Gurdev Singh v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Gurdev Singh v. Holder, 458 F. App'x 647 (9th Cir. 2011)

Gurdev Singh v. Holder

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

We have jurisdiction to review the BIA’s denial of adjustment of status because it rests on a reviewable question of law, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(D), namely that Gur-dev Singh failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that his marriage was “entered into in good faith,” id. at § 1255(e)(3).

The immigration judge (“IJ”) did not err in denying Singh’s adjustment of status application on the ground that Singh failed to meet the necessary statutory requirements. See id. The IJ correctly evaluated whether Singh’s marriage was valid at its inception, see Bark v. INS, 511 F.2d 1200, 1202 (9th Cir. 1975), and she did not err by inquiring into Singh’s and his wife’s actions after the marriage because such actions may “bear on the subjective intent of the parties at the time they were married,” Oropeza-Wong v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1135, 1148 (9th Cir. 2005). Furthermore, contrary to Singh’s argument, an approved 1-130 petition is not sufficient for the statutory requirement of showing a good-faith marriage. See Agyeman v. INS, 296 F.3d 871, 878-79 & n. 2 (9th Cir. 2002).

Substantial evidence supported the IJ’s adverse credibility finding regarding Singh’s asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims. Singh’s direct testimony regarding the length of time he spent in the hospital and his period of hiding before leaving India was inconsistent with his asylum statement and testimony on cross-examination. Both these inconsistencies are material and go to the heart of Singh’s claim of persecution. See Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 964 (9th Cir. 2004). This adverse credibility finding also supported the IJ’s denial of Singh’s withholding of removal and CAT claims.

AFFIRMED.

***

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

Reference

Full Case Name
Gurdev SINGH, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished