Jinxiang Zhang v. Eric Holder, Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jinxiang Zhang v. Eric Holder, Jr., 545 F. App'x 709 (9th Cir. 2013)

Jinxiang Zhang v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Jinxiang Zhang, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our 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 created by 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.

The record does not compel the conclusion that Zhang established changed or extraordinary circumstances to excuse the delay in filing his asylum application. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4), (a)(5). Accordingly, Zhang’s asylum claim fails.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s adverse credibility finding based on Zhang’s omission of a 1984 beating and detention from the written statement he submitted in support of his asylum claim, see Zamanov v. Holder, 649 F.3d 969, 974 (9th Cir. 2011), inconsistencies between his testimony and documentary evidence regarding his wife’s employment, and the implausibility of his fear of sterilization if he returned to China, see Shrestha, 590 F.3d at 1048 (totality of the circumstances supported adverse credibility determination). In the absence of credible testimony, Zhang’s withholding of removal claim fails. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003). In light of this credibility determination, we do not address Zhang’s contentions regarding the merits of his claim.

Finally, we lack jurisdiction to consider Zhang’s CAT claim because he did not exhaust this claim before the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part, DISMISSED in part.

**

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

Reference

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Unpublished