Li Bin Cao-Yi v. U.S. Attorney General

366 F. App'x 992

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: February 25, 2010
• Docket: 09-12328
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Lin Bin Cao, a native and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, seeks review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from the immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum and withholding of removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158(a) and 1231(b)(3), and relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“CAT”), 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(c). On appeal, Cao argues that BIA erred in upholding the IJ’s adverse credibility determination based on inconsistencies between his testimony and the documentary evidence. Specifically, Cao contends that the two inconsistencies cited by the BIA were not central to his claims for relief and do not constitute specific, cogent reasons for discrediting his testimony. In contrast, Cao maintains that he offered credible and consistent testimony demonstrating that there is a clear probability that he will be persecuted and subjected to harsh punishment on account of his Christian faith if removed to China.

When the BIA issues a decision, we review only that decision, except to the extent that the BIA expressly adopts the IJ’s opinion. Kueviakoe v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 567 F.3d 1301, 1304 (11th Cir.2009). Here, because the BIA issued its own opinion without adoption, upholding the IJ’s adverse credibility determination, we review only the BIA’s decision. See id.

Factual determinations, including credibility determinations, are reviewed under the substantial evidence test, which requires us to affirm the BIA’s decision if it is “supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole.” Forgue v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1282, 1286 (11th Cir.2005) (quotation omitted). Under this “highly deferential” standard of review, an administrative factual finding can be reversed only if the record “compels” a contrary conclusion. Adefemi v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 1022, 1027-29 (11th Cir.2004) (en banc).

An asylum applicant bears the burden of showing, with specific and credible evi dence, either past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Forgue v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.Sd 1282, 1286-87 (11th Cir. 2005). To qualify for withholding of removal under the INA, an alien must satisfy the more stringent standard of demonstrating that it is “more likely than not that [he] will be persecuted or tortured” upon return to his native country. Se-pulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1232 (11th Cir.2005). Likewise, CAT relief demands a showing that it is more likely than not that an alien will be tortured in his home country by or with the acquiescence of the government. Sanchez v. U.S. Atty. Gen., 392 F.3d 434, 438 (11th Cir. 2004). Moreover, if an applicant is unable to meet the well-founded fear standard for asylum, “he necessarily fails to establish eligibility for withholding of removal or protection under CAT.” Forgue, 401 F.3d at 1288 n. 4.

An adverse credibility determination alone may be sufficient to support a denial of asylum or withholding of removal, especially if the alien fails to produce corroborating evidence. Kueviakoe, 567 F.3d at 1304-05. Pursuant to the REAL ID Act of 2005, which applies to applications for asylum and withholding of removal filed after May 11, 2005, a credibility determination may be based on any inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or falsehoods, “without regard to whether an inconsistency, inaccuracy, or falsehood goes to the heart of the applicant’s claim.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii); Kueviakoe, 567 F.3d at 1305. Once an adverse credibility determination is made, the burden is on the applicant “to show that the credibility decision was not supported by specific, cogent reasons or was not based on substantial evidence.” Kueviakoe, 567 F.3d at 1305 (quotation omitted).

Because Cao’s testimony directly conflicted with two articles of documentary evidence, substantial evidence supports the BIA’s adverse credibility determination. Cao’s claims for relief hinged on the credibility of his testimony, but the record neither supports nor compels the conclusion that Cao was persecuted or possessed a well-founded fear of persecution on account of his religion. Cao has thus failed to establish eligibility for asylum and, by extension, to satisfy the more stringent burdens for withholding of removal and CAT relief. Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we deny Cao’s petition for review.

DENIED.