U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2011

Irianu v. Holder

Irianu v. Holder
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided February 24, 2011 · Canby, Fernandez, Smith
424 F. App'x 615

Irianu v. Holder

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Mircea Irianu, a native and citizen of Romania, petitions for review of the Board *616 of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual findings, Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003), and we review de novo due process claims, Vasquez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 1105, 1107 (9th Cir. 2003). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination based on the significant omission from Irianu’s supplemental declaration that he was beaten during weekly interrogations by the police, see Kin v. Holder, 595 F.3d 1050, 1056-57 (9th Cir. 2010), and based on the discrepancies between Irianu’s testimony and his statements to the asylum officer regarding the reason for the 1994 demonstration and arrest, which go to the heart of his claim, see Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 962-63 (9th Cir. 2004). In the absence of credible testimony, Irianu’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See Farah, 348 F.3d at 1156.

Because Irianu’s CAT claim is based on the testimony the agency found not credible, and he points to no other evidence showing it is more likely than not he will be tortured if returned to Romania, his CAT claim also fails. Id. at 1156-57. Irianu’s contention that the BIA and IJ failed to adequately address his CAT claim is belied by the record.

Finally, Irianu’s due process contention fails because the IJ did not err in admitting the asylum officer’s notes and assessment to refer because they contained sufficient indicia of reliability. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (petitioner must show error and prejudice to establish a due process violation); cf. Singh, v. Gonzales, 403 F.3d 1081, 1089-90 (9th Cir. 2005).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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