Miao Chen v. Holder

586 F. App'x 4
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedSeptember 26, 2014
Docket13-4023
StatusUnpublished

This text of 586 F. App'x 4 (Miao Chen v. Holder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Miao Chen v. Holder, 586 F. App'x 4 (2d Cir. 2014).

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Miao Chen, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of a September 30, 2013 order of the BIA, affirming, without opinion, the April 12, 2012 decision of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”), which denied asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). In re Miao Chen, No. A200 940 766 (B.I.A. Sept. 30, 2013), aff'g No. A200 940 766 (Immig. Ct. New York City Apr. 12, 2012). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

Under the circumstances of this case, we review the IJ’s decision as the final agency determination. See Shunfu Li v. Mukasey, 529 F.3d 141, 146 (2d Cir.2008). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B); see also Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir.2008) (per curiam).

*6 I. Credibility Determination

For applications such as Chen’s, which are governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may base a credibility finding on an applicant’s demeanor, the plausibility of her account, and inconsistencies in her statements, without regard to whether they go “to the heart of the applicant’s claim.’.’ 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(l)(B)(iii). “We defer therefore to an IJ’s credibility determination unless, from the totality of the circumstances, it is plain that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167.

Initially, the IJ found significant Chen that testified inconsistently with her parents’ letter about whether she returned home after her near arrest, because Chen’s near arrest and its aftermath were the purported reasons for her decision to flee China. Chen does not challenge this finding.

Contrary to Chen’s assertions, the IJ properly relied on the omission of Chen’s arrest warrant from her parents’ letter. Chen argues that the IJ mischaracterized this as an inconsistency where it is clear that it was an omission; however, “[a]n inconsistency and an omission are ... functionally equivalent.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 166. Chen also contends that she adequately explained the omission by stating that her parents are not educated, but the IJ was not required to credit an explanation that is not necessarily compelling to a reasonable fact-finder. See Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80-81 (2d Cir.2005).

The IJ’s adverse credibility determination was also properly based, in part, on Chen’s credible fear interview. When discrepancies arise from an applicant’s statements in a credible fear interview, we will closely examine the interview report to ensure that it represents a “sufficiently accurate record” to merit consideration in determining whether the applicant is credible. Ming Zhang v. Holder, 585 F.3d 715, 723-25 (2d Cir.2009). In Ming Zhang, we found that a credible fear interview bore sufficient indicia of reliability because: (1) “the proceeding was memorialized in a typewritten document setting forth the questions ... [and] responses”; (2) “the interview was conducted with the aid of a[n] interpreter and [the applicant did] not contend that she did not understand the questions presented”; (3) “the interviewing officer explained the purpose of the interview, the importance of providing full and accurate testimony, and the fact that [the applicant] could ask for clarification at any point during the proceedings”; and (4) the applicant “was asked questions that were ‘clearly designed to elicit a potential basis for an asylum claim.’ ” 585 F.3d at 725 (quoting Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, 357 F.3d 169, 180 (2d. Cir.2004)). The IJ explicitly considered these factors on the record and found that Chen’s credible fear interview bore sufficient indicia of reliability; that determination was not erroneous.

Moreover, the IJ did not err in finding that Chen initially denied having applied for a visa during her credible fear interview before being told that the application was in her file. Chen contends that the IJ misconstrued the interview transcript because she was asked whether she had applied for a visa and not whether a visa application had been filed on her behalf; however, “support for a contrary inference-even one more plausible or more natural-does not suggest error.” Siewe v. Gonzales, 480 F.3d 160, 168 (2d Cir.2007). Because the IJ’s inference “is tethered to the evidentiary record, we will accord deference to the finding.” Id. at 168-69. Indeed, the IJ observed that Chen gathered documents on more than one occasion, filled out at least some of the necessary forms, and went to an interview at the *7 U.S. Consulate in China in hopes of obtaining a visa. In addition, Chen does not contest the IJ’s finding that she testified inconsistently with her credible fear interview about whether she spoke to her parents after her near arrest and whether they knew she was Catholic.

Based on the foregoing, we find that the IJ’s adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence because it cannot be said “that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling.” Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. The agency therefore did not err in denying asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief because all three claims shared the same factual predicate. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir.2006); Xue Hong Yang v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 426 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir.2005).

Chen’s assertion that the IJ erred by failing to separately assess her risk of future persecution on the basis of her status as a practicing Christian is incorrect. In Paul, we found that the agency’s determination that an alien was not credible as to claims of past persecution did not preclude the alien from demonstrating a well-founded fear of future persecution based on objective evidence, where the applicant had independently established that he was, in fact, a practicing Christian. 444 F.3d at 155-57. Unlike Paul, however, all of Chen’s claims were dependent upon her credibility because there was no separate determination that she was a practicing Catholic.

II. Due Process

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Related

Zhang v. Holder
585 F.3d 715 (Second Circuit, 2009)
Shunfu Li v. Mukasey
529 F.3d 141 (Second Circuit, 2008)
Mathews v. Eldridge
424 U.S. 319 (Supreme Court, 1976)
Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey
534 F.3d 162 (Second Circuit, 2008)
United States v. Bond
581 F.3d 128 (Third Circuit, 2009)

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Bluebook (online)
586 F. App'x 4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miao-chen-v-holder-ca2-2014.