that it is more likely than not he would be tortured in China. See

Farah, 348 F.3d at 1157.

We lack jurisdiction to consider Li’s contention that a clerical error in the

IJ’s decision regarding Li’s ex-wife’s date of birth affects the agency’s analysis of

Li’s credibility because he failed to raise the issue before the BIA. See Barron v.

Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004) (court lacks jurisdiction to review

claims not presented to the agency).

The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the mandate issues.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

3 16-72513